Heptatonic system vs CAGED

[Jones PEREIRA JR]

Hi Richie.
Is it mandatory to learn and use the heptatonic system to enjoy the course?
I’ve been using the CAGED system (5 positions) for many, many years and I have perfect mastery of scales and arpeggios using 5 positions system… thanks!

[Richie]

Hi Jones,

The Heptatonic System is simply the Caged System plus 2 added fingerings conventionally not included. What I find hard to understand is why after mastering the 5 fingerings of the CAGED, anyone would have a problem learning an additional 2 which are only going to open up more possibilities?

Whether or not you can enjoy the course without the additional fingerings, I feel shouldn’t be your main concern. Instead, I think maybe the question should be whether or not you can benefit from it? I surely think so, is my answer! However, I will leave it to others who may read this post to give their unbiased opinion.

Having said all of this, please be aware that many great jazz guitarists who use the CAGED system actually end up using all 7 fingerings. I’ve talked to several and many consider Patterns 2 and 3 as 2 variations of the “G” in the CAGED system, and Patterns 5 and 6 as 2 variations for the “C”. Most just keep calling it CAGED.
Another factor that you should take into consideration is the fact that the main purpose of the Heptatonic System, unlike the CAGED, is to view the relationship of fingerings to the 7 chords that make up any tonality. You might not understand this too well in the beginning, but if you get through the course, by the time you are playing over more complex progressions, it will make more sense. For instance, for improvisation the Heptatonic will give you many logical options to map out the fretboard and guide you in selecting fingerings that are going to seamlessly get you through any given progression. Yes, this can be done with the 5 fingerings also included in CAGED, but you will find certain gaps that are easily resolved with the additional 2.

I hope I’ve somewhat answered your question. I guess time will tell. 🙂

[Duncan Herring]

Hi Richie. I just watched your “C-A-G-E-D and Two Other Scale Fingering Systems Compared” YouTube video. Obviously, one of the systems compared was the Heptatonic System, which I have been involved in learning now for about four years.

I began to use major-scale-oriented patterns instead of just using pentatonic patterns while playing guitar in public almost sixty years ago. I was not really playing any jazz tunes in public at that time, in fact, my next two bands were a blues band and rock band. I did have a close friend who played jazz saxophone, and we often jammed together. I liked the way the major scale notes sounded, especially when playing in the minor modes, and I very gradually began to move away from playing only pentatonic solos.

I eventually began to play some jazz. I was even in a beginner’s jazz band that was associated with the University of California at Davis. In 2011 I began a seven-year-long, once-per-week gig with a band that played some jazz tunes every Wednesday evening at a small Hotel in Amador City, California.

Flash forward a few years. At 77 years old, and I am extremely lazy. I really need to practice considerably more, especially given that I am no longer in a band of any kind; however, I am beginning to play your mixolydian-mode-based blues etudes using three of the seven heptatonic patterns. I think that learning to use these heptatonic patterns is improving my playing. I gather that there would be much more improvement possible, should I get back into practicing in a serious way. By the way, I enjoyed watching the video.

Regards, Duncan

[Author]

Posts