The CAGED system
CAGED is a system for playing the same chord all over the fretboard. It starts from five open chords you already know and that, with a barre, can be moved to any fret.
What CAGED is
The five open major chords are C, A, G, E and D. Together they spell CAGED, which is where the name comes from. These letters are used all over the world, so you will see “C shape” or “E shape” in any book, page or video.
Each open chord is a shape. If you carry it toward the body of the guitar and the open strings become a barre, it is still a major chord, but of a different note: the one that lands on its root. For example, the E shape carried to fret 5 is A major.
Where the root is in each shape
The key to moving a shape is knowing on which strings its root is. If you are looking for the C chord, you put the root of the shape on a C on those strings and the rest of the shape falls into place.
| Shape | The root is on strings | Open shape |
|---|---|---|
| C shape | 5 and 2 | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| A shape | 5 and 3 | x 0 2 2 2 0 |
| G shape | 6, 3 and 1 | 3 2 0 0 0 3 |
| E shape | 6, 4 and 1 | 0 2 2 1 0 0 |
| D shape | 4 and 2 | x x 0 2 3 2 |
The C-A-G-E-D order
The five shapes connect along the fretboard in this order: C, A, G, E and D. Each one shares notes with the next, and after the D the C comes back one octave (12 frets) closer to the body. You can start on any shape: the order is always the same.
Example: C major all over the fretboard
These are the shapes of C major, from the closest to the nut to the highest-pitched one. Strings that are not played are marked with x.
| Shape | Fret | Fingering |
|---|---|---|
| C shape | open position | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| A shape | 3 | x 3 5 5 5 3 |
| G shape | 5 | 8 7 5 5 5 8 |
| E shape | 8 | 8 10 10 9 8 8 |
| D shape | 10 | x x 10 12 13 12 |
| C shape (again) | 12 | x 15 14 12 13 12 |
The 5 shapes on the fretboard
Choose a root (with the # / b switch) and see the five major chord shapes on the fretboard, from fret 0 to 15. Each shape has its own color and the roots are orange. Neighboring shapes share notes.
- Root
- C shape
- A shape
- G shape
- E shape
- D shape
C major. Shapes, from the nut toward the body: C shape: open position; A shape: fret 3; G shape: fret 5; E shape: fret 8; D shape: fret 10; C shape: fret 12.
Each shape as a diagram
The same five shapes, in the C-A-G-E-D order, with their starting fret and the strings of the root.
C shape · open position
root on strings 5 and 2
A shape · fret 3
root on strings 5 and 3
G shape · fret 5
root on strings 6, 3 and 1
E shape · fret 8
root on strings 6, 4 and 1
D shape · fret 10
root on strings 4 and 2
From the open shape to the movable one
Choose a shape and a fret. You will see how the open shape becomes a barre chord and which chord comes out.
The E shape at fret 5 is A major.
Open shape: 0 2 2 1 0 0.
At fret 5: 5 7 7 6 5 5.
The open strings move to fret 5 and form the barre.
The root is on strings 6, 4 and 1.
A practical note
The full G shape is awkward with a barre, so it is usually played partially, with only the higher-pitched strings. The C and D shapes are also often played partially.
The same works with minor chords (mostly with the Am, Em and Dm shapes) and it helps you place scales around each shape. Here we stay with the major ones.