CAGED System
Learning the CAGED System by example:
- Play Open C major chord (x32010)
- The bottom of your C major chord, (meaning note(s) closest to the bridge of your guitar,(3rd fret Fifth string) will be the TOP of your A-shaped C major chord (x35553)
- The bottom of your A-shaped C major chord is the top of your G-shaped chord C major chord (875588)
- The bottom of your G-shaped C major chord is the top of your E-shaped C major chord (8 10 10 9 8 8)
- The bottom of your E-shaped C major chord is the top of your D-shaped C major chord (xx10 12 13 12)
Congratulations! You have just played the C major chord in every area of the fretboard!
Try the above 5 steps starting with the open A, G E and D chords.
Here is an example with the D chord:
The chords D E & A are special chords within the CAGED system for many reasons.
One example is when playing minor bar chords.
When applying the 5 steps of the CAGED system, only D E and A shapes will work. Simply skip the C and G shapes for minor chords.
You can work out minor chords for these shapes later as you advance if mute strings.
Other special rules of note for D E and A shaped chords:
- They’re the most popular shapes for power chords and playing rock music
- When you want to build a chord that has its bass root on a D E or A string, the name of the string also tells you the name of the chord shape that you can use. Example:
- You want to build a major chord that has its bass root on the 4th fret 5th string (C#)
- The 5th string is an A string therefore you can play the A-shape (x46664)
