A Shape

Let's slide on up to the A shape in the key of D.

We’ll use the same four-step process that we used in Day 2.

1. Finger the shape.
2. Find the root notes.
3. Learn the chord tones.
4. Practice the major pentatonic scale.
   
   

No two hands are the same

In the lesson, Molly shows two different ways you can fret the A shape.

• Using your middle finger as a bar might be “standard practice”, but…
• Guitar is all about doing what’s comfortable for you.
• Don’t worry if your fingering isn’t perfect – the goal is visualization.
  
  

Peep the connections

Remember how we said CAGED is an infinite loop? That’s because CAGED shapes share notes at their ends. Here we can see that the back of the C shape is shared with the front of the A shape. So these shapes share half their notes.

Let’s jump into the exercises.

Exercise 1. Play and say the chord tones

Time to get the hang of the roots and chord tones in the A shape. As always, you'll learn more by singing / saying each note as you play it.

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Exercise 2. Play it and say it – full shape

Now we’ll expand to the full A shape. We’re starting and ending on our root to stay grounded in the home base of our D major key center.

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Exercise 3. Major pentatonic scale

Let's get our pentatonic on. Just add two more notes (2 and 6) into the mix. Use your chord tones as anchors to visualize these notes.

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Jam  

Jam time – remember to feel the music and have fun with it. As always we're off book - have a stab with no TAB.

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Good news: that’s it for drilling individual shapes in this grade. In Day 4, we’ll focus on connecting your C and A shapes.

• Your goal is to use CAGED to unlock your fretboard for soloing.
• These two shapes give us plenty of fretboard to start connecting some spicy licks.
• We’ll add the remaining shapes (G, E and D) into the mix in Grade 2.