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Learn guitar licks from all 5 positions of the CAGED System! Guitar Lesson – EP524

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn licks for all 5 of the CAGED System positions using the Mixolydian scale.

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Comments

  1. Robert Burlin says

    June 30, 2023 at 5:33 pm

    Thrilling stuff Brian.

    Pure pleasure and tickles my musical funny bone.
    Like reading scriptures where you really get it.
    Resonates deeply.
    Hot sounds to cool down with on a blistering hot day.
    Sounds way cool and fun to play, too.
    Love these lessons for many reasons, but the creative aspect of each lesson really plugs me in.
    A new song every week, now that is creative.

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  2. Jordan Z says

    June 30, 2023 at 6:07 pm

    I love this! Has a Ry Cooder vibe

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  3. San Luis Rey says

    June 30, 2023 at 6:09 pm

    This is something useful that should help with my caged understanding and improvising. Thanks Brian!

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  4. BRENDAN G says

    June 30, 2023 at 6:51 pm

    Great lesson. One thing I cannot hear any difference between the counting and no counting tracks,

    Brendan

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    • Brian says

      June 30, 2023 at 7:38 pm

      The one with counting stops every minute or two and you hear the count in – versus the other one doesn’t do that.. just holds the B7 chord

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      • BRENDAN G says

        July 1, 2023 at 7:54 am

        ok thanks

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  5. Mark H says

    June 30, 2023 at 6:57 pm

    Thanks Brian. Inspires me to plot the mixolydian scale for each CAGED shape on fretboard charts. I want to ponder the differences and similarities (pattern recognition) and start running them in my practice scales routine.

    I’ve evolved “collecting” scales into a new hobby, figuring whatever gets me working has got to be good. I will figure them out anew for myself and not cheat by click-pausing your video. That way I’ll get ear training engaged.

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  6. Bill says

    June 30, 2023 at 7:31 pm

    Good one! Love this country sound.

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  7. William Y says

    June 30, 2023 at 7:39 pm

    I’m looking forward to a similar lesson with Minor Chords.

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  8. charjo says

    July 1, 2023 at 7:30 am

    Another great fundamental lesson, Brian. I would take this further and also play a B major pentatonic lick followed by a B minor pentatonic lick in each position and seeing all three around the roots in each CAGED position.
    John

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  9. sciencefiction says

    July 1, 2023 at 8:34 am

    Excellent, Brian! This is the lesson I have been waiting for to learn where all of those mixolydian notes/licks are found for each of the five patterns. So my question is, if you played these identical notes at the same five positions on the fretboard, but over the chord of F#, would you then be playing in the Dorian mode for the key of F#.
    Thanks,
    Larry

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    • Brian says

      July 1, 2023 at 9:29 pm

      Correct!

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  10. Scott T says

    July 1, 2023 at 9:10 am

    Brian you are an amazing teacher Every Friday my day is brightened by a new lesson . This one is particularly sweet !

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  11. Robert R says

    July 1, 2023 at 9:11 am

    This is a good example of knowing your major scale in all 5 positions. All the patterns are here!

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  12. Jim M says

    July 1, 2023 at 9:19 am

    You did it again Brian. Another great lesson, with awesome licks that provide a gateway for improvisation.

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  13. Ian M says

    July 1, 2023 at 9:22 am

    Mark Knopfler may be one guitarist you hear but I clearly hear Jerry Garcia soloing Dark Star, especially in the D and C positions. Must be the Mixolydian thing.

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    • Daniel H says

      July 1, 2023 at 10:12 am

      Totally agree on the Jerry Garcia sound. I suspect a lot of his playing was in mixolydian mode.

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  14. Daniel H says

    July 1, 2023 at 10:10 am

    Awesome lesson!! BUT … What is the best way to “remember” which mixolydian scale pattern anchors to a chord shape? Should we memorize where the seventh intervals are of the major scale patterns and then remember to flat the seventh or is it better to memorize the mixolydian scale pattern that connects with the chord shape. I understand there are the same five scale patterns regardless of mode. My challenge is remembering which pattern to anchor to its corresponding chord shape. Is there a shortcut or do I need to just do the work and memorize which scale pattern to which chord shape resulting in which mode? This seems to be an obstacle for me … I can’t imagine I am the only one struggling with this.

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    • Brian says

      July 1, 2023 at 3:37 pm

      Just learn the major scale in all 5 positions – EP374, then you’ve got the whole thing at your fingertips – you just need to work out which notes to anchor to which shapes. but if you have the major scale down, then your fingers know the shapes / intervals

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      • Rodney W says

        July 4, 2023 at 6:44 pm

        That was the answer I was seeking too. Thanks Brian.

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  15. Slimpicker says

    July 1, 2023 at 11:24 am

    Inspirational! I am enjoying the journey

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  16. kennard r says

    July 1, 2023 at 12:07 pm

    I think a little of Dickie Betts when I play Mixolydian, but that’s just me.

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  17. Raymond P says

    July 1, 2023 at 12:22 pm

    A great lesson on different ways to use the CAGED system and the Mixolydian scale.

    Thanks Brian

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  18. Mike R says

    July 1, 2023 at 1:30 pm

    This is real timely for me. I also like to pair it with EP356 for the minor and major pentatonic scales that go with some of the same chord shapes. Looking forward to the minor lesson you were referring to also. Please do it soon. Thanks Brian for another really useful lesson.

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  19. Patrick B says

    July 1, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    Brian,

    I sincerely look forward to Fridays even more than usual, knowing your creativity and excellent way of teaching will yield a practical and stellar lesson! Thanks for you hard work…my 2+ years as an AM member has been one of the best investments made with respect to guitar.

    Patrick

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  20. William B says

    July 1, 2023 at 3:18 pm

    This is good as a referance when using CAGED. Definitely will refer back to it.

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  21. David R says

    July 1, 2023 at 6:40 pm

    Excellent lesson! Great way to learn these 5 shapes. Maybe do one is a blues theme…more ways to learn.
    Your amazing.
    Thanks

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  22. alfred c says

    July 1, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    Awesome, Brian. Thanks for this. Truly love this lesson!

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  23. paul s says

    July 2, 2023 at 12:34 am

    Hey Brian I’ve been a member for quite some time and have a question for you concerning improvisation.
    I watched a YouTube video of Eric Clapton explaining how he improvises and basically what he says that it’s not so much technique as hearing himself sing in his head and then transfer it to his fingers… As you said many times the guitar becomes the human voice. For those of us who can’t sing at all and find it difficult to think of things to play because I Don’t hear myself singing when improvising are we at a huge disadvantage when improvising ?
    Curious to know what you think.
    Paul Stock

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    • Brian says

      July 2, 2023 at 7:42 pm

      you probably do more than realize. try improvising a solo with just your voice (no guitar) – see if you can sing / hum something. even if you’re not a great singer, you’ve got an idea for a melody and some kind of a cadence. it’s basically taking that, and doing it instead with your fingers. that’s impossible to do at first, because you’re still not even familiar with the sounds, but the more you play, and the more you listen (listening being even more important), then the better you get at it.

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      • paul s says

        July 3, 2023 at 11:30 pm

        Thank you

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    • Eric G says

      July 8, 2023 at 10:50 am

      Okay, this might sound odd, but why not share. Instead of ‘hearing myself sing’ I find myself silently reading weird phrases I find or see, like on my desk right now I see “Titanium Pencil” and “Bureau of Land Management.” I break it down into syllables in my head then maybe put the wrong emPHASis on the wrong sylLABle… I end up with TI-ta-NI-um pen-CIL and maybe bu-REAU, put it together and match up some notes in a scale. Just sharing

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      • Jennifer Ruby says

        July 10, 2023 at 3:53 pm

        I don’t think that’s weird; I think it’s super-creative!

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  24. Jim J says

    July 2, 2023 at 4:44 pm

    Is anyone else interested in learning the do’s and don’ts and the how To’s of creating your own intro’s and outro’s of your songs? Reading thru these comments and questions for months I can’t believe there aren’t a bunch of us that would enjoy that lesson. If so, how do we let Brian know? I was going to put this on the forum but couldn’t figure out how.
    Thanks,
    Jim

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  25. Gary K says

    July 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm

    I enjoyed this lesson especially because I’ve been practicing scales, trying to get fluid playing the major, minor, mixolydian and dorian modes at different positions on the neck off different roots, and then relating each of those to the major and minor pentatonic scales off those same roots. Your use of the caged system gave me another way to think about it and gave me some licks. Please do another similar lesson using minor scales and/or dorian. Thanks.

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  26. Max d says

    July 3, 2023 at 3:08 am

    👍

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  27. Alan V says

    July 4, 2023 at 12:25 am

    Excellent, Brian

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  28. Daniel H says

    July 4, 2023 at 7:51 am

    Brian (or any fellow students) – Is there a nomenclature for each of the five major scale patterns like we have for the pentatonic patterns/positions?

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  29. Michael M says

    July 4, 2023 at 8:03 am

    Excellent lesson, as always. So much to build on here!

    Ugh, it feels like I should be almost there but I never arrive!

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  30. zaher F says

    July 4, 2023 at 8:10 am

    Everyone is at a specific place in the guitar- learning journey, however to me at this point this is absolutely the most helpful and amazing lesson . looking forward to the minor CAGED lesson .
    Thank you Brian for another phenomenal lesson .

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  31. Bob C says

    July 4, 2023 at 10:41 am

    Surprisingly potent lesson. Sounds great too. Thanks

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  32. Robert B says

    July 4, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    Love the new video technique with the floating chord shape in the demo Brian!

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  33. michael f says

    July 4, 2023 at 1:45 pm

    I find that I must work out each modes unique pattern using the whole step half step scale. In the case of mixolydian, the pattern is pretty symmetrical starting on the B root it is

    b c# d# e f# g# a b
    W W h W W h W Eventually, my fingers can find the emajor scale, but not before I memorize the B mixolydian. Question: Is this scale like the major pentatonic scale in that you can us it to add texture in either a major or minor key?

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    • Mark H says

      July 5, 2023 at 7:37 pm

      Not sure I’ve understood your question(?) but if you’re playing major scale notes in the key of B and you flatten the major7th of the B major scale you are playing B mixolydian mode.

      In other words there’s only one note difference; in the key of B, mixolydian has the dominant 7th (A) instead of Ionian’s major 7th (A#). You don’t have to to worry about the other intervals if a) you know your major scale, and b) where the dominant 7th is on the fretboard.

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  34. Jim J says

    July 4, 2023 at 1:55 pm

    Brian,
    Thank you for the free tabbed out rendition of “America the Beautiful” . You make a wonderful song, really sound wonderful. I am already working on your song on my back deck while looking after some Baby Backs in the smoker.
    Thanks again and Happy 4th
    Jim

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  35. sal t says

    July 4, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    Wow Brian, thank you for this lesson I can see everything inside there, Arpeggios, Major Minor pentatonic scale. Mixolydian scale has some tasty notes in there, thank you Sir. for opening my eyes!

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  36. Keith S says

    July 4, 2023 at 3:13 pm

    Brian, it would help me immensely to know how each of the CAGE shapes relates to each of the Pentatonic boxes. Do you have a lesson that covers this? Thank You, Keith

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  37. Steve M says

    July 4, 2023 at 4:20 pm

    Hi Brian, a question I would like to raise is are there any general rules ( such as you told us about when to use major or minor pentatonic scales ) for the mixolydian mode? It is apparent to me that it works for Grateful Dead tpye jams over a chord.

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  38. Steve S says

    July 4, 2023 at 9:58 pm

    Love the lesson. glad you included mixolydian scale as a practice piece. Can you include a mixo pdf?

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  39. Klaus N says

    July 5, 2023 at 7:53 am

    Lof of ’em licks have some serious Jerry vibes, love it!

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  40. Rick L says

    July 5, 2023 at 9:38 am

    Learned long ago Brian, when you bring out the “shell pink” axes…pay close attention…some of my favorite lessons. You could have subtitled this one “Learn this if you want to play like Jerry Garcia”…always fun, never disappointed…thanks

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  41. rickwallenbrock says

    July 5, 2023 at 10:47 am

    Brian – I guess I am really missing something here. If I look at the chart you have for the scale positions in EP 364, they are different than what you have in this lesson. For example, in this lesson, the A shape sure looks like the D shape in lesson 364. What am I missing?
    Thanks
    Rick Wallenbrock

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    • rickwallenbrock says

      July 5, 2023 at 10:56 am

      Nevermind. I mixed up the lessons. You are in the Mixolydian mode. I got it now.
      Rick

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  42. jaystrings2@aol.com says

    July 5, 2023 at 10:50 am

    Super stuff, Brian You’re the best, man.

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  43. Michael D says

    July 5, 2023 at 11:39 am

    Saw a number of folks who asked for an extension of this lesson with major and minor pentatonic licks. Count me in for that!!

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  44. smilefred says

    July 5, 2023 at 3:33 pm

    Hi Brian this is a must know Lesson ,Please do a second part ! Thanks ! Ale

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  45. Brent N says

    July 5, 2023 at 8:51 pm

    Hi Brian; Great lesson. You mentioned doing a minor version. Are you planning on including the dorian mode?

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  46. Kathryn L says

    July 5, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    Wow! So much content from everyones’ comments! But, just want to say the “sound” is sweet and very interesting.
    And, your rendition of America the Beautiful was very nice!

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  47. Frank M says

    July 6, 2023 at 6:31 am

    Great lesson, but don’t quite understand why we are using the mixolydian shape?

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  48. Max d says

    July 6, 2023 at 11:09 pm

    Brian, great lesson. The loop facility is a little ‘sticky’ on the sound track but great to get familiar with sliding from one C-A-G-E-D position to another and improvising without worrying about chord change. This lesson, helped to cemented in my brain the link between the C-A-G-E-D positions and their links on the fretboard, and therefore my growing ability to slide from one to the other. One think you don’t bring out is the concept of using the mode system and in this case the mixolydian WWHWWHW ‘vision’ and that playing it on the one string, is the same as playing it on six, and that it gives you the C-A-G-E-D system. Anyway, I’m finally getting some ways to my 18-year old dream of jamming ‘well enough’ with the blues stars… they can’t hear me on Utube, so it’s ok! Thanks again

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  49. Max d says

    July 6, 2023 at 11:15 pm

    PS. ‘Stocky’ in that, for example, it is difficult to slide the orange repeat bar in my iPad. It may be a function of the cleanliness of my screen… come to think of it!. I’ll clean it and report back!

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  50. David S says

    July 7, 2023 at 9:04 am

    Great lesson.More like this!!! Each time I get new lesson, it’s like a kid getting a new toy. Great teaching. Dave

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  51. Glenn W says

    July 8, 2023 at 7:17 am

    This lesson hit with me in a big way. I’ve been a premium member for 2 months, and this lesson took me to a new level.

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  52. Eric G says

    July 8, 2023 at 10:14 am

    After I learned this lesson in B (as taught, thank you Brian!)
    I found that if I slide the entire thing down to A, I was playing Steely Dan Reelin in the Years! It is very fun to play and it helps me practice the Mixolydian scale. Just sharing

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  53. Tim Moran says

    July 8, 2023 at 10:54 pm

    I know you have probably done this in previous lessons, but for those of us not very familiar with the Mixolydian scale, it would help to put the scales you showed in the video on a pdf in relation to the CAGED positions…. I could probably figure them out using the major scale and flattening the seventh, but I have a small brain cavity… and I like having a map of what notes I can use for a quick reference. Just a thought…

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  54. Max d says

    July 8, 2023 at 11:23 pm

    Wow! I don’t want to hog the comments column, but I can’t resist to say that after 50 years of listening in awe at his rifts, after your EP524 lit up a lightbulb in my head (and some practice)… I am now able to jam ‘quite elegantly’ with Jerry Garcia. Thank a million. Max (with my Fender Mustang on earplugs of course)

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  55. Patrick J. G says

    July 9, 2023 at 10:48 am

    So we can get licks using the same note ,B, Al the way up the fret board? Can we make a song that way? Or is this kind of an exercise? Sounds pretty good.

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  56. Stan says

    July 9, 2023 at 3:40 pm

    Not sure if i just been playing more or what but last few lessons I learned them quicker and with less struggle as a year ago.. Thanks Brian…

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  57. Jennifer Ruby says

    July 10, 2023 at 3:55 pm

    Great lesson, Brian, thanks.

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  58. Adam S says

    July 11, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    Would love to see this same lesson become a series where you do it in other scales…major, major pentat, minor penta, blues etc

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  59. Nick Ll says

    July 13, 2023 at 12:05 pm

    As usual this is another great lesson Brian – brilliant teaching using another composition cleverly put together to illustrate all the points.

    Just one thought if I may but…

    Am I the only one who finds it a little confusing, in a lesson which keeps overlaying scale patterns with fret numbers and references to note names being given, when the tab has a different fret number + full bend and I’m trying to play on a guitar on which full bends are not possible, so in order to incorporate a bend at all I’m having to do a half-bend. For example, on the B minor G shaped position reference is made to the use of the pentatonic during one phrase and Brian is playing 5th fret second string with a full bend, so then I’m having to think, yes but that’s 7th fret if I’m imagining the pentatonic superimposed over the B minor G position. But then I can’t do a full bend, only a half, so I’m suddenly looking at 6, then 4 rather than 7 then 5 (or 5 then 3 as it is played in front of me). This I find soooo confusing. Would it not be better to avoid big bends on lessons which are intended to cement one’s understanding of CAGED positions and scale patterns around them, at least in recognition of those of us who aren’t learning on an electric guitar?

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    • Nick Ll says

      July 13, 2023 at 12:13 pm

      Every mention of B minor in my comments above should be replaced with B major.

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  60. Alphe G says

    July 14, 2023 at 5:42 pm

    Hi brian do to the economy I will not be able to afford to join for another year as I’m a senior and it takes everything that I get to servive I have really enjoyed the lessons hope that I can reenlist in future years i thing I’m still good till the end of September again I will miss these weakly lessons good luck to you Alphe G

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  61. Maxwell E says

    July 17, 2023 at 6:46 am

    Another master piece Brian,
    Damage my arm and have really missed playing , been 5 months and just starting to learn again .
    Maxwell

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  62. Harold V says

    July 20, 2023 at 9:30 am

    Great Lesson Brian. You have expanded again how I see the fret board. Looking forward to a lesson on using these scales over chord changes. On another note, I think that the comment section on the Active Melody.com site, should be changed so the most recent comments show at the top or closest to the lessons. I have to scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a comment and am not sure if you read them.

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  63. Chris H says

    July 20, 2023 at 4:40 pm

    You never cease to amaze, Brian. Good stuff … several cool connections I’ve thought of before.

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  64. Gustav K says

    July 24, 2023 at 6:27 pm

    I love how Brian Just classs over the E shape as being your minor first shape. I just sat there with my mouth open. I never quite realize that. This is one of my favorite lessons he’s ever done

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  65. John G says

    July 25, 2023 at 5:14 am

    Thanks Brian. Very insightful and opened my eyes to see the shapes in the fretboard. With your direction, the vail is lifting. Thankyou, I’m grateful.

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  66. Martin S says

    July 27, 2023 at 7:08 am

    i’m new and I can’t figer out how to get the download the sound track. I thought you said we could loop areas to repeat

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  67. Rick C says

    July 27, 2023 at 4:36 pm

    … and upon taking the red pill, the mystery fell away….!
    The last part of the premium lesson, melted my brain, dude. (haha).
    Thanks.

    (being 3 lessons behind.)

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  68. Dennis E says

    September 17, 2023 at 12:12 pm

    Hi Brian. Is it B Mixolydian that you are playing over the Chords? Its B major scale w/ a flatted 7th right? Im 99% sure it is but just wana make sure before i move on to another lesson. Btw, Amazing video! Ive been trying to figure this stuff out for almost 4 decades, watched hundreds of instructional videos on all aspects of music theory and didnt understand any of them until I watched yours. The way you explain things is a real gift, you explain it in a way that people can understand! Thank you so much!
    Dennis

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    • Brian says

      September 17, 2023 at 4:21 pm

      Yes, B Mixolydian – see 2:51 in the video

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  69. David R says

    February 2, 2024 at 9:21 pm

    Definitely one of my favs. Love the sound of this.

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