The CAGED system is a way to visualize the entire guitar fretboard using just 5 open chord shapes: C, A, G, E, and D. These shapes can be moved up the neck to play any major chord in any position.
The five shapes, in order, spell out C-A-G-E-D
It unlocks the entire neck. Instead of being stuck in open position, you can play any chord anywhere, find all the notes of a key, and connect scale patterns.
Every major chord can be played using each of the 5 shapes at different positions on the neck. The shapes overlap and connect, covering the entire fretboard.
Each shape is an open chord you probably already know. The root notes are highlighted in color. Select a shape to see its fingering and hear it.
The C shape has its root on the A string (5th string). When moved up the neck, the index finger takes over the role of the nut, and the familiar C chord shape appears higher up.
The magic of CAGED: take any open shape and slide it up the neck to play a different major chord. Select a root note, then choose a shape to see where that chord lives on the fretboard.
Key insight: All 5 buttons above produce the same chord (C major) but in different positions on the neck. Each uses a different CAGED shape, giving you 5 ways to play every major chord.
The shapes appear in a specific order as you move up the neck: C-A-G-E-D. Each shape connects to the next, and they cycle endlessly. Click through the shapes to see how they link together.
The sequence repeats: After the D shape, the C shape appears again higher up the neck, then A, G, E, D, and so on. The five shapes tile the entire fretboard with no gaps. Every fret belongs to at least one CAGED position.
Each CAGED shape contains a major scale pattern. The chord tones (darker dots) are your anchor points, and the scale notes fill in around them. This connects your chord knowledge directly to melodic playing.
Practice tip: When soloing or improvising, start by outlining the chord tones (darker dots), then fill in with scale notes. This ensures your melody always sounds connected to the underlying harmony.
Learning the CAGED system takes time. Here is a structured approach to build your fretboard knowledge gradually.
Pick a random key each day. Play the major chord in all 5 CAGED positions, moving up the neck. Then play the major scale in each position. Spend 5-10 minutes on this and within a few months the entire fretboard will feel like home.