Charts to help you learn the CAGED system for the Minor scale for guitar.
Each of the 5 shapes will produce a full A-Minor scale when you play it from root note till any other root note. The characters inside the circles and squares represent intervals (scale degrees relative to the major scale). Squares represent scale root notes (tonic). Root tones have a stronger visual emphasis to provide soloing landmarks and a better overview of the shape's primary "anchor points" to help you memorize and internalize all 5 patterns. One of the diagrams additionally highlights all root triad's chord tones to help you target them when soloing. All diagrams are isolated from one another to let you focus on just a single pattern at a time.
Tip: Since these diagrams have intervals instead of specific note names you can view these charts as a recipe for any minor scale, not just A-Minor. The patterns will be identical for all minor keys. For example, to get CAGED patterns for the G-Minor scale you just need to align the E-shape's (pattern 1) root tone on the 3rd fret of the lowest 6th string (you can also align the G-shape with the 3rd fret of the 6th string, but then you'll have to play the pattern with open strings—not that you have to avoid it, but I'm just saying).
The order of CAGED patterns never changes, and it's the same as the CAGED-word is spelled. So for our G-Minor example the next shape towards the guitar's bridge would be the D-shape, and the previous shape towards the guitar's nut would be the G-shape.
Pro tip: One of the great benefits of being mindful of intervals as you play is that instead of hitting random notes that are simply "within" the scale you target specific tones of the scale (or chord) at a specific time that add a certain color (or flavor) to your playing, e.g. more consonant, or less consonant. That is only possible if you are aware of what relative degree you are playing and what effect each of its intervals has to the underlying harmony. And this is exactly what these diagrams can help you with.
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