CAGED System Basics: A Shape
A SHAPE
In previous lessons we covered the D and C
shapes of the CAGED system. In this lesson
we’ll be covering one of the most common
shapes to use as a bar chord: the A Shape.
pg. 1
LESSON 4
A chord
R35
E A D G B E
5 R
C F
F
B E A C#
C
5
G C F
5 R 3
D G
A
D
E
You
are
here
G
E A D G B E
F
C F
B E A
G C F
D G
B
A D G C E A
F
B E A D
C F
B
G C
B E
D G C F A D
E A D G B E
The open A Major chord is one of the most
recognizable guitar chord shapes. Notice how
the shape itself consists of 2 roots, 2 fifths,
and one third. The A shape shares notes with
the C shape and the G shape.
E A D G B E
On the left side of the page, I’ve placed
the blue capo on the 5th fret and fretted
a C shape, resulting in an F major
Chord.
Root: F
Third: A
Fifth: C
FAC
On the right side of the page, I’ve moved
the capo up to the 8th fret and played an
“A chord” shape. I’m still playing only F,
A, and C. This is an “A Shaped F
chord.”
Notice the red circled “F.” This is the
shared root note between the C shape
and the A shape. You could say that the
A chord shape is mostly above the shared
root (in pitch) and the C shape is mostly
below the shared root.
F
C F
B E A
G C F
lower
down
below
D G
B
A D G C E A
F
B E A D
C F
B
G C
B E
D G C F A D
higher
up E A D G B E
above
CAGED System Basics: A Shape
pg. 2
LESSON 4
A SHAPE
C shape
3
A shape
3
5
These two shapes always only connect in this
way. Just like the previous lesson, these two
shapes connected in this way will ALWAYS
result in a map of roots, thirds and fifths in
any area of the neck.
3
5
R
3
The blue circle shows the Share Zone for
these two shapes. Unlike the D and C shapes,
the C and A shapes share one fret, consisting
of a root note and two fifths.
R
3
3
5 R
5
5 R
The diagrams below show a series of C and A
shapes connected, creating a map of all possible triads in an area.
5
5 R 3
The D shape has been added to a few shapes
so you can see how all three shapes connect.
5 R 3
Notice the share zone for the C and A shape in blue
G Major Triad
A shape: red outline
C shape in orange
F Major Triad
A shape: red outline
C shape in orange
D Major Triad
A shape: red outline
D shape: green outline
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
F
F
F
C F
B E A
G C F
C F
G C F
B
D G
C F
G C
B E A D
C F
C F
B E A
G C F
G#
A D G C E A
F
B
D G
F# B
A D G C E A
F
B E A D
G C F
B
A D G C E A
F#
F# B E A
B E A
D G
C F
E Major Triad
C Major Triad
A shape: red outline A shape: red outline
D shape: green outline C shape in orange
B
G C
D G
G#
B E A D
C F
C F
G C F
G#
B
B E A D F# B
G C
B E A
A D G C E A
F
C F
D G
B
A D G C E A
F
F
B
G C
B E G#
B E A D
C F
B
G C
B E
B E
B E
B E
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
CAGED System Basics: A Shape
A SHAPE
G C F
D G
B
A D G C E A
5th
fret
F
B E A D F# B
This option lets you
strum all strings but
is difficult for most
guitar players.
7th
fret
pg. 3
LESSON 4
The A shape is one of the most common bar
chords. The other most common is the E shape,
which we will discuss later. The C and D
shapes are awkward to play up the neck if you
plan to fret more than 3 or four strings.
The A shape allows for easier bar chords. On
the left, bar across all six strings (in green) with
your index finger and fret the three notes on
the 7th fret with your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th finger.
The right side shows a different approach. Fret
only the 5th fret with your index finger and bar
the D, G, and B strings with your third finger.
G C F
D G
B
A D G C E A
F
B E A D F# B 7th
fret
This option is much easier
to play, but forces you to
avoid the low E string and
mute the high E string.
The fingerings above are the most common ways to play A shaped chords, but there are a few
more voicings. Try playing these other options below while filling out the homework!
HOMEWORK: Each shape below is labeled either “A shape” or “C shape.” For each
triad, circle the missing notes to complete the shape.
C-shaped
D triad
A-shaped
D triad
A D G C E A
5th
FRET
F
C F
F
B E A D F# B
C F
G C
D G
G C F
5th
FRET
C-shaped
D triad
5th
FRET
B E A
G C F
C F
FRET
B E G#
9th
FRET
D G C F A D
A-shaped
Db Triad
A-shaped
Bb Triad
B
Ab
A D G C E A
F# B
A D G C E A
G C
A D G C E A
Db
D G 3rd
B
B E A D
D G 3rd
FRET
B
A D G C E A
A-shaped
D triad
A-shaped
E Triad
B E A
F# B
G C
A D G C E A
B E A
G C F
B E A D F# B
A-shaped
C Triad
C F
F Bb
B E A
G C F
F
B E A D
4th
FRET
5th
fret
B
Some of these triads may require fingerpicking to perform (not strumming)
D G
B
3rd
FRET
CAGED System Basics: A Shape
pg. 4
LESSON 4
HOMEWORK 1
Using the provided root note,
create an A Shaped triad.
F Major Triad
R __ 3 __ 5 __
C Major Triad
R __ 3 __ 5 __
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
C F
B E A
G C F
C F
B E A
D G
G C F
B
D G
B
A D G C E A
A D G C E A
F
B E A D
C F
F
B
G C
B E A D
C F
B
G C
B E
B E
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E Major Triad
R __ 3 __ 5 __
B Major Triad
R __ 3 __ 5 __
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
C F
B E A
G C F
B E A
D G
G C F
B
D G
B
A D G C E A
A D G C E A
F
B E A D
C F
F
B
G C
B E A D
C F
B
G C
B E
B E
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
Bb Major Triad
R __ 3 __ 5 __
Db Major Triad
R __ 3 __ 5 __
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F Bb
F
C F
B E A
Once you’ve circled all the
notes needed for the A shape,
grab a pen with a different
color and circle all the notes
in the C shape where possible.
C F
G C F
C F
B E A
D G
B
G C F
D G
B
A D G C E A
F
A D G C E A
Db F
CAGED System Basics: A Shape
pg. 5
LESSON 4
PRACTICE
For this practice exercise, use only A shapes to tab out a simple strum or arpeggio pattern for the
following chords, then play your composition over the jam track for this lesson.
A
D
E
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D
T
A
B
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
F
C F
B E A C#
G C F
C F
B E A
D G
G C F
B
B E A
D G
B E A D
A D G C E A
F
B
G C
B E A D
C F
C F
G C
B E
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
C F
B E A C#
D G
F
B E A D F# B
B E
B
D G
B
A D G C E A
F
G C F
G C F
B
A D G C E A
C F
C F
B E A
D G
B
G C
B E G#
C F
G C F
B
D G C F A D
The goal is to compose a simple
rythm part. Strum, fingerpick,
arpeggiate - whatever works for
you! As long as you’re using at
least one root, third and fifth
from each triad, you’re doing it
right
CAGED System Basics: A Shape
pg. 6
LESSON 4
PRACTICE
For this practice exercise, use a mix of A shape and C shape chords to tab out a simple strum or
arpeggio pattern for the following chords, then play your composition over the jam track for this
lesson.
A
D
E
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D
T
A
B
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
F
C F
B E A C#
G C F
C F
F# B E A
D G
G C F
A D G C E A
B E A D
G C F
G C
G#
A D G C E A
F
B E A D F# B
B E A D
C F
C F
C#
D G C F A D
D G
G#
G C
F#
B
F
B
B E
F# B E A
G#
A D G C E A
F
C#
D G
F# B
B
C F
F#
C F
B E
B
G C
B E G#
D G C F A D
D G C F A D
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
E A D G B E
F
F
F
C#
C F
B E A C#
G C F
D G
B
C F
F# B E A
G C F
F# B
F#
D G
C F
B E A
G C F
D G
B