major scales

[mr_n1]

in thed majour scales example in g ued on the web site. If the root becomes A, does the CAGED rule still applie? IE do i still use the E shape for playing in A major, D shape for the next box set etc etc?

[SteelSlider]

Hi, Mr_n1.
Welcome to Cyberfret.

You asked if the major scale in A were played like G?

G Maj scale

E: -------0-|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
B: ----------|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
G: -------0-|----------|---------0-|-----------0-|-------------|
D: -------0-|----------|---------0-|-----------0-|-------------|
A: -------0-|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
E: ----------|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|

_______2nd____3rd______4th______5th______6th frets

Now to play this same scale in

A Maj scale

E: -------0-|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
B: ----------|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
G: -------0-|----------|---------0-|-----------0-|-------------|
D: -------0-|----------|---------0-|-----------0-|-------------|
A: -------0-|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
E: ----------|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|

_______4th____5th______6th______7th______8th frets

Here is

D Maj scale

E: -------0-|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
B: ----------|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
G: -------0-|----------|---------0-|-----------0-|-------------|
D: -------0-|----------|---------0-|-----------0-|-------------|
A: -------0-|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|
E: ----------|-------0-|------------|-----------0-|-------------|

_______9th____10th______11th____12th_____13th frets

The same pattern can be used. These are the patterns used by Cyberfret on the scales pages.
The root note in all cases here are the first note on the big E string.
I didn't quite understand your question, but I think this is what you were asking.
If not, Please repost it, Mr_n1, and either I or someone else will make any corrections.

Good luck.

[cyberfret]

Keep in mind that there is a difference between shape and sound on the guitar.

You can play an D chord "shape" here and it is a D chord.

E:-----2-----
B:-----3-----
G:-----2-----
D:-----------
A:-----------
E:-----------

Move that same D chord "shape" up 2 fret and it is an E chord sound.....but you are still using a D chord shape. This is an important idea.

E:-----4-----
B:-----5-----
G:-----4-----
D:-----------
A:-----------
E:-----------


Now the most basic major scale form is the E form in the CAGED scale system. You can really learn these scale forms without thinking at all about what form it is in the CAGED system. I played this scales long before I learn about CAGED. But if you can visualize a basic major chord shape based on the root of the scale, this will help when it comes time to use it.

So if you play the scale form below so that the first note is on the 6th string, 5th fret....this is an A major scale. If you played the same scale form starting on the 6th string, 7th fret....this is a B major scale. But even though you played 2 different scale "sounds"... An A major and a B major, you used the same scale "shape" to do it. Shape vs. sound. Same scale "shape", 2 different scale "sounds".


|-0-|-0-|---|---| -1st string
|---|-0-|---|-0-|
|-0-|---|-0-|-0-|
|-0-|---|-0-|-0-|
|-0-|-0-|---|-0-|
|---|-0-|---|-0-| -6th string


So the names given to the scale shapes in the CAGED scale system have nothing to do with sound, only shape. So the E scale form in this scale system can be played on any fret, in any key. But at the core of the scale fingering, you can see a basic E chord shape. You may be able to see some other chord shapes as well, but the E is important because that shape in this scale form will give you the tonic chord of the scale (the chord based on the root of the scale). So if you are playing the scale at the 5th fret...the A major scale....That E chord "shape" will give you the sound of an A chord. If you play the same scale at the 7th fret....the B major scale...that E chord "shape" will give you the sound of a B major chord.

Where you see the X in the scale below is the E chord shape.

|-0-|-0-|---|---| -1st string
|---|-0-|---|-0-|
|-0-|---|-X-|-0-|
|-0-|---|-0-|-X-|
|-0-|-0-|---|-X-|
|---|-0-|---|-0-| -6th string


Normally when you play a basic E chord, you also have the 6th, 2nd and 1st strings open. So if you are going to play that entire E chord shape, taking into consideration where the open string where.....you would have chord indicated by the Xs bellow. This is a basic major barre chord with the root on the 6th string. A basic major barre chord with the root on the 6th string is based on the shape of an E chord. Your first finger barring just replaces that notes that were open as you move the E chord shape up the neck.


|-0-|-x-|---|---| -1st string
|---|-x-|---|-0-|
|-0-|---|-X-|-0-|
|-0-|---|-0-|-X-|
|-0-|-0-|---|-X-|
|---|-x-|---|-0-| -6th string


So as you learn the CAGED scale system....or learn more about barre chords, keep in mind "shape", and "sound". An E scale shape in the CAGED system can have the sound of any major scale depending on the fret that you are playing on. But you will always be able to see that E chord shape within the scale......and use that as your reference.

Reference lessons

The CAGED scale system
http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/major-caged/index.htm

Major and minor barre chords
http://www.cyberfret.com/chords/barre/index.htm

--Shawn