Play Through All 12 Keys With Five "CAGED" Shapes
A great way to strengthen both fretting and picking technique!
• You should already know the Five CAGED Scale Shapes
Notes:
• We start by playing in the key of C (no sharps or flats), using the A CAGED scale shape.
• Next, we go up a 4th from C to F major, which has one flat (Bb). Now, we'll use the D shape.
• We'll continue in this way to go through all 12 keys: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G.
• In this way, we'll find that we cycle through the five scale shapes in this order: A shape, D shape, G shape, C shape, E shape.
• "Up a 4th" and "down a 5th" will bring you to the same note. For example: Up a 4th from C is F; down a 5th from C is also F.
• The purpose of doing exercises like these is not to become a "master of exercises," but because they can help you build strength, dexterity and familiarity with fingerings and sounds, etc., that you can then use in your songs and soloing.