Octave Method for 6-String Guitar : Major Scales & Arpeggios


CAGED octaves method for 6-string guitar

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eBook :


Octave Method for Six String Guitar


Fretboard navigation method for 6-string guitar based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using linked octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.


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Paperbook Book :


Octave Method for 6-String Guitar


Fretboard navigation method for 6-string guitar based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.

Octave Method for 6-String Guitar Paper Book


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E phrygian mode box shapes

In BLOGoZON No.46 the box shapes for the E PHRYGIAN MODE were presented using the EDCAG octaves methodology.

EDCAG octaves logo

In this weeks BLOGoZON the box shapes for the E phrygian mode are revisited but this time the undelying
3-note chord/arpeggio is presented i.e. E minor.

The easiest example of the phrygian mode is rooted on E natural - as it is really the C major scale re-arranged so that it starts with the third note (E) rather than the first (C).

Hence the EDCAG octaves sequence is shown for E natural in the diagram that follows:-

EDCAG octaves E natural

GuitarPro6 E natural octaves

The diagrams that follows show all of the E phrygian mode notes plotted over the 6-string guitar's fretboard in both the Guitar Pro and EDCAG octaves styles:-

GuitarPro6 fingerboard

EDCAG octaves E phrygian mode notes

As always a more long term solution to fretboard navigation is to see scales/arpeggios as INTERVAL shapes rather than note names - as these are universal to all scales, arpeggios and chords rather than specific to one particular root note - with this in mind the intervals for the E phrygian mode are detailed below in the EDCAG octaves manner:-

EDCAG octaves E phrygian mode intervals

All scales and modes have an underlying triad - 3 note chord - that defines their tonality.

In the case of the E phrygian mode this is the E minor arpeggio - hence the notes for a E minor arpeggio

are presented in both the Guitar Pro and CAGED octaves styles:-

GuitarPro6 fingerboard E minor arpeggio notes

EDCAG octaves fingerboard E minor arpeggio note names

Similarly the intervals forming a E minor arpeggio are shown next:-

EDCAG octaves fingerboard E minor arpeggio intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the E phrygian mode and the
E minor arpeggio in the EDCAG octaves style.


EDCAG octaves - E phrygian mode box shapes

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E phrygian mode 6Em4Em1 box shape pdf
E phrygian mode 4Dm2 box shape pdf
E phrygian mode 5Cm2 box shape pdf
E phrygian mode 5Am3 box shape pdf
E phrygian mode 6Gm3Gm1 box shape pdf
E phrygian mode 6Em4Em1 box shape at fret 12

  • 6Em4Em1
  • 4Dm2
  • 5Cm2
  • 5Am3
  • 6Gm3Gm1
  • 6Em4Em1 at 12


  • 6Em4Em1
  • 4Dm2
  • 5Cm2
  • 5Am3
  • 6Gm3Gm1
  • 6Em4Em1 at 12

E phrygian mode 6Em4Em1 box shape

E phrygian mode 4Dm2 box shape

E phrygian mode 5Cm2 box shape

E phrygian mode 5Am3 box shape

E phrygian mode 6Gm3Gm1 box shape

E phrygian mode 6Em4Em1 box shape at fret 12


EDCAG octaves - E minor arpeggio box shapes

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E minor arpeggio 6Em4Em1 box shape pdf
E minor arpeggio 4Dm2 box shape pdf
E minor arpeggio 5Cm2 box shape pdf
E minor arpeggio 5Am3 box shape pdf
E minor arpeggio 6Gm3Gm1 box shape pdf
E minor arpeggio 6Em4Em1 box shape at fret 12

  • 6Em4Em1
  • 4Dm2
  • 5Cm2
  • 5Am3
  • 6Gm3Gm1
  • 6Em4Em1 at 12


  • 6Em4Em1
  • 4Dm2
  • 5Cm2
  • 5Am3
  • 6Gm3Gm1
  • 6Em4Em1 at 12

E minor arpeggio 6Em4Em1 box shape

E minor arpeggio 4Dm2 box shape

E minor arpeggio 5Cm2 box shape

E minor arpeggio 5Am3 box shape

E minor arpeggio 6Gm3Gm1 box shape

E minor arpeggio 6Em4Em1 box shape at fret 12


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