For arpeggios, pentatonics, and major scales in System 5, you will play up and down the neck in three string sets. Every iteration of the arpeggios, pentatonic, and major scale will be played on four different string sets, starting with GBD, then DGB, then ADG, and finally EAD.

This is difficult and will take a lot of work. The patterns are repeated through the 12 weeks, so don’t get discouraged! As you keep at it, you should show slow improvement. By the end of the 12 weeks, you should be able to play all of these with a metronome with a high degree of accuracy. You may not be perfect, but that’s alright. If you achieve competence, not perfection, in these forms, you should have a true mastery of your basic skills. Wherever you are on the neck, you should be able to see small shapes of your scales and arpeggios.

And rather than being stuck in one position in the larger boxes found in the CAGED system or the three-on-a-string major scale modes, you will be learning how to play across the neck. And, you will begin to see smaller patterns, which will allow you to come up with rhythm parts and see arpeggio, pentatonic and major scale patterns in smaller boxes. So, it is very helpful for learning how to play fills while playing rhythm parts, and will be incredibly helpful for soloing.

Even though this is hard-don’t give up. It may seem like you are not getting it, but if you keep at it, you will start to see progress! And in the end, it will pay off in ways that will surprise you.