TRIADS
Root Position 1-3-5
CAGED Major
First Inversion 3-5-1
2
1
3
4
5
7
6
Second Inversion 5-1-3
3
3
3
5
1
1
5
5
3
1
7
1
5
5
3
3
3
Major (Diatonic)
Scale 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
Major Pentatonic
Scale 1-2-3-5-6
Major 7th
Arpeggio 1-3-5-7
Major Triad
Arpeggio 1-3-5
Reference Chord
C
INTERVALS
5
3
4
5
2
7
1
2
5
6
5
6
2
3
2
3
4
7
1
SHAPE
1
1
3
7
3
5
5
5
A
6
1
6
5
3
5
3
5
3
3
1
1
5
1
3
3
7
5
3
4
5
5
6
5
6
2
3
2
3
1
6
1
6
5
3
5
3
4
5
7
1
22
5
6
7
7
4
1
SHAPE
1
1
7
5
1
G
1
1
22
5
5
6
1
3
3
1
1
5
5
7
5
3
7
1
6
1
6
5
3
5
3
1
1
2
5
5
2
1
5
4
1
2
6
5
6
3
2
3
4
6
7
1
1
2
5
6
7
SHAPE
3
3
3
1
1
1
5
5
E
7
1
7
3
1
1
1
2
5
5
6
3
3
1
1
6
1
3
2
7
7
2
3
4
7
1
1
6
1
6
5
3
5
3
4
5
1
2
7
1
2
2
3
2
3
4
6
7
1
SHAPE
5
5
3
1
3
1
7
3
3
3
1
D
1
7
1
5
3
5
1
3
1
6
5
7
1
1
3
5
3
4
5
7
1
2
1
1
2
5
5
6
5
6
2
3
2
3
SHAPE
5
3
3
4
Beginners, it may be easier for you to start here and work your way down and
refer to the diagram above once you have a better grasp of what’s going on.
CAGED in the Key of C Major across the fretboard.
C Shape
G Shape
OPEN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
5
6
2
3
6
7
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
7
1
5
4
9
10
11
12
13
2
3
4
6
7
1
1
2
3
4
5
4
5
6
7
1
2
1
22
3
4
5
6
5
6
7
1
2
3
7
4
D Shape
A Shape
4
Everything starts over at
the 12th fret and the
shapes continue on.
E Shape
CAGED in the Key of G Major across the fretboard.
G Shape
OPEN
1
6
3
D Shape
2
3
7
1
5
4
4
5
A Shape
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
2
3
4
5
6
6
7
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
22
3
4
5
6
7
1
22
6
7
1
2
3
5
6
E Shape
4
1
7
4
13
C Shape
This is provided to show how all shapes translate to other keys. You simply find the root note (red circles with 1’s in them)
of the key you’re looking for and align these shapes to them. Fret numbers are irrelevant. Learn where your notes are and
learn these shapes and you’ll start to see the fretboard more clearly.
If you’re new to this concept and made it down this far and you’re still not fully grasping what’s going on, you may be
asking, “Well, what about the B Shape Chord and the F Shape Chord?” That’s an excellent question and may be
the perfect jumping off point for you to start understanding this concept.
A Chord in Open Position
OPEN
1
2
B Chord in 2nd Position
3
4
2
5
3
4
5
6
9
5
11
3
3
1
1
1
5
5
5
E Chord in Open Position
The A Chord Shape can be moved anywhere on
the fretboard. Just find that root note on the A
string, and you’ve got another chord. Example:
Move it to the 9th fret for an F# Chord.
F Chord in 1st Position
3
4
1
2
3
4
C# Chord in 9th Position
5
9
1
1
1
5
5
5
3
10
3
11
11
12
3
1
1
1
5
5
5
1
12
1
The B Chord that we typically learn early on is
simply the A Chord Shape moved up 2 frets.
2
11
5
1
1
10
3
1
OPEN
F# Chord in 9th Position
1
1
The F Chord that we typically learn early on is
simply the E Chord Shape moved up 1 fret.
The E Chord Shape can be moved anywhere on
the fretboard. Just find that root note on the Low E
string, and you’ve got another chord. Example:
Move it to the 9th fret for a C# Chord.
TRIADS
If these 2 examples aboved clicked for you, then you’re well on your way to grasping CAGED. The same way the A Chord Shape and E Chord Shape can be
moved anywhere on the fretboard, the C, G, and D Chord Shapes can do the same thing. It will help to start viewing these as shapes as opposed to chords.
All the concepts you’ve read and learned about above can be applied to Minor shapes and scales which you can see below.
Root Position 1-b3-5
CAGED Minor
First Inversion b3-5-1
2
1
b3
4
5
b6
b7
Second Inversion 5-1-b3
5
1
1
5
5
5
b3
1
b3
b3
5
4
1
b3
5
Minor (Diatonic)
Scale 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
Minor Pentatonic
Scale 1-b3-4-5-b7
Minor 7th
Arpeggio 1-b3-5-b7
Minor Triad
Arpeggio 1-b3-5
Reference Chord
C
INTERVALS
b3
5
4
5
b6
1
2
b3
b7
5
b6
b7
b3
4
2
b3
4
1
b7
1
b7
1
5
4
5
4
5
b7
b3
SHAPE
1
b7
1
5
5
5
b3
A
5
b3
5
b7
b3
1
1
5
5
b7
b3
b7
5
b6
b7
4
2
b3
4
1
b7
1
b7
1
5
4
5
4
5
b6
2
b3
b6
SHAPE
1
b3
1
5
G
1
1
5
5
b3
5
b3
1
b3
1
5
b7
5
b7
5
b7
b3
1
1
5
b6
b7
1
b7
1
b7
1
5
4
5
4
5
2
1
b3
1
b3
1
5
b7
5
b7
5
b6
b7
b3
4
2
b3
4
b7
1
b7
1
2
b6
b3
SHAPE
b3
b3
b3
1
E
1
1
1
5
b3
1
b7
1
b3
1
b3
1
5
5
b7
5
b7
5
b3
b3
b3
1
1
5
5
b7
b3
4
1
b7
5
4
2
b6
b3
b7
b3
4
1
b7
1
5
4
5
b6
1
2
b3
b3
4
b7
1
SHAPE
1
1
b3
b3
1
5
1
1
b7
5
1
1
b3
b3
1
D
1
b3
5
b3
b3
b3
4
b7
1
5
4
2
4
5
b6
2
b3
1
b3
1
b3
1
5
b7
5
b7
5
b6
b7
4
2
b3
4
SHAPE
5
b3
b3
b3