CAGED system

When you speak of a scale off the CAGED system, do your lessons simply utilize the G scale? I am not picking up on the "scale" that you pick during your lesson. I assume I can figure it out by figuring out each note that is being picked, and then figuring out what scale is actually being picked, but would the scale be different if you start on a different note each time. For example, using the A form, perform a barre chord at the 5th string, 8th fret, would we be utilizing the F scale? Am I making any sense at all?

You've got it right. The CAGED system can be confusing to understand, but what you said is correct.

Originally Posted by: tbrockWhen you speak of a scale off the CAGED system ...[/quote]
I discuss how to understand & use the CAGED system here:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=383

The trick to using CAGED is to realize that it consists of movable shapes that can be any chord depending upon where you put the root note. Look at the images on the bottom of the lesson pages in my tutorial. You will see the circled numbers, which are the chord tones (1-3-5) derived from the major scale.

Place the circled number 1 (the root note) on a note, and you have that chord. You have the right idea in your example:
[QUOTE=tbrock]For example, using the A form, perform a barre chord at the 5th string, 8th fret, would we be utilizing the F scale?

Precisely! Yes, you are making sense. And if you move that "A form" up two frets to the 10th fret, you are playing a G chord; if you move it down two frets to the 6th fret, you are playing an E-flat chord.

Hope this helps.