CHORDS, SCALES AND FRETBOARD VISUALISATION

0. Intro. Left hand positions are located by the first finger 
(index finger) and named by fret number. 'Second position' means then
that the index finger is used to play notes at the second fret, middle 
finger is used to play notes at the third fret, and so on with simple 
fingerings (the 'one finger per fret' rule).
More advanced fingerings often require fingers to be used at the 
same fret, and so adjustments of the wrist attitude within a position.

1. Fretboard Visualisation. Most guitarists find scales and chords by
a combination of note-name knowledge and mental 'fingerboard patterns'.
There are many names for the patterns such as the 'caged' system, 'three
notes per string shapes' and 'five fret frames'. They all overlap and
join together, neither one is better than the other. 

2.0 The caged system is an acronym made from the five most important
open position major chords: C, G, D, A & E (from the circle of 5'ths).
The important things to know about these chord shapes is which note is 
the root, the third and the fifth of the chord. In the open chord of C the
roots are on the 5 and 2 strings, in the chord G roots are on 6, 3 and 1.
D roots are on 4 and 2, A roots are on 5 and 3. E roots are on the 6, 4,
and 1 string. Learning root note-names on the 6, 5 and 4 strings
then means being able to play chords such as a C shaped F, or an E shaped
Bb, but most importantly to ultimately be able to play all of the twelve
major chords at any position. (dependant on hand size, and guitar quality
some shapes are only playable as broken chords in some positions)

2.1 Three notes per string shapes are a 'five fret frame' scale technique
for modes starting with a root note with the index finger on string 6. The
successive notes are played three to a string, except on string 2 (unless
you change position with a slide here). This allows for smooth sounding
and very rapid double hammers during ascending and double snaps descending.

3.0 My 'modal scale' fingerings is a set of fourteen 'five fret frames'
that are all modified caged 'E' shapes. Start playing each pattern with the
middle finger, bottom left, and ascend left to right up the 'frame'.
This allows for easy comparison of the intervals within the various modes.
These shapes can also be played starting a scale note lower with the
index finger to make a 'three note per string' fingering of that mode.

3.1 An introduction to five fret frames and modal lead is to practice 
playing the "Mixolydian", followed by the "Dorian", return to "Mixolydian" 
then "Ionian" back to "Mixolydian" on the same root note. Notice that these
modulations involve only a change of one note each time. This corresponds to
playing through a simple blues in that key. (chords: I7 IV7 I7 V7 and I7)


REFERENCES/RECOMMENDED READING
Middlebrook, R. - 'Scales and Modes - In the beginning' Centrestream
Pickow, P & Bell, J. - 'Improvising Jazz Guitar' Amsco
Neely, B. & Schroedl, J. - 'Fast Tracks Chords & Scales ..' Hal Leonard