TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

Soloing with CAGED - II V I Progressions

This lesson is designed to get you started on improvising using the CAGED system in a jazzcontext. By outlining the harmony using arpeggios, this lesson will build a solid foundation forsoloing over II – V – I progressions.

If you are not familiar with the CAGED system, you can learn more about it here. The CAGEDsystem is a method of organizing the notes on the guitar into 5 scale shapes.

Using the CAGED system will give you access to improvising over II-V-I progressions in a way thatis logical and fully encompasses the neck of the guitar.

In each of the 5-forms of the CAGED system, we are going to take a look at 4 great exercises toget us soloing using the CAGED system. They include

Playing arpeggios ascending: This exercise will help familiarize your fingers withthe shapes of the arpeggios. It will also get you used to playing the arpeggios intime while thinking of chord changes

Playing arpeggios descending: It is important to be able to play your arpeggios onthe guitar starting from any note in any direction. This gives the player the freedomto express his or her musical thoughts without the limitations of playing an arpeggioin only one direction.

Playing arpeggios ascending and descending: It is important to have variety inyour solos. Being able to ascend through the notes on the guitar is only valuable ifyou can come back down...

Example lick: this is a sample of a jazz lick using the parameters of the CAGED

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

system. The same lick is applied to all five shapes. The practice of playing licks,solos, and melodies in all positions on the guitar is extremely important. It gives theplayer the ability to play what comes to mind without the restriction of having to playin the same position.

To get the most out of the CAGED II – V – I primer, follow these practice suggestions:

Focus on one CAGED form at a time: Developing a strong improvisational techniquetakes a great deal of knowledge about the workings of the guitar. Focus on one shape at atime.

Practice slowly; aim for clear tone and rhythmic accuracy: Take each exercise slowly,and seriously. Play it how you would want to hear it.

Sing and play the exercises: This exercise is not only great for developping your ears,but also your memory! Nothing communicates how well an individual knows a piece orexercise more than singing!

The links below will let you jump to each of the 5 CAGED forms covered in this lesson.

C-Form PrimerA-Form PrimerG-Form PrimerE-Form PrimerD-Form Primer

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

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C-Form Major II-V-I Primer

If you need to review any of the CAGED arpeggio shapes for the C-form, please refer to the linksbelow:

C Major 7 - C-Form

D Minor 7 - C-Form

G Dominant 7 - C-Form

1) Ascending arpeggios

2) Descending arpeggios

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

3) Ascending and descending arpeggios

4) Example lick

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

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A-Form Major II-V-I Primer

If you need to review any of the CAGED arpeggio shapes for the A-form, please refer to the linksbelow:

C Major 7 - A-Form

D Minor 7 - A-Form

G Dominant 7 - A-Form

1) Ascending arpeggio

2) Descending arpeggios

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

3) Ascending and descending arpeggios

4) Example lick

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

G-Form Major II-V-I Primer

If you need to review any of the CAGED arpeggio shapes for the G-form, please refer to the linksbelow:

C Major 7 - G-Form

D Minor 7 - G-Form

G Dominant 7 - G-Form

1) Ascending arpeggios

2) Descending arpeggios

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

3) Ascending and descending arpeggios

4) Example lick

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

E-Form Major II-V-I Primer

If you need to review any of the CAGED arpeggio shapes for the E-form, please refer to the linksbelow:

C Major 7 - E-Form

D Minor 7 - E-Form

G Dominant 7 - E-Form

1) Ascending arpeggios

2) Descending arpeggios

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

3) Ascending and descending arpeggios

4) Example lick

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

D-Form Major II-V-I Primer

If you need to review any of the CAGED arpeggio shapes for the D-form, please refer to the linksbelow:

C Major 7 - D-Form

D Minor 7 - D-Form

G Dominant 7 - D-Form

1) Ascending arpeggios

2) Descending arpeggios

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITARJazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composerhttp://terencewrightguitar.com

3) Ascending and descending arpeggios

4) Example lick

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