I keep noticing that many advertisements on social media, whether on YouTube or Instagram, promote courses based on the CAGED system for guitar. Although there are plenty of free tutorials available that explain this method thoroughly, why do so many paid courses exist? Is it merely an easy selling point, or is there more value to it than meets the eye? As an intermediate guitarist looking to broaden my jazz repertoire, I’d like to understand this trend better.
I have found that many paid CAGED courses often emphasize a more structured approach, which is beneficial when trying to integrate the system into more advanced styles like jazz. While free tutorials can give you a good grasp of the basics, the paid courses usually offer extra material, such as interactive exercises, detailed explanations, and sometimes support through feedback. This added value can help in faster and more intuitive learning, something that personally made a significant difference in my progress when I was expanding my playing skills beyond standard rock and blues.
caged remains poplar cuz it simplifies learning and gives a structure to build around. paid courses add extras that free vids sometimes miss, making it a neat entry for many guitarists.