Caged vs. Patterns

[walter S]

I’m trying to understand why sometimes Brian refers to a “pattern” rather than saying the CAGED name. For example, why refer to pattern 4 rather than C shape? Are the terms interchangeable?

[JoeD1]

I’m not sure which episode of Brian’s you’re referring to but in my mind a pattern refers to a scale shape…like pattern 1 or pattern 2 in the key of A.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Anthony I]

The whole concept of a chord having a pattern confuses me. How an A shape chord transforms into a pattern is surely not intuitive. How do I know, other than the chord notes themselves, what other notes to play. I imagine I could figure it out but eventually it becomes a pattern. Why not just say what of the 5 patterns are related to what chord shape. By the way, what pattern does go with shapes C A G E and D. I still don’t know

[charjo]

Brian’s teaching, in the early days of Active Melody, revolved largely around minor pentatonic, major pentatonic and then mixing the two. He mostly referenced positions as box 1, box 2 etc. and still does to a large degree. Teaching out of CAGED shapes and triads was something that sort of evolved with the YouTube teachers, including Brian.
After 6 years here, I am starting to think of all boxes and CAGED shapes in relation to the root notes. So rather than C shape major pentatonic or box 4, I am starting to think of the C form, A form, etc. for the location of the roots. You can then relate a minor pentatonic, major pentatonic or any mode around the roots, you just have to learn how different intervals relate to those roots. This allows you to play any kind of sound out of a given position. Add in triads, arpeggios and an understanding of the harmonization of a key and you are starting to get to a more advanced stage.
John

[JoLa]

For the most part, “shapes” relate to chords, ex. E shape or Am shape and “patterns” relate to scales, ex. pattern 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

The key is to understand how scale patterns overlap chord shapes, for example: an Em-shaped chord lives within a minor pentatonic scale pattern 1.

🎸JoLa

[Sheldon S]

Hi. New guy here. That is to say an Old new guy. Confused on the D shape lower strings form. I get that the triangle pattern of the open Dchord is a movable shape. But how does this other D shape work?

[Jean-Michel G]

Hi,

The answer is two posts higher, in John’s (charjo) reply:

After 6 years here, I am starting to think of all boxes and CAGED shapes in relation to the root notes. So rather than C shape major pentatonic or box 4, I am starting to think of the C form, A form, etc. for the location of the roots. You can then relate a minor pentatonic, major pentatonic or any mode around the roots, you just have to learn how different intervals relate to those roots.

When you play an open position D chord, there is a root on the 4th open string and another one on the 2nd string 3rd fret. It is that particular disposition of the roots that make it the so-called D-shape.

[Author]

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