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CAGED System

Unlock the fretboard with five open chord shapes.

What is the CAGED system?

The CAGED system is a core way to understand the fretboard. It starts from a simple observation:The five open chords you learn first (C, A, G, E, D) are actually five moveable templates.

Move those shapes up the neck and you can play any chord anywhere. The five shapes are like linked cages (CAGED = Cage) that cover the entire fretboard.

🔑Core idea: the same chord has five different shapes across the fretboard.

Choose a shape

Open chord: C

×

This is the open C chord you already know.

Barre example: D (C shape)

2fr×

Move the C shape up two frets and barre the 2nd fret with your index finger.

C Shape scale pattern

📖 How to read this diagram?

This diagram shows the major scale notes around the C Shape chord shape.

  • R (red) = root note, the scale home base and chord root
  • Numbers 2-7 = the other scale tones (2=whole step, 3=major third, 4=perfect fourth, 5=perfect fifth, 6=major sixth, 7=major seventh)
  • Horizontal = strings (top to bottom is 6th to 1st string)
  • Vertical = frets (left to right moves up the neck)

🎸 How to use it?

Step 1: form the chord shape

Step 2: find the R (root) on the diagram—this is your chord root

Step 3: play the surrounding notes in the diagram

Practice: start from the root and play 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1 up and back down

R
2
5
6
2
3
4
6
7
R
5

R = root (degree 1), numbers = scale degrees (2-7)

💡 The C-shape root is on the 5th string—one of the most common major barre shapes.

CAGED Connections

These five shapes connect along the neck in the order C → A → G → E → D → C... Understand the loop and you can move freely across the fretboard.

C→
A→
G→
E→
D→
C
...

🎯 Practice suggestions

Step 1: Master the open chords

Be able to play C, A, G, E, D smoothly

Step 2: Learn the E-shape and A-shape barres

These are the two most-used barre shapes—start here

Step 3: Find five shapes for the same chord

Example: play C in all five CAGED shapes

Step 4: Connect the scales

Play major scales inside each shape, then connect them

All five shapes

C

C Shape

Root: 5th string, 3rd fret

A

A Shape

Root: 5th string

G

G Shape

Root: 6th string, 3rd fret

E

E Shape

Root: 6th string

D

D Shape

Root: 4th string

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