CAGED
CAGED is a pneumonic device to help to understand how chords are layed out across the entire fretboard. It works by naming the shapes used to make the open C, A, G, E, and D major chords by their root name. It then demonstrates that for any major chord, these shapes can be found in different locations on the fretboard, in the order of C, A, G, E, and D.
Contents
PreReqs
- C Major Chord
- G Major Chord
- Other Open String Chords
- E Minor, D Minor, and A Minor Chords
- Barre Chords
Recap - Open Position Major Chords
| C | A | G | E | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open String Chord |
3|-|-|-|-| ||R|-|-|-| 5|-|-|-|-| ||-|3|-|-| ||-|-|R|-| ||-|-|-|-| |
5|-|-|-|-| ||-|3|-|-| ||-|R|-|-| ||-|5|-|-| R|-|-|-|-| ||-|-|-|-| |
||-|-|R|-| ||-|-|5|-| R|-|-|-|-| 5|-|-|-|-| ||-|3|-|-| ||-|-|R|-| |
R|-|-|-|-| 5|-|-|-|-| ||3|-|-|-| ||-|R|-|-| ||-|5|-|-| R|-|-|-|-| |
||-|3|-|-| ||-|-|R|-| ||-|5|-|-| R|-|-|-|-| ||-|-|-|-| ||-|-|-|-| |
| All Notes for Position |
3|-|-|5|-| -|R|-|-|-| 5|-|-|-|-| -|-|3|-|-| -|-|-|R|-| 3|-|-|5|-| |
5|-|-|-|-| -|-|3|-|-| -|-|R|-|-| -|-|5|-|-| R|-|-|-|3| 5|-|-|-|-| |
-|-|-|R|-| 3|-|-|5|-| R|-|-|-|3| 5|-|-|-|-| -|-|3|-|-| -|-|-|R|-| |
R|-|-|-|3| 5|-|-|-|-| -|3|-|-|5| -|-|R|-|-| -|-|5|-|-| R|-|-|-|3| |
-|-|3|-|-| -|-|-|R|-| -|-|5|-|-| R|-|-|-|3| 5|-|-|-|-| -|-|3|-|-| |
| Tab |
E--0-- B--1-- G--0-- D--2-- A--3-- E----- |
E--0-- B--2-- G--2-- D--2-- A--0-- E----- |
E--3-- B--3-- G--0-- D--0-- A--2-- E--3-- |
E--0-- B--0-- G--1-- D--2-- A--2-- E--0-- |
E--2-- B--3-- G--2-- D--0-- A----- E----- |
Remember the above open string major chords? A major chord is a major chord is a major chord. The intervalic relationship of all the notes in the above charts is identical. The reason the shapes are different is because the root note (and thus all subsequent notes) are on different strings/frets.
Pay attention to the location of the lowest-pitch root note in terms of string and fret for the given position. Notice there are 5 possibilities above: 5th string ring finger (C), 5th string open (A), 6th string ring finger (G), 6th string open (E), or 4th string open (D). If you look at the charts, the bass root note is always on the left or right side of the shape.
CAGED - One Major Chord Laid Across Fretboard
Here's a C Major chord across the entire fretboard.
|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3| |-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-| |5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5| |-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-| |3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
It looks like pure chaos, right? Let's remove the 3rds and 5ths. In fact, let's blank out the entire 1-3 strings:
|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Well that's a lot simpler to look at, right? Only 6 root notes on the entire fretboard for the 4-6 strings, which would supply your bass root note. Now everytime we see a root note, let's super-impose the above open-string chord shape:
|---C---| |3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|--A--| |-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|---G---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|--E--| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|---D---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
So if you followed that, you can see that as we ascend the fretboard, we have the C shape, then the A shape, then G, then E, and finally D. Then we repeat...
|---C---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Here's the whole fretboard with all the notes from the open string shapes:
|---C---| |---C---|
|--A--| |--A--|
|---G---| |---G---|
|--E--| |--E--|
-D--| |---D---| |---D--
|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|
|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|
|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|
|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|
|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
And now all the notes, using 5-fret ranges for each position based on each shape:
|----C----| |----C----|
|----A----| |----A----|
|----G----| |----G----|
E-| |----E----| |----E----|
--D---| |----D----| |----D-
|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|
|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|
|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|
|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|
|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|
|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
See how each shape corresponds to a particular position ranging 5 frets?
Any Major Chord!
Here's G Major. We start on the G shape instead of C in open position, but the sequence is the same: you can see the CAGED shapes appear in order throughout the fretboard. Once you know where any G note is, you can determine what CAGED group it belongs to, then find all its other chord shapes on the fretboard, allowing you to jump around quickly.
|----C----| |----C----|
-A----| |----A----| |---A--
|----G----| |----G----|
|----E----| |----E----|
|----D----| |----D----|
|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|
|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|
|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|
|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|
|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|
|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|3|-|-|5|-|-|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Minor Chords
CAGED works equally well for minor chords; we just adjust to use the open position minor chord shapes. We've seen E Minor, A Minor, and D Minor, but what about C Minor and G Minor? These unfortunately don't have easy shapes for open position. However, we can still learn their shapes and plug them into the CAGED method.
| Cm | Am | Gm | Em | Dm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Pos. Chords |
|-|-|-|o| |-|x|-|-| |o|-|-|-| |-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|x| |-|-|-|-| |
|o|-|-|-| |-|o|-|-| |-|-|x|-| |-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |
|-|-|-|x| |-|-|-|o| |x|-|-|-| |o|-|-|-| |-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|x| |
|x|-|-|-| |o|-|-|-| |o|-|-|-| |-|-|x|-| |-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|-| |
|-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|x| |-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |
| All Notes for Position |
|o|-|-|-|o| |-|-|x|-|-| |-|o|-|-|-| |-|-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|-|x| |o|-|-|-|o| |
|o|-|-|-| |-|o|-|-| |-|-|x|-| |-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-| |
|-|-|-|x| |-|-|-|o| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-| |-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|x| |
|x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-| |o|-|-|-| |-|-|x|-| |-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o| |
|-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|x| |-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-| |-|o|-|-| |
| Tab |
E--3-- B--1-- G--0-- D--1-- A--3-- E----- |
E--0-- B--1-- G--2-- D--2-- A--0-- E----- |
E--3-- B--3-- G--0-- D--0-- A--1-- E--3-- |
E--0-- B--0-- G--0-- D--2-- A--2-- E--0-- |
E--1-- B--3-- G--2-- D--0-- A----- E----- |
|---C---| |-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|--A--| |-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|---G---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|--E--| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|---D---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
|----C----| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-| |-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|-|-| 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Here's the whole fretboard with all C Minor notes on it:
---C----| |----C----|
|----A----| |----A----|
|----G----| |----G----|
E-| |----E----| |----E----|
--D---| |----D----| |----D-
|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|
|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|
|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|
|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|
|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|
|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|-|-|5|-|-|-|-|R|-|-|3|-|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
How Do We Use This?
CAGED is useful for several reasons. It is best considered a roadmap of the fretboard. Instead of seeing 6 strings and 24 frets, we see 5 fret shapes that overlap at the edges, vastly reducing the number of notes on the fretboard.
- It helps us know which chord shape to use once we find a root note.
- It allows us to quickly move from one chord shape to the next in sequence.
- It prevents us from getting lost when soloing, able to quickly find the notes for the accompaniment chords.
- It allows us to outline chords when soloing in any position.
- It can help us move up the fretboard when soloing.
- It can help us infer other notes in the scale, if we know the chord's number in the key. For example, Dm in the key of C is the ii chord. See Modes.
Here's an example of arpeggiating some chords while using CAGED:
C Am G C E----------0-/8------------8-7--------------8-- B--------1------8-------10-----8----------8---- G------0----------9---9----------7------9------ D----2-------------\7--------------9-10-------- A--3------------------------------------------- E---------------------------------------------- C shape E shp D shape C shape E shape
For the C chord, we start with the open position C shape, then move to the 8th position E shape. For A minor, we use the nearby Dm shape. For G, we use the C shape, then go back to the E shape for C. Here's the root position notes for each shape:
D-------------------7-------------------------- A--3-------------------------10---------------- E-------------8----------------------8--------- C C A G C
And here are the the full chord shapes
C C Am G C E--0----------8-----8--------7-------8--------- B--1----------8-----10-------8-------8---------- G--0----------9-----9--------7-------9--------- D--2----------10----7--------9-------10-------- A--3----------10-------------10------10-------- E-------------8----------------------8--------- C shape E shp D shape C shape E shape
Homework
- Revisit the open position chord shapes above, and make sure you can easily make them as barre chords.
- Arpeggiate each of the shapes, including the notes below the lowest-pitched root note.
- Pick random major and minor chords, and arpeggiate them up and down the fretboard, moving from one CAGED shape to the next (C > A > G > E > D > C ... C > D > E > G > A > C ...).
- Create or find some chord progressions from earlier lessons, and arpeggiate the chords, staying in roughly the same position, using the CAGED method. Try the same progressions in various positions on the neck.
- Repeat but try to move your position higher and higher up the neck throughout the progression. Then try the progression moving lower and lower.
