The CAGED System

The CAGED system utilises the open chord shapes C A G E D to map out 5 positions across the fretboard. The CAGED system is largely popular for taking open chord shapes to construct a systematic approach to position playing.

Benefits of the CAGED System

The CAGED system acts as a visualistaion tool to help guitar players navigate the fretboard in a way that becomes consistent with any key. By creating a visually mapped representation of an entire key centre across the fretboard it enables us to visually see the relationship between chords and scales.

The advantage of using the CAGED system is that it applies:

• A logical and coherent way to view the fretboard and play across different areas of the fretboard.

• A systematic approach that defines 5 positions for chord-scale relationship. This in turn helps memorise the location of root notes and chord tones within chords & scales.

• An effective strategy for transposition by moving shapes across the fretboard.

Who is the CAGED System For?

Many guitarists have done just fine without learning the CAGED system or not knowing what the CAGED system is. If your heart is content on playing the blues in one position this system may not suit your needs – although it definitely wouldn’t hurt your playing.

If you are in search for a logical approach to build up your fretboard knowledge and have the ability to be mobile across the entire fretboard, then the CAGED system may be just for you!

If you’re not sure, why not give the CAGED system a shot…it only starts with five chords.

Defining Positions 1-5

The order in which the chord shapes follow are the same order of the system’s name ‘CAGED’. Although as we label C as third position, we will follow the order of positions which are:

• E shape = Position 1
• D shape = Position 2
• C shape = Position 3
• A shape = Position 4
• G shape = Position 5

We can tell what key we are in by the root notes placement in each position.

Note

When practicing the CAGED system it is important to know the location of root notes in each shape, as this will help distinguish what chord/scale we are playing.

Positions 1-5 Open Position Chord Shapes

Major Shapes

Position 1

Emaj

1

3

2

Position 2

Dmaj

2

3

1

Position 3

Cmaj

1

2

3

Position 4

Amaj

3

2

1

Position 5

Gmaj

3

1

2

Minor Shapes

Position 1

Emin

3

2

Position 2

Dmin

1

3

2

Position 3

Cmin

2

1

3

Position 4

Amin

1

3

2

Position 5

Gmin

1

3

Note

The CAGED system loops and restarts from Position 1

Open Postion Chords as a Visual Basis for Positions

With the CAGED system we can map out an entire key across the fretboard using the C, A, G, E, D open position chord shapes. Although, as this system is inherently based on open chord shapes, we have to adjust the open strings by using our index finger to transpose all open string notes to become fretted notes.

You may already be accustomed with two of these chord shapes which we commonly label as barre chords:

• Position 1 - E shape
• Position 4 - A shape.

Chord Mapping

Even though we are visually labelling the chord shapes CAGED across the fretboard these shapes are actually outline 5 positions in the the key of E.

Positions 1-5 of Emaj Chords

Position 1

Emaj

1

3

2

Position 2

Emaj

2

3

4

2

1

Position 3

Emaj

4

1

2

1

3

4

Position 4

Emaj

7

1

4

3

2

1

Position 5

Emaj

9

4

1

1

1

2

3

Positions 1-5 of Emin Chords

Position 1

Emin

3

2

Position 2

Emin

2

2

4

3

1

Position 3

Emin

4

3

1

2

4

Position 4

Emin

7

1

2

4

3

1

Position 5

Emin

9

1

1

2

4

For a full list of CAGED chords in every key see the Chord Catalogue.

Mapping Positions

Now we have our chord shapes mapped, we can establish a direct correlation between our chord shapes and positions. Notice each position is constructed by its’ open chord as well as its’ surrounding chord tones.

Key of Emaj Positions 1-5

Building Scales, Arpeggios and Chords

Knowing that the chord shape provides the backbone of each position on the fretboard, we can add notes within these positions to build scales, arpeggios and chords.