CAGED Primer Pt.2 - Chord Shapes | Guitargate

Primary tabs

Zoom Lessons

As a Guitargate Premium Member,  you'll receive weekly email invites to our private ZOOM lessons, recorded for anytime viewing. This is your opportunity to ask questions about course material, dive deeper into songs you've been learning, and stay engaged. 

Here's what you'll get:

  • Weekly ZOOM Lesson - Delivered Directly To Your Inbox
  • Recorded Lesson Library - For Anytime Viewing, Q&A, and Video Submission
  • Rotating Pro Instructors - Fresh Voices, Fresh Perspectives, All Pro (see below) 
  • Incredible Value - About ~$5 Lesson 
Included In Premium Membership
Instructors
Jamie
Lyle
Guthrie
Jack
Michael
CAGED Primer Pt.2 - Chord Shapes

In this masterclass, guitar instructor Michael Palmisano teaches major and minor chord shapes across the neck. He starts by reviewing octave shapes and how they connect to form chord shapes in different patterns. Michael demonstrates the shapes for keys like C, F sharp, and A minor, emphasizing the most commonly used patterns.

Michael stresses practicing the chord shapes with a metronome or backing track to make it more musical. He encourages students to move between the shapes smoothly while picking out each note. Later, a student asks about dominant seventh chords, and Michael provides a detailed explanation of where they are used and how they relate to music theory.

Throughout the masterclass, Michael's goal is to help students internalize chord shapes across the entire neck through repetition and relating them to familiar keys and progressions. He emphasizes practicing in a way that feels musical rather than just as isolated shapes.

Transcript Summary

Review of octave shapes and how they connect to form chord shapes (0:00-0:11)

  • Octave shapes outline notes across the neck in different patterns
  • Chord shapes connect octave shapes to form triads and barre chords
  • Practice connecting shapes up and down the neck in different keys

Demonstration of chord shapes in C, F sharp, and A minor (0:11-0:32)

  • Shows major and minor chord shapes across five patterns
  • Emphasizes most commonly used patterns like pattern 2 and 4
  • Stresses visualizing triads within larger chord shapes

Encourages practicing with a metronome or backing track (0:32-0:47)

  • Move smoothly between shapes while picking out each note
  • Practice shapes in a musical way rather than isolated forms
  • Go up and down shapes forwards and backwards in time

Explanation of dominant seventh chords and their usage (0:47-0:50)

  • Only exist diatonically from the five chord
  • Provide pull back to the one chord
  • Blues uses dominant chords on any chord for its sound

Michael is the one who runs this whole thing! 

Premium Members get access to Michael's and all our pro ZOOM Lessons.