When we descend along the keyboard, we start with C, and go down a minor third, then a whole step, then a minor third, then a whole step.
When we ascend up the guitar neck, we start at fret 0 and go up a minor third, then a whole step, then a minor third, then a whole step. These are the same intervals we just descended along the keyboard, but ascending! This process involves playing shapes that correspond to the CAGED system.
Again, I’ ve marked my guitar at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, and 10 with colored tape— red, orange, yellow, green, and blue— and this tape matches the colors on the piano notes. Here’ s why these frets matter.
Again, we go up the frets of the guitar the same distances we went down on the keys. This is not a coincidence.
THE CAGED SYSTEM IN ACTION— KEY OF C Let’ s put this all together in the key of C Major. Our starting place marked with red tape is at the zero fret. So technically, I have no capo. I play a C Major shape. What chord is it? C Major. Easy. When we spell the word CAGED, the next letter after C is A.
So, I move up a minor third— three frets— and place the capo on fret 3 where the orange tape is. Now I play an A Major shape. But what chord does it sound? Still C Major. Different shape, same chord. We’ ve done the shapes C and A – next is G.
So, we have one more position. I move up from fret 8 to fret 10 with a whole step to where the blue tape is. I play a D Major shape. What chord is this? I think you know. C Major.
So, the positions are open, fret 3, fret 5, fret 8 and fret 10.
The shapes are C … A … G … E … and D- What does that spell? CAGED.
The chord – every time is … C … C … C … C … and … C. It’ s all falling into place.
THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT: WHY THIS MATTERS Now let’ s talk about why this is such a big deal.
The first reason: You can play in any Major key from five different positions on the neck. That means five completely different options for voicings, sounds and registers— all in the same key. That’ s not just useful, it’ s artistically powerful.
The second reason: If you’ re collaborating with another guitarist, you can each choose different CAGED positions and be in the same key— but your parts won’ t clash. Your voicings will complement each other naturally. And some shapes are easier to play than others – so you both have options based on your levels of skill.
The third reason— and this is a big one: The CAGED system is the master key to the entire fretboard. Once you understand it in one key, you can apply it to all twelve. The shapes don’ t change. The distances don’ t change. Only the starting points change.
So basically, you’ ve been playing on a fretboard with a secret map on it the whole time. Now you can read the map.
In the accompanying video, I demonstrate a quick chord progression with all 5 positions at the same time.
The CAGED system is one of those things that, once it clicks, you’ ll wonder how you ever played without it. It organizes the entire neck into a pattern you can actually understand and use in real time.
It just takes some repetition. And repetition is … the mother of learning.
Now go pick up your guitar, put that capo to work, and start exploring those five positions.
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David Harsh David Harsh is a nationally touring worship leader, songwriter and performing artist. He is passionate about equipping guitarists to discover their potential. Learn more and join now at www. GuitarSuccess4U. com So, I move up from fret 3 a whole step to fret 5 where the yellow tape is. I play a G Major shape. What chord is this? C Major again. We’ ve spelled out the shapes C, A, and G. Next is E, right?
So, I move from fret 5 to fret 8 a minor third to where the green tape is. I play an E Major shape. What chord is this? You guessed it— C Major. We’ ve spelled out the shapes C, A, G and E. All that’ s left is the shape for D.
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