PRESENCE - Volume 21
Inspiration For Guitarists
The Finite List That Actually Moves the Needle
Guitar can feel overwhelming.
Scales, chords, modes, arpeggios, progressions, “playing the changes”… it seems endless.
But here’s the truth:
There are a few core things that actually move the needle. The rest is noise until you have these down.
I call them the 3 Essential Skills—and no matter what style you play, these are the foundation that everything else builds on:
✅ The Number System
Learn which chords belong to a key. It’s the secret to understanding songs, progressions, and improvisation.
✅ The CAGED System
Play chords anywhere on the neck using just a few shapes—so you’re not stuck in open position.
✅ The Landmark Pentatonic System
Solo all over the neck using 2 simple shapes and diagonal extensions. No more getting lost in the middle.
But even that list can feel like a lot. So let’s break it down further.
When you zoom in, here’s the finite list of what you actually need to learn:
🎯 The Number System:
Every major key has the same structure. Just 6 chords to learn per key.
🎯 The CAGED System (My Simplified Version):
I group the shapes into 3 essentials:
E, A, and D shapes (plus their minor versions).
That’s just 6 total shapes for almost every chord you’ll ever need.
🎯 The Landmark Pentatonic System:
Just 2 key shapes, and how to extend them diagonally up and down the neck.
That’s it.
So let’s add it up:
✅ 6 Chords
✅ 6 Chord Shapes
✅ 2 Scale Shapes
That’s 14 total elements. Not 140. Not 1,400. Just 14.
Learn those, and you’ll have the solid, practical foundation to become a confident, expressive, and musical guitarist.
—Dustin