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Hi Everyone,

This is the second installment of my CAGED Basics series, where we focus on getting to know the D Shape. While this might seem like a simple concept at first, getting comfortable with the variety of voicings the D Shape has to offer can take a bit of work! The more time you spend getting to know each shape in this series, the easier it will be to move on to the next lesson.

This lesson is fairly straightforward, especially if you've already worked through my Music Theory for Guitar Course. Work through the homework with me and then try out the practice tracks - even tab out some of your own D shaped chord voicings! These concepts apply to rhythm guitar, soloing, and just general creative guitar knowledge. By the end of this series you'll have a much stronger sense of how to navigate the fingerboard. Look out for the next lesson, where we discuss the intricacies of the C shape and how it connects to the D shape.

Here is the jam track I used for this lesson: A Major I IV V IV (also check out the attached mp3s for a few more tempos)

I've also attached an audio version of the jam track at a variety of speeds. You'll find it with the PDFs at the bottom of this page.

Post your homework and questions on the community forum. Also, if you come up with some nice D shape voicings during the practice session, please post what you find, whether that is an audio recording, video link, or tabs!

More from this course:

Previous Lesson   |   Next Lesson 

Other helpful links:
Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
Searchable Lesson Archive
How to Join the Community Forum
Scott's Jam Tracks
SPJ Live YouTube Channel
Scott's Main YouTube Channel

Files

CAGED Basics 02- D Shape_v01.mov

This is "CAGED Basics 02- D Shape_v01.mov" by Scott Paul Johnson on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Comments

Sandra Peters

I have a printed copy of your "Circle of Fifths Infographic" that I use as a visual aid when watching your lessons. Do you have a similar "Circle of Fifths" that includes and applies to the relative minor scales?

Scott Paul Johnson

I don't! Part of the reason is because the relative minor of any scale or chord is so easy to figure out. Relative minor scale = start on the sixth note of a major scale, or find the root note and move back a half step and whole step

Jon Rogan

Really interesting. A tricky shape to strum but I though I had learnt a way to play the D shape using the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings. What I didn't realise was that there was no major 3rd in there. It wasn't a triad after all but a 5 chord. Learning is great!

Scott Paul Johnson

yeah! I think I know the one, it would be something like this: X 2 2 4 5 X And yeah, it would be a powerchord basically - all roots and fifths. Cool chord though, still. I like this alternative with a third: 4 2 2 4 x X