Chords Guitar - Google Blog Search

CAGED Chords for Guitar - Matt Warnock Guitar

Posted: 01 Dec 2014 01:11 AM PST

CAGED Chords for Guitar

When first learning how to play chords on guitar, many players stumble upon a system labelled CAGED Chords.

While we may know the title of these five common chord shapes, sometimes the theory behind these shapes, and how to fully use them on the fretboard, eludes us.

In this lesson you will learn how to build CAGED chords, how to move them around the fretboard, as well as how to apply the CAGED system to major, maj7, 7^th and m7 chords on the guitar.

Don't forget to Download Your Free Jazz Guitar eBook!

What Are CAGED Chords

The term CAGED chords refers to the names of five open-position chord shapes that you can then move up the neck to create five barre chord shapes, essentially transforming open position chords to moveable shapes on the fretboard.

These five open-position major chords are:

Hence the name of the chord type, CAGED, which is a list of the five chord shapes used in this system.

When moving these chords up the neck of the guitar, the lowest note of each shape is the root of the chord, and dictates the name of the barre chord you are playing.

So, if you have a C CAGED shape, the lowest note is on the 5^th string. So, you find a D on the 5^th string, and use that as the lowest note of the barre chord, with the C shape, and you now have a D barre chord.

These same shapes can be altered to form three other common chord shapes in both open and barred position.

Maj7 – R-3-5-7
7^th – R-3-5-b7
m7th – R-b3-5-b7

Now that you know how to build these CAGED Chords and move them around the neck, let's take them to the fretboard and get these five shapes under your fingers.

C Chords

The first CAGED chord we'll explore is the C chord, which you can see here written in open position as a C and in barre position as a D chord.

The lowest note, C in open position, is the root of the chord and will indicate the root note when moving this shape into a barre chord position.

A Chords

The second CAGED chord we'll explore is the A chord, which you can see here written in open position as a A and in barre position as a B chord.

The lowest note, A in open position, is the root of the chord and will indicate the root note when moving this shape into a barre chord position.

G Chords

The third CAGED chord we'll explore is the G chord, which you can see here written in open position as a G and in barre position as a A chord.

The lowest note, G in open position, is the root of the chord and will indicate the root note when moving this shape into a barre chord position.

E Chords

The fourth CAGED chord we'll explore is the E chord, which you can see here written in open position as a E and in barre position as a F# chord.

The lowest note, E in open position, is the root of the chord and will indicate the root note when moving this shape into a barre chord position.

D Chords

The last CAGED chord we'll explore is the D chord, which you can see here written in open position as a D and in barre position as an E chord.

The lowest note, D in open position, is the root of the chord and will indicate the root note when moving this shape into a barre chord position.

CAGED Maj7 Chords

You can also play all five CAGED shapes as maj7 chords, which you can see in the example below. When doing so, you use the interval pattern R-3-5-7 for each chord.

As well, you can transform these shapes into barre chords in the same way you did major chords, but moving them up the neck and using the lowest note to define the root of any maj7 CAGED barre chord.

CAGED 7^th Chords

You can also play all five CAGED shapes as 7th chords, which you can see in the example below. When doing so, you use the interval pattern R-3-5-7th for each chord.

As well, you can transform these shapes into barre chords in the same way you did major chords, but moving them up the neck and using the lowest note to define the root of any 7 CAGED barre chord.

CAGED m7th Chords

You can also play all five CAGED shapes as m7 chords, which you can see in the example below. When doing so, you use the interval pattern R-b3-5-b7 for each chord.

As well, you can transform these shapes into barre chords in the same way you did major chords, but moving them up the neck and using the lowest note to define the root of any m7 CAGED barre chord.

Do you have any questions about CAGED chords? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

JAZZ GUITAR - BEGINNERS JAZZ GUITAR - IMPROVERS JAZZ GUITAR - RESOURCES

http://mattwarnockguitar.com/30-days-to-better-jazz-guitar-ebook;

http://mattwarnockguitar.com/modern-time-rhythmic-fundamentals-for-the-improvising-musician-ebook;

http://mattwarnockguitar.com/matt-warnock-guitar-jazz-scales-app;

Chords Guitar