May 2025 Challenge-NAVIGATING THE SHAPES

[John H]

I submitted this exercise months ago minus the backing track. Submitted for your enjoyment, is the exercise with the backing track. One monstrous CAGED moment for this old rocker… I always understood how chord shapes could be played in different positions up the neck, but connecting the shapes and ‘pulling licks’ from the shapes was a mystery. This lesson illustrates how to navigate from shape to shape via scales, licks and riffs. I think the lesson’s simplicity, tempo and beauty helped galvanize the Roadmapping/Navigation required to forge a worthy solo. I am just toggling between G and C on the beat to a really cool backing track.

[charjo]

Another amazing tool for improvising. It has been just great to understand these mysteries of the fret board over the last several years, much of it thanks to Brian.
Sounding great, my friend.
John

[Richard G]

Great example John, those down & dirty licks get enlightened as you work up the neck through the chord inversions. Great groove thanks.

Richard

[Bill]

Nice country rock playing John. Very fluid going up and down the neck with those shapes. More and more I use chord shapes (and triads) to navigate the fretboard.

[KT]

Hello John
Enjoyed your submission and tips on navigating the fret board. Definitely a pro level of guitar mastery.
KT

[AndréM]

Mission completed!
Very nice playing Bro with the two chords and caged.
Well done.

AndréM

AndréM

[Alan L]

Similar to my lightbulb; connecting different shapes and how to get licks from each one. Well played !

[James B]

Really well played, John. Something I need to work on. Which lesson is this from?

James

[John H]

James I will PM you

[Gary W]

John I was going to ask this same question.

Gary

[Michael L]

This is really terrific John! You’re navigation know-how is clear in this demo, and your use of fill-licks between chords is very musical. Of all the ideas or info I’ve gotten from Brian, this sense of navigation may be the most valuable. Thanks for highlighting it.

[JoeD1]

Your playing is always superb in my ears John! Your light bulb is a little advanced for me but I hope to get there someday. I can see most of it when you’re playing but it all collapses when I try it myself! 😁

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

[Paul S.]

Cool music on top of being a nice roadmap along the keyboard. It is especially helpful when you get up high in territory many of us don’t spend much time in.

[sunjamr]

You speak the truth, John. I spend about an hour a day just noodling the various CAGED shapes up and down the neck to a two-chord jam. Works good for reggae, by the way. And also you are incorporating some of the “diagonal pentatonic” runs that Manfred described in his video.

Sunjamr Steve

[JoLa]

That’s a great exercise, John! You actually gave me an a-ha moment or maybe a reminder to practice soloing that way, navigating between chord shapes. Very nice demo and a great advice, thank you 🙂

🎸JoLa

[Wayne Nunez]

Very nicely played and such a wonderful way to connect the shapes,thanks for the description that’s some very helpful information friend!

[Laurel C]

So glad you played this one again John, as it is so apt for this lightbulb for roadmapping /navigating licks with shapes into a worthy solo. Sounds so good and played with your skills. But yeah, with this awesome backing track, another level. I know the exercise was based from Andy’s channel but I never did find it. Thanks for reminding me on this exercise. Could you send me the link too please.

[Jennifer D]

Hi John that was really cool, I was also wondering where this lesson is or the backing track?

[Manfred M]

Combining licks with chord shapes is such an accomplishment, John. And you made it look so easy and playful.
I’m still working on it, but you’re showing me that it’s worth it.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will probably take place in July/August 2025

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Gary W]

Great Stuff John, enjoyed this a lot and was inspired to try the same. As others have asked, is is a Brian lesson, or somewhere else – would appreciate a link or poiunter if poss. Cheers
Gary

Gary

[Martin W]

John, that’s a fine demo of improvising around CAGED shapes , catchy tune with some melodic sounding fills , the simplicity of this stands out a great sounding two chord jam , my kinda music .
Enjoyed it!

Martin

[Pap]

Nice job putting together two chords with various shapes. Now Brian will have to do a lesson on that one:). Pap

[Mark T]

Excellent submission, John – as you demonstrate, once you can play the chords in different positions, it opens up a whole world of possibilities and freedom. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Dieter]

Great ideas and really fine playing.

Dieter

[Serena C]

this submission is like a toolbox, excellent submission John!

If I wasn't making mistakes I wouldn't be the kind of player I want to be. Perfection is dangerous.
It's all about taking risks, sometimes you get to some place, sometimes you get to a different place. (Brian May)

[Bob Utberg]

Zacksame my friend! Over the last five years, I have learnt me to look at my mates while playing LIVE (like we have in the deep dark basements of da ‘burgh) and play somewhere else on the neck! To your point: get CAGEY and crazy! If two guitarists are playing the exact same chords, then one of them will get a pink slip!!! (One of my teachers/coaches said that once and it stuck to me like a Clark bar on a hot, steamy day @ Kennywood!). Nicely played and ‘splained ‘n @ John!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Denise]

I like your Tele. It has a nice sharp country twang. Great comping between the two chords. How useful to be able to play these CAGED shapes.
That’s a great backing track.
D.

More Blues!

[Author]

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