This system helps the guitarist to understand the fretboard in an easy to learn format.

You might understand already some of these concepts just from playing a little but this will give you the big picture so bear with me!

Let's look at this from a "shape/form" oriented concept and how it ties in together.

Play an OPEN C chord - we'll call that the C form.
Play an OPEN A chord - we'll call that the A form.
Play an OPEN G chord - we'll call that the G form.
Play an OPEN E chord - we'll call that the E form.
Play an OPEN D chord - we'll call that the D form.

(For help on chords, look at the chord directory)

Now let's look at the C chord only. Going by the CAGED system we have 5 different ways we can play the C chord up the neck starting from the OPEN C chord.

Notice:
Open C chord based at the nut of the fretboard.
The C chord that is made barring the 3rd fret using the "A" shape 3 3 5 5 5 3.
The C chord that is made barring the 5th fret using the "G" shape 8 7 5 5 5 8 (hard stretch).
The C chord that is made barring the 8th fret using the "E" shape 8 10 10 9 8 8 (10 is the tenth fret).
The C chord that is made barring the 10th fret using the "D" shape
X X 10 12 13 12.

Or we can start with an OPEN A chord and work the same progression up the neck. So if you start with an A chord the next chord will be the A using the "G" shape, then "E" shape, then "D" shape, then "C" shape.

Basically, whatever open chord you play the next shape is the next letter shape following C-A-G-E-D-C-A-G-E-D-C-A-G-E-D (it just keeps revolving). So if you play an "A" chord on the 5th fret 5 7 7 6 5 5 (the "E" form), the next A chord moving up the neck is the A chord using the "D" form X X 7 9 10 9 or conversely moving down the neck you would use the "G" form 5 4 2 2 2 5.

At this point, you will be saying to yourself "some of these positions are really impractical" ...and you are correct. This is mainly a conceptual exercise to learn the fretboard. We will gravitate naturally to what is easier. The main point of the CAGED system is illustrating is the repetitive patterns that are generated due to the way the fretboard is laid out. In other words the CAGED pattern "shifts" depending on what open chord you start on and move up the neck but the sequence doesn't shift.
Example: CAGED or AGEDC or GEDCA or EDCAG or DCAGE

So now we ask ourselves HOW DOES THE PENTATONIC BOXES RELATE TO C-A-G-E-D? This is where the diagram found below comes in.
Each BOX pattern is associated with a chord form. Notice how each box links up to the next one. Every box shares a set of notes. Look at the bottom diagram and see how they all look together on the fretboard.
(Lesson continues after the image - Click to see an enlarged view!)

Blues in E

My advice is to get familiar with 2 boxes. The C scale form and the G scale form. By knowing these 2, you automatically will learn the A scale form. Once you are comfortable with that then the other 2 boxes will fall into place. Hard to explain without showing you but I think you will see it as you practice.

An example would be a BLUES tune in E with a 1-4-5 chord progression (12 bar blues in E).
Right click here and save as… for a 24 second MP3 sample of this lesson's blues track.
This track is part of a loop, so put it onto repeat and use it to practise the scales!

This would use the Em pentatonic scale. Since the G scale form is the easiest for me, I will start that form at the 1st fret (Open E). If you don't understand what I meant by 1-4-5 progression let me know by posting a question in the forum.

Hope this helps.

Lan Tran, "Ninjato"

[Editors note: Learn to play a few different songs that use the 1-4-5 progression. Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" is a 1-4-5 in A, Tracy Chapman's "Gimme One Reason" is a 1-4-5 in C, and Jimi Hendrix's "Red House" is a 1-4-5 in E. Each song follows essentially the same chord progression, but each sounds unique because of the tempo and the style in which it is played. Playing a variety of 1-4-5 blues will help you understand what they have in common and how they differ, which will in turn help you build a solid foundation in blues while still encouraging your own creativity.]

Comments (8)

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CAGED is an old system

I first encountered the CAGED system from a guitar teacher in Chico,CA name Charlie Robinson. There was no literature at all regarding this system that I could find at that time (early 80's). He explained it in detail and also included modes relative to each "form" in relation to the 1st form. Although most forms begin on notes other than the root they are very useful in jamming with other musicians on the fly. As to Johnny B. Goode not being in A, most bands I have seen or played with play Johnny B. Goode in A whether Chuck Berry did or not. Knowing the 1-4-5 progressions is useful for jamming, but with bridges and other factors more is needed. Even blues is usually not a basic 1-4-5 because to sound "bluesey" it helps to know minor, 7th and 9th cords for flavor. I would be interested in knowing the history of the CAGED system to see who recognized it first, it sure makes it easy to remember the relationship of cords on a guitar neck, that's for sure.

danl , August 11, 2010

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awesome thank you .

basem , May 05, 2010

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this is awesome. i don't even play guitar and now that i read this i can play super awesomely

jojo , April 04, 2010

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Key is relative

Don't let the key issue confuse you. The fact is that it is relative and not important to the lesson because the patterns remain the same regardless of the key. I 1-4-5 is a 1-4-5 in A or Eb. And a guitarist should know how to play popular songs in any key and may be asked to do so when accompanying a singer of to accomodate their own voices.

ernie , March 31, 2010

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Good Tips ...

Hey, way to go condensing the CAGED method to a few short paragraphs! The book Fretboard Logic is a good well written informative source for all guitarists.

As for the fellow above griping about the "Key" ... there is always someone that doesn't seem to be happy with anything! I understood you were trying to emphasis the 1,4,5 progression.

Cheers and keep up the great work!

Rob Bach , November 25, 2009

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Ironically, I agree with both comments - the "Open C chord based on..." etc was a duh! for me.

RG , October 05, 2009

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Firm grasp on CAGED

The Author of this post doesn't seem to have a firm grasp to be teaching the CAGED method just yet. If he can't figure out the correct key of the songs he listed at the bottom are in, then he still has a little work. The next line I'm about to type to you is going to be an essential tip so read carefully.. GUITARISTS BEWARE OF LEARNING OFF THE INTERNET LIKE THIS, GET YOURSELF A BOOK AND LEARN OR SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO A SONG AND PLAY WITH IT. Some of this is going to set you back a while. The lesson he gave is CORRECT, But THE SONGS at the bottom are not in the right key.
I know for a fact Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" is in the key of Eb Major, and Tracy Chapman's "Gimme one reason is in A major. Good luck

ImmortalMaera , August 20, 2009

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Do you know, I have read a couple of articles on the "caged" system and never understood what the hell was going on. Maybe I am thick.

Anyway ! I now understand what this "caged" system is after reading this small article. It's finally sunk in.

I think it was seeing the following that made me "see" it.


Notice:
Open C chord based at the nut of the fretboard.
The C chord that is made barring the 3rd fret using the "A" shape 3 3 5 5 5 3.
The C chord that is made barring the 5th fret using the "G" shape 8 7 5 5 5 8 (hard stretch).
The C chord that is made barring the 8th fret using the "E" shape 8 10 10 9 8 8 (10 is the tenth fret).
The C chord that is made barring the 10th fret using the "D" shape
X X 10 12 13 12.

Thanks for the lesson. ;-)

fredm , August 05, 2009

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