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Learn to play blues guitar.

Improvising Rhythm Guitar Lesson – Using the CAGED System – EP343

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In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll up your rhythm game by learning how to improvise various rhythm parts using the CAGED System. This also makes use of triads and harmonized 3rds in multiple neck positions.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  6. dave t says

    Hi Brian, at 10:47 you said a lesson on 3rds would be helpful. Other instructors I’ve tried until, I discovered your lessons ,explained 3rds but never explained how to use them your explainations are crystal clear and make rhythm playing so much more interesting. I know you get a ton of requests but 3rds could be a cool lesson..

  9. jgreen says

    Brian – great lesson as always.

    FWIW – Regarding the G6 (Em) chord confusion you mention at about 16:00. Since were talking CAGED…I see it as a variation adding the 6th to the C shape G chord played there to help me understand it and stay in the CAGED mindset.

  12. Biker13 says

    At the end of the day this lesson is entirely a right hand exercise, which couldn’t be more useful. The chords / triads and theory behind it are of course important but the entire piece comes undone if you can’t get that groove and play in the pocket. And it is always much harder to play in the pocket for an extended period than you’d think. That is why these rhythm lessons are critical. The lead lessons are always more intoxicating but these rhythm lessons are the foundation of being a great guitar player. So thank you Brian.

  13. KEVIN F says

    Another great master class on applied caged technique. I would love to see standalone lessons along the line of techniques and embellishments associated with each chord shape of the caged system. I know you have this disbursed in pieces in many of your lessons already, but more of a series of stand alone lessons of ‘ here are the techniques and embellishments I try to think about with a Major E shape’ , ‘here are the techniques and embellishments I think about with a minor D shape’. I realize that you cover pieces of this in almost every lesson and demonstrate them in context of chord changes and stand alone compositions which is essential and a great way to learn (and a big reason I subscribed). But I would also like lessons on each major and minor shape of the caged system in discrete lessons that I could find quickly to review it over and over. You could even break it into major shapes in the open position versus close position etc. , another lesson on E major shape embellishments going to 4 chord, etc. Maybe slowly build this info up into a new caged course to go along with the other ones such as your blues course.

    AnyhowI have been a casual guitar player for 40 years now and although I learned about the caged system a few years back your lessons have taught me application better than anything I found!
    thanks.
    Kevin in Johnson City TN

      • Phil G says

        I like this idea too! Sometimes in the regular lessons, I have to look hard at those chord voicings to figure out what shape they are derived from. Especially that G9 in part 2, that is derived from a G shape. Once he said how the pinkie was on the root note on the e string, I saw that notes on the nut side of that root are a G shape. (Notes on the bridge side would be an E shape)

  16. peter v says

    Hi, Brian,
    Happy New Year.
    As a fingerpicker rhythm lessions are a challenge for me.(Sam McGee I like).…….nevertheless.I learned a lot in my first year as a prime member.I even can polish my schoolenglish I was taught 65 years ago.Its still bad,sorry.As a retired teacher,I must tell you,that you do a great Job.Somehow you are not only a teacher for me, you are like a doctor,who gives healings by music.In my age music is a good medicin for the brain, So my slogan is:I TRAIN MY BRAIN with BRIAN!
    As you can imagine. I like the fingerpicking lessons and the jazzy ones best.Im looking forward for more.(What about a ittle bit more Robben Ford or some easy latin music?)What ever you will do,Im sure it will be okay.Just continue.
    Thanks a lot Brian
    Peter
    .

  18. wrightclick says

    A fantastic lesson not every one realizes you don’t use all the strings a lot of the time to form a chord you can just use a part of the chord or Partials as i call them . You have to know your “Partials” and identify them this is real guitar playing .

  19. Michael M says

    Thank you, Brian. You are a gem! I started teaching myself guitar after I retired at 66. That was 9 years ago. I wouldn’t have even attempted it if it wasn’t for YouTube, and channels like yours. My wife passed 8 years ago from cancer, and while she was recieving treatment for about two and a half years before she passed, I backed off practicing during that time. We only had one child, a daughter, and thank God for her! She was a real trooper, and rose to the occasion during her mom’s treatments, and right up to the end. She was way stronger than I was through it all. She was a music major, and plays the sax, flute, clarinet, piccolo, bass guitar, and guitar. I say all that to say this…if we had also had a son, I would have been honored if he had grown into adulthood and been like you. Again, thank you for all you do. I am sorry for not joining as a Premium Member, but because of circumstances, I now live in a senior citizen complex, and just about all of my social security money goes for living costs. Others here are also learning to play an instrument. One is learning piano, but 3 or 4 of us are still practicing on the guitar. I have an acoustic, and a Squier telecaster with a 15 watt Marshall amp. None of us are really all that good, but we have fun trying, and continuing to learn. Take care, and God bless you.

    • Brian says

      wow thank you for your story – makes me so happy to hear that a group of you are learning to play.. that’s a real inspiration. God bless you man – I had someone anonymously contact me regarding this comment and wanted to gift you a membership – so your account is now a premium membership account.

      • Michael M says

        So sorry for your loss, jboy. There isn’t a moment that goes by that I don’t think of, and miss my wife, especially when I’m with my daughter who looks just like her mother when she was younger. I too find so much comfort, and direction from continuing my guitar journey. I also have friends about my age who are also learning to play an instrument, and we help each other, not only with our musical journey, but in other areas of our lives. Take care, and take it easy.

  21. sunburst says

    Man this one blows me away! It is so unique here and totally cool! When I start your lesson ,I laugh because it really is fun learning these musical compositions.. I ean every week you come up with these incredible arrangements.. enjoying this tonight for sure!

  22. Clay V says

    Brian,
    I just want to thank you for the great guitar lesson “Improvise Rhythm Using Triads and Thirds lesson EP343.
    This has truly inspired me, I needed something refreshing in my rhythm patterns, playing Bar Chords all the time got quiet boring for me, now I can switch or mix the Bar Chords with the Triads and Thirds to embellish my rhythm playing…again Thank You.

  26. houliAK says

    Wow! Great lesson. Like a Thanksgiving meal I felt so full after the lesson I needed a nap…. kidding. I got so much out of it and I’m going to enjoy the leftovers for the rest of the week . Keep it coming!

  27. Randall C says

    Love this Brian! Been hoping for a little something leaning towards, “In the style of”, Little Feat. Was that intentional or did we just get lucky?! Is there any way down the road for a LF stand alone lesson? Great stuff thanks!

  31. drlknstein says

    great lesson..these are best for me..loaded with caged concepts and usefull info…I get into aa lot of jams mainly because I can play along and do something useful even if i dont know the song..in fact most of the time i do not know the song and just use triads- caged and scales and get along just fine. more like this!

    thanks

  33. Davie d says

    Great lesson Brian! Have been focusing on rhythm so this lesson is perfect! As usual you open a whole new way of applying rhythm and make me open my brain on the possibilities when playing rhythm! I cannot say enough about the quality of your teaching and site!!

    As you said Brian, God bless the person that purchased your site for Michael! How inspiring!!!
    Dave
    Boise, Idaho

  34. Israel U says

    Just finished this lesson and I’m blown away. Still need to practice, but that’s the usual.
    As I learn and watch the moves I keep being amazed at how it all connects. This lesson is fantastic.

  37. Chris White says

    Really helpful lesson
    The D9 is actually a C6 when you are rocking back and forth with the G
    You say I -IV I know it’s the same notes, you taught us that.
    Working out the actual intervals of each of this triads helps keep things organized
    Sliding the six down to the nine is super cool.
    It can help to realize that the 9 is rootless, while the six has a root.
    Awesome Brian
    Thanks

  38. Henry G says

    Always good! Excellent and enjoyable compositions and great teaching. Humbly suggest you identify ” this (particular) finger on this string at this fret” with fraction of a second added talk noting “…which is a (particular) note.” I think this would help many of use learn our fretboards better and grasp the lessons more quickly. Could be wrong but think its worth considering.

    Thanks!

  43. Adam W says

    Amazing lesson! This one just blew the doors off my playing and has opened up the fret board to me in ways I couldn’t achieve for years just toying around on my own. Thanks, Brian!

  46. Phil G says

    LIGHT BULB!! Part 2, 7:30 you play the lick over the D chord. I’m like, what? Then around 7:45 you explain it is the G minor pentatonic pattern 4. Then I remembered pattern 4 is over an A shape, and I saw the A shape G chord there. SO, if your index finger is over an E shape 5 chord, the A shape 1 chord is right there. Conversely, if you index finger is over an E shape 1 chord, the A shape 4 chord is right there. Pretty cool!!

  47. Stuart M says

    This lesson is huge for me. It makes me want to open any guitar book with chords and see what voicings and embellishments would be more musical or interesting. I could work on this for a long, long time, but wait, the next lesson builds on this! Awesome, Brian.

  48. Phil G says

    Question: Right away in part 2 you go to the G9 at the 12th-15th fret. It took me a while to see it, but I finally figured it out. SO, you are playing the 3rd on B12. This fingering is difficult for me. So, I was wandering if moving the B12 up to B15 (the 5th) would work also? That way instead of b7, 9, 3, 1 it would be b7, 9, 5, 1. And, an easier fingering (for me).

    This is an awesome lesson!!

    phil

  49. Jeremy T says

    Hi Brian, Jeremy here from the UK – I’ve been a premium member for about 3 years now and have learnt so much from your lessons. I combine your teaching with private lessons each week so I can go thru anything that I didn’t understand with my teacher. But lesson number 343 which I have just gone thru is up there with the best. Playing lead on individual notes is fine and good but playing a sort of lead following the chord changes and using different voicings is something I see all the time in bands that I listen to. This is first time I think that it has been explained so well and how it works so well. Im off to practice some more using the tab. Thanks again for the insights. Jeremy

    • Mike S says

      Yes, you are a wonderful teacher and this lesson is right what I need. Around 7:49 you moved from the D-shape voicing to the A shape voicing. I would have been less confused if you would have mentioned putting your pinky down two frets accounts for the space the C chord shape takes, making the next voicing of the chord voicing the A shape.

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