Music Theory - CAGED Guitar Chord System

Chords can be played in various different shapes on the guitar, but an interesting fact is that most chords comes in just 5 common open position shapes or forms. The 5 forms are known as the CAGED guitar chord system. What's interesting about this system is that, each one of these chords can be turned into a barre chord thus making them moveable around the guitar fretboard. Let’s have a closer look at this chord system.

Basic chords are created by combining three notes, these notes can be stacked in any order, repeated and played anywhere on the neck. If we map out all the notes that make up a major chord, for example a ‘C chord’ on the fretboard, we will end up with an arpeggio pattern that covers the whole neck. When we reduce each arpeggio pattern to its fundamental shape in each position, we’re going to recognize something very familiar. One position resembles an open C chord, the next is an open A chord, followed by an open G, E and D. Giving us, the CAGED Guitar Chord System! Here's what it looks like on the guitar fretboard:

From a rhythm guitarist perspective, this chord system will enable him/her to play chords in multiple positions on the guitar fretboard and freshen up common chord changes with different shapes and voicings. The CAGED system will also makes it easier to play the major scale and the scales that derived from it in any position and key. By associating scale positions with the chord shapes sequence of the CAGED system, guitar players will be able to visualize these positions all over the guitar fretboard and improvise lead guitar part with confidence.

The CAGED guitar chord system is a great method to help navigate your way around the guitar fretboard. Invest some time learning it and you will see more possibilities that can be achieved with the guitar.

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