MUSIC THEORY

The CAGED Guitar System

A way of visualising the guitar fretboard using chord shapes you already know!

The CAGED guitar system instructs us that we can play any chord (or any scale) at five positions in the guitar neck.

This article will show you how to play a C chord using a C shape, A shape, G shape, E shape & D shape.

Becoming familiar with these shapes enables us to play a chord or scale not only using open strings but all the way up the neck.

CAGED Guitar SYSTEM - SHAPE 1

The C Shape

This is the regular C chord.

CAGED Guitar SYSTEM - SHAPE 2

The A Shape

Play an A chord at the 3^rd fret (using a capo) to get a C chord.

CAGED Guitar System - Shape 2 - learn the CAGED Guitar System works

CAGED Guitar SYSTEM - SHAPE 3

The G Shape

Play a G chord at the 5^th fret (using a capo) to get a C chord.

CAGED Guitar SYSTEM - SHAPE 4

The E Shape

Play an E chord at the 8^th fret (using a capo) to get a C chord.

CAGED Guitar System - Shape 4 - learn the CAGED Guitar System works

CAGED Guitar SYSTEM - SHAPE 5

The D ShapE

Play a D chord at the 10^th fret (using a capo) to get a C chord.

CAGED Guitar System - Shape 5 - learn the CAGED Guitar System works

See the next article in this series where you can practice using new chord variants.

Summary

You are now playing a C, A, G, E, D chord shape at different places of the guitar fretboard - yet each makes a C chord tonally.

Use a capo to “check” these chords all sound the same! Just being aware of the fact that these 5 shapes can slide up or down to make any chord is a great start!

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