Guitar fretboard guide
What Is the Point of the CAGED System on Guitar?
The CAGED system uses five open chord shapes you already know (C, A, G, E and D) to play any major chord all over the neck. Pick a key below and watch the five shapes link together up the fretboard.
1Pick a major chord
2C major: 5 shapes up the neck
How it works
Five shapes, one chord, the whole neck
The CAGED system is based on standard tuning. Slide any open chord shape up the neck and it becomes a different chord. Line up all five shapes for one chord and they connect end to end, always in the order C–A–G–E–D.
For beginners
Once you know your open C, A, G, E and D chords, CAGED is the natural next step. Same shapes, new places on the neck.
For intermediate players
Break out of open position and play the same chord in five places, so you can pick the voicing that sounds best.
For advanced players
Use the five shapes as a map for scales, arpeggios and soloing in any key, all connected across the fretboard.
The goal is still to learn every note on the fretboard. CAGED gives you a practical, organized map to get there.
Free download
The CAGED book (free PDF)
See how every major chord fits into the CAGED system, laid out shape by shape. Prefer paper? A printed copy is on Amazon.
Keep exploring
More guitar tools
Ready to master the whole fretboard?
Our guitar teachers use CAGED to help students play confidently all over the neck, in person in Grosse Pointe or online.
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