# Guitar players, help requested **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 21, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490 "2020-12-21T00:36:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490/1 "2020-12-21T00:36:55Z")
I’m a pretty good strummer. But other than a couple of iconic opening riffs that’s about it. I’d like to solo a bit. Nothing fast or complicated. I keep hearing about the cage system but I’ve always been intimidated by the concept. Can someone here give me a dumbed down explanation of how it works and if it’s hard to pick up? I’d be appreciative. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490/2 "2020-12-21T00:48:53Z")
It’s the CAGED system. Basically, learn the root, 3rd, and 5th notes in each of those five chords and you can then improvise a solo out of them. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490/3 "2020-12-21T01:03:50Z")
I’m not OP, but I really should find a, ‘musical theory for guitar for absolute beginners’, because that’s not simple enough. Every so often, I look at a couple Youtube videos, see explanations like that, and I crawl back in my burrow for six more weeks of not learning musical theory. They gotta be out there. . . ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490/4 "2020-12-21T01:06:25Z")
Ignore the theory; just memorize the notes. Here’s a chart: > **[The Guitarist's Guide to the CAGED System](https://www.premierguitar.com/lessons/caged-system-guitar)** > > Learn how to map out the fretboard and be able to play in any key using a few basic open-position chord shapes. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490/5 "2020-12-21T02:15:29Z")
That explains what a 3rd and 5th note is, so I’m already doing better. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-help-requested/928490/6 "2020-12-21T05:48:34Z")
I learned some basic music theory, but on the piano first. Key of C, where you’re using the white keys, made complete sense to my mathematical mind. I mean, the scale is just “the white keys”. Then, C-E-G makes the basic (or “root” or “one”) chord. And look, it’s laid out basically every other white key. Learn the other chords in C, then try other keys by moving that template up or down the keyboard. After I learned it on the piano, it made more sense on the guitar, where the scale and chords are… well, messier. So I’m at the point where you are, trying to move from chords to lead guitar riffs. But without that underlying music theory I’d give up, because I wouldn’t know WHY I was doing it. Rick Beato has some wonderful videos on YouTube. His “why this song is great” series gets into theory sometimes, and once you progress to modes, he da man.