Hacking the CAGED System — The Complete Series

All three Hacking the CAGED System books, in their 2026 revised editions.

The series takes the CAGED system apart and rebuilds it into something you can use while you're playing. Book One cuts it down to four workable patterns. Book Two carries those patterns into territory where CAGED itself stops working. Diatonic Harmony approaches the same fretboard from the other direction — one master pattern per key, with everything else drawn out of it.

Read in order they build on each other. Read separately each one stands on its own.

Book One

The four hacked patterns and how to connect them, finding any root note anywhere on the neck, diatonic chords and seventh arpeggios, the switch from note names to intervals, landing on the right note as the chords go past, the modes, and key signatures. Plus a 30-day practice plan and a troubleshooting chapter.

Book Two

Ninth, sixth and 6add9 chords, sus2, sus4 and 7sus4, open position for the major scale, and the melodic minor scale with its arpeggios and all seven modes — including a chapter on which chord situation calls for each one.

Diatonic Harmony

One master pattern, organised by how many notes you're using: intervals, triads, sevenths, pentatonics, hexatonics and modes. Also covers sixth chord synonyms, sus and add9 voicings, and the master pattern written out in all twelve keys.

What's in the 2026 editions

Twelve new chapters across the three books — practice plans, troubleshooting, a worked application, and the melodic minor mode guide — along with a general update throughout.

Practical details

Three PDFs, 169 pages in total. Instant download, yours to keep, no subscription. The same three books are $12.99 each on Kindle and $17.99 each in paperback.

Worth knowing before you buy: there are no licks, tabs or songs in any of them, and complete beginners will find it heavy going. It's written for guitarists who can already get around the instrument and want the fretboard organised rather than memorised.