C Major: CAGED vs 3NPS
Two ways to move through the same scale across the neck
The same scale, two neck maps
Both examples show C major. The musical material is the same, but the fretboard organization changes. One view behaves like a CAGED box; the other behaves like a 3NPS path.
Why CAGED helps
The CAGED-style view keeps the hand more stable and makes the scale easy to visualize as one position. It is useful when you want to phrase clearly inside a box.
Why 3NPS helps
The 3NPS view connects the scale more linearly across the neck. It helps you see forward motion and makes position shifts feel more intentional.
The full fretboard view
When you look at all the notes of C major across the neck, it becomes clear that CAGED and 3NPS are not different scales. They are two ways of navigating the same one.