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Apply the CAGED system: “D” shape
Mar 30, 2010 Blogroll, Charlotte Music, Guitar, Threshold Church, Uncategorized, Worship, Worship Leader Leave a comment
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The CAGED system is a way of viewing and organizing the fretboard using a series of basic chord shapes. “C” “A” “G” “E” “D” chord shapes in first position can all be moved up the fretboard to get different chords. The name of the chord comes from the root note position of the chord shape.
What to do with this knowledge? Now each shape can yield 11 different chords, just by moving up the neck. This also includes Minor chords, Major 7 chords, Dominant 7 chords, minor 7 chords, Major 9 chords, Sus chords, and on and on…
Lead players benefit from this knowledge by gaining access to the higher strings in each shape. The next logical progression is creating parts and lines and even solos out of these shapes. Where to start?
The D shape is extremely versatile and can be used many ways and often isn’t discussed.
e–2— (F#) 3rd
b—3– (D) octave
g–2— (A) 5th
D-0—- (D) root
The D chord is “spelled” D, F#, A. On the guitar these notes aren’t “in order”. Only the “C” shape and the “G” shape have notes that would be considered “in order”. The fun thing with the D shape is that you can Suspend the 3rd both up and down (sus4 and sus2) very easily.
Dsus2 Dsus4
e-0—– e——3-
b—–3- b——3-
g—2— g—-2—
D-0—– D–0—–
Now we can move these shapes up the neck to get other chords and use this shape to create lead parts.
For Example: If we were to rearrange our fingers and barre the 2nd fret, we could use our pinky to get to the 5th fret on the high “e” string, thereby making a simple, but very open sounding D5 chord.
e——-5— (A) 5th
b—–3—– (D) octave
g—-2—– (A) 5th
D–0——- (D) root
This shape can then be manipulated very easily to create some interesting parts that are out of the way of the vocals, bass, and rhythm guitars. A simple way to do this is to lower the octave a half step.
e———5– (A)
b——2(3)— C# (D)
g——2—– (A)
This is especially effective over the “5″ (V) chord of any key. This then makes part of an “A” chord (A, C#) You can also hammer on the “D” octave to get some movement over other chords in a key as well. This particular position works best over a I IV vi V progression in any key. Just remember where your “root” is located. In this case on the “b” string.
For Example: This form in the Key of “G” would be here… Simply moving the “D” shape up to the 7th and 8th fret.
e———10– (D)
b—–(7)8—– (F#) G
g—–7——- (D)
There are also other ways to use this shape over different chord progressions…. Coming Soon…