How to Break Out of the Box
Achieve fretboard freedom with the CAGED system.
Intermediate guitarists
Stuck in the same licks? Feeling uninspired? This class will help you break out of the intermediate plateau.
3 weeks
Molly will guide you through three weeks of step-by-step instruction with interactive TAB and assignments.
Get unstuck
Blast out of pentatonic boxes and learn to fluidly solo across your entire fretboard with the CAGED system.
Take the next step
Once you've mastered this course, keep learning with more Master Classes and guided practice plans.
What you'll learn
Join Molly as she breaks down how to map out your guitar and express yourself in any key using the CAGED system.
- Get to know your fretboard on a deeper level
- Learn practical theory that won't put you to sleep
- Incorporate triads and voice leading in your solos
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Curriculum
Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.
Your guided learning pathway
In this five-part Master Class, Molly will walk you through her proven method to break out of the box. If you find yourself always playing the same licks or feel uncomfortable soloing outside of familiar pentatonic boxes, this class is definitely for you.
How to See the Fretboard in Numbers
In Part I, we start with the nuts and bolts.
Here, Molly introduces two key concepts: the CAGED system and how to visualize your fretboard using the numbers system.
Triads: The Building Blocks of Everything
Once you get the hang of the CAGED and numbers systems, you'll learn to harness the mighty power of the triad.
This section consists of six lessons that will teach you how to play major and minor triads across all string sets.
Making Music With Triads
After an interlude lesson on how to learn music theory effectively, we’ll jump right into putting your newfound triadic knowledge into a more musical context.
At Pickup, we take a music-first approach to all of our lessons. Our guiding light is to get you playing and having fun making music as soon as possible.
Part IV. Making Music and Melodies
Next, we'll get even more musical! This section builds on everything you'll have covered so far. In it, you’ll learn how to play guitar parts for five chord progressions using triadic shapes across multiple string sets.
Part V. SongSquad
Finally, we’ll wrap up the class with three unique compositions by Molly that tie together everything you've learned. After that, you can dive into Molly's extensive CAGED Bootcamp to take your skills further or explore the rest of our extensive lesson library.
Part I. How to See the Fretboard in Numbers
To kick off the class, Molly will show you how to map out your fretboard into zones.
The CAGED system is a method of mapping out your fretboard, and it's going to change the way you make music. In this section, Molly will introduce you to CAGED and break down why it's important to internalize, how to think about it, and how to incorporate it in your playing.
Then, say hi to your new best pal: the Circle of 5ths. While complex at first glance, the Circle of 5ths is a remarkably simple and useful concept. It shows the relationship between the 12 notes of the chromatic scale and their corresponding key signatures. Finally, you'll learn how to think in numbers rather than note names, which is crucial to unlocking the ability to create music in any key.
Part II. Triads: The Building Blocks of Everything
With your new fretboard navigation system locked in, we'll explore the musical power of triads.
Triads are an extremely underrated musical device. They apply to every style of guitar and learning them is an important part of the pathway to breaking out of the box.
In this section of the class, you'll work on internalizing major and minor triads across all string sets.
Part III. Making Music With Triads
This section is all about voice leading - your musical glue.
Guitarists tend to play in block chords that don’t always connect. Voice leading is your solution to that problem. It's an essential skill for guitarists to master that's widely used by pianists.
In this section, Molly will guide you through four string-set applications where you'll learn how to play a common chord progression using major triads, minor triads, and voice leading.
Parts IV & V
Wrap up the class by tackling real-world chord melody examples and original compositions.
Part IV. Making Music and Melodies
Triads present near endless melodic possibilities and your newfound knowledge of the fretboard. The great thing about this approach is that it works for both chordal and lead playing in any genre.
In this section, you'll play through five chord progressions using triadic shapes across multiple string sets. For each progression, Molly provides simple and complex versions, then explains key concepts that you can use to craft your own guitar parts.
Part V. SongSquad
Wrap up everything you've learned in the class with three original compositions (called SongSquads) by Molly. Each SongSquad includes interactive TAB and a breakdown lesson video.
REAL students
Don’t take our word for it, take theirs
What guitarists love about this course
FULL REFUND, NO QUESTIONS ASKED
Improve your playing or get your money back
We’re so confident that we can improve your playing that we’re underwriting your membership with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
Your Instructor
Dr. Molly Miller
Dr. Molly Miller is one of Pickup Music's most popular instructors. Her acclaimed CAGED Learning Pathway has helped hundreds of students unlock their fretboards and reach their playing potential.
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Frequently asked questions
The most structured approach to learning music
