Position Shifting and Scale Shape Choices in Soloing

by Serge

Hello Marc-Andre,

Thank you for your jazz guitar educational web site effort and clear ideas presented. If you have a spare minute (or two!) can you please share your ideas on how to efficiently shift positions/move from one scale shape in mind to the next when soloing?

A beginner improviser can at some point in time of his learning process find himself knowing major 5 CAGED scale boxes well but it's easy and comfortable to stay in a box and not to explore wider range of the fretboard.

Is there a common logical way of connecting shapes and more importantly when is it best to connect shapes?

I understand there are countless ways of doing this but what would you suggest as a starting point?

I found in your articles that you have a talent of explaining complex things simple. I also see you can suggest a good starting point for a complex subject.

I know your opinion on using the diagonal scales and I see your point but for people with smaller hands it would be easier not to reach for the fifth fret too often and that's why I think it's not for everyone. Thus, four fret shapes come to mind and they have to be connected in some convenient way.

Thank you,
Serge
_______________

Hello Serge,

Thank you for the nice words about my teaching and website; I'm glad I can help you improve your jazz guitar playing.

Positions and Connections

The starting point for shifting positions lies in the half-steps present in the scale, (ie where you get one fret distance between two notes.)


In the major scale, you have that semitone happening between degrees 3-4 and 7-8. It's logical to use half-steps to connect shapes because you can easily "slide" into the next position.

If you know five CAGED positions really well, you can find a few good "one fret" spots where the index or the pinky can slide up/down to the next familiar position in the same key.

See for yourself! Take some time and find the smoothest connecting points for your left hand.

Positions Demonstration

I already explained some of the principles for connecting and shifting positions on JazzGuitarLessons.net (but not for the CAGED system unfortunately).

You can watch me playing through seven positions of G major scale using half-steps to connect each one :




And finally, read those articles "that explain it all" in my own words. The position shifting/connecting is in the third article near the end. You can also play directly through that PDF of 7 Positions of G major Connected.

-1- How to Have Six Fingers and Control the Universe

-2- Top Must-Know Positions for Jazz Guitar

-3- Scales Polishing and Connecting

-4- Complete Arps

-5- Triads and Seventh Chords


I hope it helps. If not, let me know by leaving a comment here and I'll try my best to help you further.

Practice Well,
Marc-A


PS:

Don't forget to check out A Modern Method for Guitar at some point; it WILL help your positions/scales playing in no time.