Dear all,
as I finished Grade 2 I went straight to the course for fingerstyle from Joe Robinson and I figured out one thingā¦
I can learn TABs pretty solid, but at the same time this is the border where it ends. I can feel it has some impact on my own creativity a little⦠so I can just pull out some chord and try to add a little embellishment, that sounds pretty melodic⦠but I dont really understand how to learn the chords over the fretboard, so I am completely free.
For example in the course there is first bar starting G and it is on A string 10th fret C shape. I can already see it is C shape, but I really cant do these things and I dont know them.
Does it mean I missed somewhere the CAGED system or some triad learning and this is exactly what will solve it for me? I would like to unlock the fretboard so I know I can move 7 frets with this and it is this chord based on the root noteā¦
Maybe I am trying to āinvent a wheelā and it is solved somewhere⦠I did little sneak peak in Grade 3 of Justin and there are triads.
Is triad and CAGED system relevant answer to my question what I am missing in my journey? I feel like I can do melody and base line in fingerstyle⦠and things like that, but I am missing some module āwhere are my optionsā to try that. If that makes sense.
Thanks a lot anyone⦠as I am writing this⦠I think I put the question and also answered to myself⦠
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Caged system is something you ll find in the music theory course I think
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Iām not as familiar with the course as others (itās been a long time / major revamp since I went though them). However for me triads and learning the notes on the fretboard are the two things that really freed me up. I think once you have the triads down the caged thing pretty much comes āfor freeā. I also rarely play full chords these days - most of my rhythm and lead starts from triads. As an aside, when learning triads be sure to understand the intervals rather than just learning shapes - it opens up a whole other world when you can easily modify the triads for chord / lead lines.
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@GrumpyMac I checked out Justin has separated topic for CAGED, but as Paul reffers⦠I am gonna start with intervals and triads and I will see where it will take me.
@mathsjunky Thank you. I think it makes really big sense⦠so I am gonna split some time and make it 70% Joe and 30% triads on Justins platform. I am sure it will take long time, but when it will come together⦠it will pay off.
I already know some notes⦠low E is pretty easy for me based on barre. A string is harder, but doable based on power chords and then I did few exercises like finding all āaā from low to high in 12 fret area.
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@Richard_close2u Thank you for links, Richard. I am gonna look in.
I was not just sure if this is the solution to my current āproblemā. I guess answer is yes, when you immediately share links. 
Hi Michal,
I am sure working through the lessons is the way to go. In addition, as a part of my practice session, I often move through all the possible, Chord (or triads), Major or minor scale and the related pentatonic scale together in sequence. This is actually one of the most consistent parts of my regular practice routine.
So I will like play C maj chord in the open position, then C in the A shape, C in the G shape, C in the E shape, C in the D shape. Every time I move from one shape to the next, I will also play the scale note patterns used in that shape, and then the Pentatonic scale within that pattern, move to the next shape and do the same thing. For me, this has really helped in understanding where all of the notes are. Then as I move around the fretboard, my brain might be moving from one chord to another, OR one scale pattern to another, OR one pentatonic to another, because in my subconscious they are all the same. On top of that, if I am feeling ambitious, I also say out loud the note names, C, D, E etc. etc. OR the interval, 1, 2, 3, etc. as I am playing through.
This is one
Hope that helps.
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@Svoisine Hey Shawn, that is really informative and practical. Thank you very much. I am gonna explore the G now, because Joe is starting the course like that.