DITCH the CAGED System!

This week you get TWO WAYS to access all the TABs and charts, as well as the bonus lesson that expands on this CAGE-Busting fretboard trick even more!!!
1: make ANY KIND of donation to my good buddy Brandon's fight with cancer: www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-...
Take a screenshot with proof of your donation, and email it to me ( benellerguitars at g mail dot com), and i'll mail you the private video link and all the charts!
or
2: support my channel over on / benellerguitars , and gain access to a TON of bonus lessons, backing tracks, my original tunes, and more!
Hey kids, its your good buddy, Uncle Ben Eller! On episode 278 of Weekend Wankshop, i'm gonna show you guys a fretboard hack that my teacher, the great Ben Franklin, showed me long ago... it instantly blew my mind, helped my learn all the notes on the fretboard, and rendered the CAGED system OBSOLETE! This seriously changed the way i play forever, and its going to work for you, too. All you gotta know is 4 words: Every Note Is Everywhere!!!!
In this video you'll learn how to play any note in any position, assemble any chord anywhere on the neck, and play complete chord progressions without ever shifting your hand into a new area of the board. Sound too good to be true? Its easy if you relearn the board with me!
Suhr Alt T + Fractal Axe FX III - DOD Grunge pedal = tone

[@BenEller]

Thanks very much for learning how to break out of the CAGED! Get the bonus video by making a donation to my buddy Brandon and his fight against cancer here: www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-brandon-suttles

[@digitor24]

WTF i had a guitar teacher named Ben Franklin in the 90's at Loyds same guy?

[@texasfossilguy]

This is the second earth shattering lesson you've had in as many weeks. I am just blown away by this. Thank you!

[@BenEller]

Saythein yup, that’s the guy!!! My sensei!!! Real sweet dude, so laid back. Influenced me a lot.

[@digitor24]

@@BenEller Small world lol, ya he was a cool dude i hope hes doing well. Thanks for all the content!

[@mrnavarro6545]

Prayers to your friend and his loved ones Uncle Ben!

[@CaptnShred]

Can’t ditch it if you never knew it. I always knew all this hard work not learning it would pay off

[@BenEller]

Haha you did it!!!

[@Cthulhu_Awaken]

I kinda relate to what you said but differently. The way I was taught guitar, my teacher never used the CAGED system in order to introduce me to scales and chords. I still to this day wonder what the CAGED really is about. All I've found on the web is pretty contradictory. Is it a way to play scales starting on every strings and not just the root? Is it a method for acquiring chords (and then, scales) in relation to specific spots on the fretboard? Mystery.

[@Kubooxooki]

Hahahahaha... You're the best! 😂

[@kenkingsflyingmachines2382]

Ignorance and indolence are my greatest strengths.

[@shipsahoy1793]

DerTodesmeister - It is many things and different things to different people, but it’s just one approach to understanding ithe fretboard through visualization and patterns, just like other approaches, like the scale ‘system’ of 3 fingers per fret starting on digits 1, 2, or 4 and such. They all tend to be shortcuts of fretboard utilization, facilitating specific types of playing, but as I said earlier, mastering the guitar fretboard musically is a never ending battle of understanding from many different viewpoints. Too many people looking for the ‘easy’ key that unlocks the door, but it is an illusion that any form of pattern playing is an end all to greatness. The patterns facilitate navigation mostly. The point is to create music. Of course, if one’s sole idea of music is lightening speed shredding, then specific segments of focus from the overall toolbox of playing requirements would be more necessary. Players that focus on specific musical genres need specific skills and may not appreciate the required skills of other disliked musical genres. Hence, technique and instantaneous knowledge recall vary, but every player still benefits from the power of knowledge and understanding that come from many facets of analysis.

[@groovelife415]

I remember when this video was posted. I donated back then, and watching this video tonight prompted me to see how he was doing. I was saddened to see that Brandon passed away. It was a beautiful gesture of you to support your friend like that, Ben. Godspeed to Brandon.

[@USAF_Vet_]

I thought the same thing. I came back to revisit this video and did a quick search to see he did not win his fight. sorry for your loss my friend.

[@jimbobur]

So the secret to playing any chord progression anywhere on the neck is to memorise all the notes on the fretboard and in every chord and then just select the notes you need to make the chord you want.

[@WoodsAxel]

Laughed out loud, this sums it up.

[@Guitarplayer724]

It is an excellent way to master the fretboard. I have a ways to go. 😃

[@kennokai]

you can figure out how the chords are made from a scale actually and then figure out the notes for any chord yourself. It’s like a note formula (root, third, fifth of a scale forms a triad)

[@vodoo5748]

My problem with this is i always found some positions of the caged system chords really hard to strum

[@JanBolhuis]

I am thinking just the other way. By figuring out the chords in all positions, remembering all the notes on the fretboard will be a free bonus 😏

[@mrmonsieur7583]

Despite all my rage I'm still just a Nicholas Cage.

[@warlarksam6130]

Traped in a bee cage.

[@moresquatsmoretwats6298]

Warlark Sam living on a minimum wage ...

[@carldinebando4118]

@Rafa Vieira but ended up engage

[@carldinebando4118]

@Rafa Vieira cause that’s Cage.

[@megadave1197]

The world is a camp fire

[@picksalot1]

Knowing that all 12 notes are available in just a 4 fret span anywhere on the neck is a great way to break out of stock chord voicings and find interesting alternatives. Thanks for that insightful way to see the fingerboard.

[@cimmerian100]

Caged isn't a prison , just a system to help you learn a lot of chords via 5 simple shapes. No reason to ditch it , just another tool you can use to help you learn

[@HigherPlanes]

No one can ever really ditch what the cage system is, you can only ditch the name.

[@slowdownbrucemediaproducti1944]

Im sure it was just clever click bait.... face it, it worked

[@brandonbuell3519]

@@slowdownbrucemediaproducti1944 Or put another way, hyperbole.

[@DavidFeilyMusic]

@@HigherPlanes this right here

[@jonathanrussell1140]

@@HigherPlanes Precisely and CAGED is clearly visible underneath this new approach.

[@mariobergermann1119]

Still hope Brandon gets well...all my best wishes for him and his family, and all strength they need during these harsh times! 🙌🙏🍀🍀🍀

[@RLP7786]

Man, I'm sorry your friend didnt make it Ben. Your guitar lessons are appreciated. I hope you and yours find a way to connect with eachother this holiday season even in these dark times. Thanks for what you do.

[@JediCrackSmoke]

“Shredi-Knight Apprentice” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@icecube0606]

“You just gotta learn to play the ball where it lies”. What a gem, Uncle Ben

[@krisremillard5538]

Awesome Lesson. Its always nice to get into chord inversions and I like this concept a lot. Thanks Ben

[@KMGWorryFree]

This lesson fits right in with a jazz comping course I’m working through. The voicings we choose and how we voice lead make all the difference. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@rickystuart8]

This is exactly how I use the CAGED system. Everything you need right where you are. Totally changed my playing and opened up the entire neck for chords, arpeggios and scales.

[@leegibson8186]

i like the idea of using any four frets anywhere on the neck.You are totally correct Ricky.It is exactly how i use the CAGED system.Just confined to the designated frets.I think the title to the video is off.Great lesson but it is the CAGED system.it is not ditched at all.

[@Kevinschart]

@@leegibson8186 the biggest problem with CAGED is youtube teachers that don't understand it. CAGED is just a skeleton. It's up to you to add muscles, tendons, cartilage, fat, and skin. Scales, arpeggios, intervals, triads and fretboard knowledge have to be added to the CAGED skeleton. This guy is saying to learn all those things, with no context and no structure. It's like telling a piano student to ignore the 12 note pattern of black and white keys.

[@leegibson8186]

@@Kevinschart It was a life changer for me.All of the sudden the neck became smaller and clearer.Now when i see the shape of the chord i see the scale and root and flat thirds around it.Every once in a while a little light comes on and it burns for hours . Another thing i ,like to do which i think is a great exercise and useful ,i take a solo and practice using the last note as being the first note in the next run further up the neck., it helps my neck reading a lot.Sorry to ramble on so much. In short .''I love the caged system''

[@thirdlegstalliano]

I thought I was the only one who realized all he was doing was explaining the CAGED system. Thank God I'm not alone, lol

[@bestboy897]

I hope your friend gets well soon uncle ben

[@MrChristopherTennant]

So much gold in this one. Going to be reviewing this a few times. Thanks, Ben.

[@RohanWilson1]

This would have to be the most useful and well delivered lessons I've ever found on youtube, thank you so very much!

[@daviddarko2665]

Ben, your sense of humor and talent is just 2nd to none sir! Absolutely love your videos man. You have really sparked a new love for guitar for me. Well, Ola England's channel as well. Im a metal guy.... your explanation of things is just rad and super easy to understand. You don't "dumb things down" either. Thanks for all you do brother. 🤘

[@vincentjackson3472]

Mate your teachings are brilliant. Every. Single. Video , is packed with amazing ideas... and its very refreshing to see, as a beginner, you highlight a few of the ideas I've considered and cement them in. Love your work!

[@BenEller]

Thanks buddy!!!

[@cabotnunlist2077]

Uncle Ben bringing the goods as usual. Great content - by far my favorite "get better" channel.

[@slashoneill]

This is a really cool approach I haven't heard before. I'm definitely going to try it out. Thanks for the help.

[@Geotubest]

I "Like" Ben's videos before I even watch them. Always great content.

[@EivindFalken]

same here. least i can do.

[@seanfitzpatrick7878]

I've used (practiced) this system for years too. A jazz teacher would quiz me every lesson and it was instantly obvious if I had or hadn't been practicing. I didn't scrap the CAGED system though. I've made use of all the methods I know combined into one whole method. Practicing all of them helped me memorize the notes of the fretboard too.

[@andreashofmeyr9583]

Super insightful lesson. Has shifted my perspective. Looking forward to playing with this!

[@1981SG]

I have been studying triads the past weeks so this video is very welcome :) Great lesson Uncle Ben! Thanks!

[@simonrourke1978]

I learnt the CAGED system a few years ago and it opened doors for me, but this video simplifies it even more and is definitely a great way to learn it so I’ll be practising this!

[@88pynogrl]

I’m a piano player(learning guitar)so the caged system is so alien to me because it is based on physical shapes. It’s easier for me to think chord tones( inversions). Isn’t the caged system require a lot of Barr chords?

[@StuPedassol]

"...By taking a dod grunge pedal, and not using it." 😄😄😄 Pure gold, Uncy Bang!

[@halohat2286]

watched this video when it first came out (subscribed) and not long after realized this is the most important lesson I've ever had. "Every note is everywhere". Thanks Ben, I love the inversion tones and versatility.

[@snehashisnag2411]

That's an incredible way of thinking. Thanks a million uncle Ben!!

[@aliray1165]

It’s simple! All you need to know is every single note on the guitar and exactly where it is and you’re a pro! Amazing!

[@mandohat]

That only gets you halfway there. You also need to know the names of every note in every chord. My teacher, Shredi Master Bob Applegate made me memorize them.

[@aliray1165]

mandohat how do you know the names of every note in every single chord in existence, isn’t that almost limitless?

[@mandohat]

@@aliray1165 Literally, my teacher made me memorize these 7 major triads in order: FAC CEG GBD DF#A AC#E EG#B BD#F#. You learn to flat and sharp them all. That's 21. You learn to make them minor, diminished, and augmented. That's 84. You learn the formulas to all of the extensions. Now, you know them all. So when someone asks what notes are in a D# minor 11 chord, you can tell them D# F# A# C# E# and G#

[@aliray1165]

mandohat I love you. I can’t believe you wrote all that for me. Thank you ;-)

[@johnnyjaime123]

@@mandohat A big Thank You from me too!!!

[@gogpoydi]

This man deserves more subscribers.

[@deerfeeder2076]

Learning leads to creativity. Love your guitar teacher and your extending that forward.

[@JohnnyGuitarRocks]

Thank you for expanding my musical mind today Uncle Ben. Rock on!

[@Grant-kj4eq]

I think the whole benefit of the caged system is that it gives you a way of easily finding root notes . Being a shape based system it makes it easier to these notes and based on the root note positions its paves the way to locating the others notes on the fret board . The system Ben is sharing relies on you already knowing where all notes are on the fret board . My suggestion is learn the cage system so that you are able to learn where the notes are on the fret board and then use the system in this video

[@superrookie7553]

The problem with the caged system is that after you figure out the root notes you're still unsure of what are the other notes in that position Simply memorizing the notes in each fret is actually simple then you can start memorizing scales by notes

[@fishuntr]

This is good information and quite interesting. This method is probably most useful for advanced players or jazz musicians etc (not me). Caged is so much easier for a beginner or intermediate player to get under their fingers. I don't see how to use this method to make a solo unless you are advanced. I think uncle Ben himself made the case by repeatedly citing Eric Johnson. That said both methods are solid gold.

[@Kevinschart]

@@superrookie7553 nothing in the CAGED system says you can't ALSO learn the notes on your fretboard, or learn the notes in the position. If you don't know your notes it means you haven't done the work.

[@Mauitaoist]

I used the Caged system I put dots on the route the 3rd and the 5th different colored dots that way I learned all the Triads I just did it in the key of C. Once I learned all the positions and where the root 3rd and 5th notes were it was easy for me to put together any kind of cord I wanted to anywhere on the neck and any key

[@Reliable_Session]

This CHANGED the way I play- I swapped out my ERNIE BALL XL’s for FISHING LINE

[@NathanPitts]

This content is amazingly powerful if you spend the time to get it into your ears / brain / fingers. You sir are a gentleman to share so freely with your community.

[@JasonTAho]

So simple, yet so elusive. This is a game changer. Thanks Uncle Ben!!!

[@wesleytrott6397]

This is an excellent lesson. I've always been jealous of pianists ability to make chord progressions sound more melodic than the standard chords on a guitar.

[@FirstLast-zv5od]

The Ben Eller process has made me a betterlyler playerer.

[@OrbisonTributeArtist]

What a great way to extend chord knowledge. Thank you!

[@3dprotoplanet948]

Thanks Uncle Ben! I've seen so many other guitar youtubers make videos on the CAGED system but your explanation here just clicked with me.

[@bestboy897]

This guitar feels like its made for open chords. Really nice

[@bongoscot]

Id rather expand my knowledge than ditch anything. Caged system, especially the extended arpeggios within it, changed my life as a guitar player.

[@carldulcie364]

if you truly understand the caged system you are free to play in any position it is a logical system for understanding the fretboard not to be ditched but rather expanded upon caged agedc gedca edcag dcage caged agced.......ect. it's good to have more than one trick up your sleeve

[@carldulcie364]

totally agree scotty

[@fishermanryan]

Hey Scotty, favorite place to learn it as you did? Seemingly infinite vids out there

[@bongoscot]

@@fishermanryan oddly, the book that helped me understand the caged system was a dummies book. Theory for dummies I think.

[@bongoscot]

It's the most boring book on the planet but the section about the cage system is worth the cost of the book

[@cutmemick4949]

Ever notice how so many people wanna learn guitar but they fail because of KZbin videos.....an ad on KZbin! I've learned more from KZbin than any other format!

[@johnl4peace]

Thanks Ben, excellent take on chords up the neck. It is like ditching the CAGED but providing a reason to understand it at the same time!

[@andrewthompson7707]

Basically, you're teaching triads. Prayers to Brandon...

[@metaldownm]

Dude I watched this video for the first time now, and just went to Brandon Suttles page on gofundme. It says he passed away on March 20, a few weeks ago. May his soul Rest in Peace.

[@BenEller]

Yeah man, absolutely tragic.... he was a great friend. Proceeds from his page are going to his medical bills and stuff.

[@derrickmickle5491]

Holy f#ck! This just blew my mind. Every once in a while you come across a video that teaches a concept so exciting that you stop the video, grab your guitar and start applying it immediately. Ben, you weren't kidding: it's obvious this is going to change the way I play guitar going forward. Very grateful that you shared this with us.

[@kensimmons3356]

I kind of discovered on my own that all the chords that you need are right under your fingers. It's kind of like busking. I wasn't really thinking of individual notes so much. Good info. I like looking at things in a new light. Thanks Uncle Ben.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

No, I enjoy being caged up! hehe. ;)

[@BenEller]

Hahahaha tiger can’t hunt if it’s in a cage!!! ;)

[@RockStudioLive]

Especially during Covid!

[@larryhastings2367]

Ben you’re approach did the way

[@joaofigueiredo6585]

I thought you preferred 3 notes-per-string :P @The-Art-of-Guitar

[@convie444]

18 year old me circa 2002 feels personally attacked by the DOD Grunge pedal comment lol.

[@StrongThompson]

Was my first pedal - loved it, and still have it.

[@n3rdg4m3r]

First pedal for me as well, still have it too after 20+ years.

[@thetribalist6923]

I had the Digitech version and loved it. I still think there are some great metal tones in that purple box.

[@n3rdg4m3r]

I had a Peavey 15w so the Grunge pedal was the closest I could get to Metallica at the time

[@haroldb5635]

Mind: Blown. What a great way to open up the fretboard for different chord voicings.

[@matthewbell4362]

This whole video gave me a huge burst of happiness - I'll try donate asap and all the best to you and your friend

[@wyzzyx1080]

The DOD crack killed me. Anyone that has ever played through one of those knew exactly where that was going.

[@cleanhit777]

Music is really just the same as a spoken language, and what you're teaching here is the alphabet and how to put simple words together, everything flows from this one piece, what a lesson! It's hard for guitarists to break out of shapes and patterns, they serve us well but they limit us at the same time, I taught myself some basic keyboard, and you know what to my shame I was looking for patterns in the keys as a short cut.....

[@glenwallace6314]

Sort of reminded me what I don't know and should know.

[@mhsandifer]

Outstanding. Priest was one of my favorites for each guitarist playing the same chords in different positions to get their sound. I really need to revisit this to help my fretboard knowledge, thanks Ben

[@canadianguitar3971]

You're an awesome teacher man, very simple to understand and very thorough!

[@ThePilate30]

So many times during this video I heard the intro to "Silent Lucidity"

[@patratshit6911]

That and "Far Behind" by Candlebox Box.

[@therapist6328]

Generation Landslide...Alice Cooper.

[@patratshit6911]

@@therapist6328 close the gap between 'em

You beat me to it.

[@john0007]

This does not mean that the CAGED system is useless. What Uncle Ben is showing is just another way of fretboard visualisation. Whatever that he showed in this video can be done the same with the CAGED system. I am not trying to say which way is better. You have to learn and find which works better for yourself. Just wanted to let the newer guys know. I learned the CAGED system and it really helped me out in learning the fretboard.

[@acegh0st]

What he showed in the video is the CAGED system. All CAGED does is allow you visualize the triads he was making on the fly, without having to build them from scratch every time. I don’t really get his title at all. I mean obviously the basic CAGED system is just a springboard for more complex chord tone improvisation, but it’s a great place to start to learn and understand the fretboard.

[@federerfanatic]

The CAGED system is geometric pattern system that reflects the 2-dimensional surface that is the guitar fretboard. Being a math guy is kind of cool but I am not sure it's that helpful. It would be good if Ben would do a video to show how one could play/compose songs using this shorthand.

[@k6151960]

Took lessons when I was a kid for about 7yrs. I've been staring at those same frets for many decades. WOW! what an eye opener. Just like a piano (which I am a beginner at).

[@mikedwiles]

Thanks Uncle Ben! Revisited this video today. What a great idea! Been working with Tom Quayle's 'Solo' app as an exercise to finally learn the notes of the 'thin' strings. Using your method, I plan to start at the first four frets, work the exercise, and then move up one fret and do it again all the way up the neck. Noticed that a lot of the shapes repeat themselves. So, that will be helpful too. Thanks again! Always love your content.

[@steevkelly]

13:34 - Learning To Fly by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

[@kushmush8714]

Also the same progression as Tracy Chapman - Fast car (but in a different key)

[@straygeraniums1]

Never learned CAGED. My first guitar teacher had me memorize the fretboard and figure out triads - everywhere. CAGED just seems like a whole lot of “A in the E position... D in the G... etc” when it doesn’t have to be this kind of transposition all the time. Maybe it’s just me. But if you know where your notes are in the first place that kind of constant mental repositioning/naming seems to be a hinderance in the long run no matter how fast you translate. I’m glad it’s another option for folks who are learning - I just wonder about the long term effects - which could be mitigated by memorizing the notes and learning triads all over. Seems like you see the fretboard more organically that way instead of constantly thinking of reorienting these shapes. Best piece of advice still goes to Mick Goodrich though, about practicing everything on one string - up and down. Arpeggios, scales, changes - by limiting yourself to one string you’re forced to approach things in an entirely new way while becoming familiar with the entire fretboard.

[@number1authority]

Thank you. Of course, it’s not the magical panacea one clicks on these types of videos for, but it immediately rang true; in that I’ve heard what you’re advocating stated firmly many times before, and the fact that total-fretboard/one-string practice methods aren’t some easy fun trick indicates that it’s the way to do it. I’ll keep that approach in mind. Just hope I can find the dedication to take a deep breath and start actually using it. I’m sure I won’t regret it if I can muster the wherewithal.

[@zarbog8618]

One of the very first lessons any guitar teacher should use. Drawing the parallel to the keyboard use of chords was very enlightening. Wish I had been a helluva lot younger than 59! You sir, had a wonderful teacher. Thank you for teaching me! Namaste.

[@micheledirocco4994]

One of the greates things of your videos for a non-english speaker like me is that I perfectly understand what you say just like I do in my native language! I've found this is not very common (other few examples are John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Stevie Terreberry, Troy Grady) and I appreciate it so much! I also wish all the best to Brandon and hope he's going to receive all the care he needs. Cheers from Italy

[@TheFilmSlasher]

Uncle Ben, you should be a Suhr Artist! It’s about time you get your own signature model.

[@HayesProject79]

I’m trying to break 30+ years of bad habits and gain some knowledge instead of just playing by “feel.” Great lesson stepson Ben! I’m too damn old to be your nephew

[@SoldatX2]

Playing by feel is best though. I see this as a way to add a different flavor to one’s playing.

[@kiawalker6203]

Oh my gosh! U have changed my world! Thank u so much. I was do frustrated with CAGED

[@toddreboul3052]

Ben, this is the first video of yours I've ever seen - I'm very glad to have stumbled into your channel. I am really looking forward to putting this lesson to use. Thanks so much!

[@garylisbon8933]

Lessons like this are so awesome! I have been working on memorizing triads and inversions on all the string sets for a while now and finally getting a bit comfortable with major progressions and not having to jump all over the place. Cadged is ok and helpful but triads, inversions and voicings is Cadges on steroids imo. Thanks for another great lesson Unc!

[@cb4j]

"I'm learning to fly but I ain't got wings Coming down is the hardest thing."

[@BenEller]

Ding ding ding!!!

[@cb4j]

@@BenEller when you hit those chords it hit me instantly. Thanks Ben. R.I.P. Tom Petty.

[@OnfloorAudio]

@@cb4j Me too , i'm still mad that we lost him so soon ... I'm a hard rocker ay heart , but i loved his music . RIP

[@Kinopio710]

You’re honestly the most insightful guitar teacher on KZbin I love coming back for your pearls of wisdom, lead the way Shredi for we are merely your padawans 😎

[@thelastcell]

Seee this is exactly why I love music so freakin much. You think you know your way around the guitar , then you hear stuff like - and it gives you the sense of wonder again - like if you missed something so obvious somehow because you just never looked at it that way - what else are you maybe not seeing yet ? That moment when you get this "aha" moment - pure bliss ! Thanks for this lesson Ben !

[@HigherPlanes]

When I got tired of searching for the perfect system, I just learned theory.

[@LucasLeCompteMusic]

IM GUNNA BREAK. I GUNNA BREAKK MYYYYYYY. I AM GOING TO BREAK MY RUSTY CAGEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD AND RUNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

[@LucasBozovich]

The next step would be learning about rootless voicings, so you can also play jazz/blues with a bassist. the bassist’s job in jazz is to lay out the chord with the root usually on the first beat of each measure, while the guitarist (and sometimes pianist) try to come up with individual rootless voicings with different syncopated compings.

[@joeconti3599]

@@LucasBozovich what?!? What does that have to do with this post?!?

[@LucasBozovich]

phoenix _RISE1 I noticed you were talking about the caged system as a joke, but I also thought you wanted another push in the right direction, a step beyond this one if you will lol

[@goldpeen2661]

WE"RE BREAKING THE CONDITIONING RAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@joeconti3599]

@@LucasBozovich #woosh

[@gilbertoquiroz-rea8194]

You do such a good job of explaining things! New to this channel and I'm still not sure about calling you Uncle but you sure are a good teacher. Thanks for helping me suck less at the guitar!

[@stevelandsaw3132]

Wow! This really helped open a lot of fretboard possibilities. Thanks!

[@xkidmidnightx]

Better than caged.... memorize the fret board 🤣😂

[@bobscratchit9665]

Who says you can't do both? Why can't the caged system be used to help learn the fretboard? I guess Tim Pierce is just a hack.

[@aldenunion]

Played 40years and just doing just that now....Don't anyone give up,stall or be lazy....Don't wait either,do it now!!!!

[@Madchris8828]

@@aldenunion too bad for me I play in a ton of different tunings, so trying to memorize the fretboard is a joke. Currently don't even have a guitar in standard

[@aldenunion]

@@Madchris8828 Yeah,that is another aspect,your sound..

[@Uri1000x1]

Finding major chord 1, 3, & 5 notes should reveal patterns. When you find the 1 you will know where 3 & 5 are. The patterns for the minor chords vary slightly using the flat 3.

[@jetsh1ftman746]

If you had ears you could hear it without making it a math problem🤦

[@carlbaumeister3439]

Never really thought of it before. I’m also a pianist, and when you mentioned that the concept matches the idea of a pianist keeping his hands in basically one position, it really hit home. Elton is fantastic at doing this, and it really simplifies playing his songs on piano. Guitar is obviously more difficult because those 12 notes’ orders change as you progress through the fretboard, but I’m motivated to give this a try.

[@BrettRhodesLCSW]

Love it love it love it. I'm just now at a level where I can actually understand and make use of what you're teaching in this video. I guess it's true, the teacher really does appears when the student is ready. Thanks for this video. Super helpful and this will make releaning all the songs I already know super fun. Now I can move each song to a new position and learn it there to give it a completely new sound. Cool!

[@brandoncarson3143]

Triads help every guitar player learn better! It's actually more fun than you think! I actually learned by playing at church. I grew bored of playing the same chords the same way, so I forced myself to play each week at church a bit differently. That actually unlocked a whole new world to lead guitar playing.

[@mikedwiles]

Same here. With more than one guitar player, I had to come up with something different. Sometimes, the pastor or speaker wanted the band to keep playing quietly while he spoke. We would loop some part of the song and keep playing, sometimes for a while! So, it became a game just like Uncle Ben said: Pick a spot, play all the chords in that spot using triads. You and your listeners won't get bored of the same 3 or 4 chords over and over if you can shift your voicings. I'd say it was probably the biggest fretboard epiphany for me.

[@smoothguitarforever]

Lmao "improve tone by taking this grunge pedal and not using it"

[@peterkelly8357]

If you learn music theory including how scales and chords are constructed and reading and writing music even to a basic level, which will probably take as long as memorising patterns/shapes/CAGED etc, it will pay off more in the long run

[@TheBoomtown4]

Peter Kelly think you’re replying to the wrong comment amigo. Not applicable.

[@AchillesWrath1]

I think that was the first pedal i ever owned.

[@rimamukherjee5874]

BREAKING: Alexander Povetkin has tested positive for coronavirus so his rematch with Dillian Whyte has been postponed.

[@WestCoastSwinger]

I highly recommend the movie The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) if you haven't seen it yet

[@OnfloorAudio]

Uncle Ben , as usual you knocked it out of the park with this latest clip . I'm sure your old teacher must be proud of how accomplished you have become etc . Thanks for posting this.

[@iagobroxado]

Man, this lesson was really really inspirational. Thank you for sharing, Uncle Ben.

[@TheZotman5]

This lesson could make a step dad sound good.

[@lior777]

You should definitely teach how to voice lead chords like Stairway to Heaven with the chromatic movement :)

[@davegenske8973]

Thanks Ben. That’s revolutionary for me. Working to memorize the fret board and this really helps with that. It also gives me a practical use for knowing where the notes are located across the fret board.

[@EvaluateAssimilate]

This is amazing, thanks bud. Another golden nugget of information to take away, it's a far better way to perceive the neck for sure. All the best!

[@JohnSpo]

"A" is not a random note. It's the first note! E#. Now, that's random!

[@insanedrummer89]

I need to buy me one of them there fancy guitars that play chords past the 5th fret. 🤯

[@manami793]

I hope your friend get back in good health , very good video great for those who have been plucking away and putting it together over time . you bring it home as they say!

[@nickcormier]

I love the way you explained this Ben, I've been using a similar system for years and I always struggled trying to explain it to people the way I see it.. but this video kinda does that very simplistic. well done!

[@conorobrien2712]

So what you're telling me is that Uncle Ben was taught to play guitar by another Uncle Ben ?

[@BenEller]

i am part of a grand tradition going back eons!

[@nobodyknows4590]

CAGED is faster and easier if you haven't memorized every single note on the fretboard like, oh let's say, 95 percent of all guitar players.

[@Jewpacca]

shoot, was I meant to do that? i knew i was messing up somewhere

[@therealcarlmarti]

CAGED also helps you to memorize the notes on the fretboard.

[@cirjames2540]

Thank you for lesson. Finally the fretboard is making sense.

[@KaitouKaiju]

Wow. This is something I knew intuitively but having it laid out like this makes it so much more apparent

[@shipsahoy1793]

The caged ‘system’ of the guitar fretboard is nothing more than another way of looking at the fretboard in patterns to see how the scales and arpeggios are connected within any tonal center. It is not a prison, not a system, and certainly not an end all approach; it’s just another way of looking at the neck to help you visualize the fretboard and navigate beyond any area knowing your target notes underneath your fingertips. In order to truly have the musical freedom on your instrument, you need to know where all tone possibilities are in forward reverse piecewise intervallically enharmonically and inside out and backwards from any point in any key. Thinking of any approach as a panacea for enlightenment is just nonsense. You should also know the name of every note, every note that’s in any key or chord, and even know the positions of the notes within the scale i.e. b7 b3 # 9 or whatever. Also study melody harmony and rhythm.. Knowledge is power!

[@jerrymckenzie6205]

Yeah, why learn the CAGED system when you can just memorize EVERYTHING instead!

[@richardcochrun3869]

@@jerrymckenzie6205 I know right? People are commenting "memorize everything possible" as advice on a video about helping people learn systems. If we could memorize everything, we wouldn't be watching Ben's videos.🤷🏻‍♂️

[@TomFarrell63]

'If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!!'

[@startrekmike]

@@richardcochrun3869 This does kinda lead to a uncomfortable issue. The guitar is a pretty popular instrument for people who have no prior musical knowledge and as such, there are a lot of instructional materials and even teachers that will actively push new players away from actually learning how the guitar works as a musical instrument and towards shortcuts that will get them "results" quickly but will probably put them in ruts that are difficult to escape later down the line. This isn't a thing that is exclusive to the guitar (a lot of hobbies have a form of this problem) but with the guitar, you end up with a lot of players who spend years trying to find ways to avoid a couple of weeks worth of learning and memorization.

[@guitarman_3693]

i know every note.. there are seven... and of course there are 4 sharps/flats... its not that hard.... now learn every chord !!!!! its gonna take awhile... lol

[@gilliss6]

Great stuff as always, UBen. Question: To play the chords and voicings all over the fretboard, you're assuming (perhaps) that folks know where to find the notes on the fretboard. Do you have a pattern or cheat that you use to help quickly ID all the notes on the fretboard? Thanks :)

[@BenEller]

quickest answer is just learn the natural notes extremely well. If you know where every D is, you know where every D# and Db are, too!

[@midnightflyer7510]

@Frank Blackcrow I don’t know Frank, I think it’s called compassion you hostile prick!

[@teleplayer7081]

@Frank Blackcrow I feel bad for you Frank. Because if this is your attitude in a nutshell, I can only imagine what musicians must think of you when you play with them. I myself, just from reading this, would see a self centered prick, that needs to control everything and can't appreciate the simple things in life, or even appreciate what others do for one another. You must have a difficult time making friends, or staying within a band. Happy playing Frank....Prick on!!! oops I mean Pick on!!!!

[@davidbock201]

Now THIS video I dig. Thanks for putting something together that I can actually use and play around with.