- Published on
CAGED System
- Authors
- Name
- Rohan Büchner
- @rohan-buchner
To start off... The previous Facebook mantra comes to mind "Build fast and break things"... when it comes to guitar, this applies to my learning style, I mess around and make a lot of noise until the noise starts to sounds good...
until today.
....drum roll
The start of my venture into the world of (music) theory we'll have a look at the CAGED system.
The CAGED system in layman's terms would be taking your standard open chords, and then shifting them down the neck of your guitar.
Open C would equate to a Barred Open A shape on fret 3 and so on (you'll need to modify your grip as avoid the need to get tendonitis, or grow an extra finger)
If this all sounds like a bunch of random words spewed out by someone who doesn't know much, then fear not... I have pictures.
The below is the progression of C though all the shapes... C -> A -> G -> E -> D
As you'll have probably noticed, the name CAGED is of actual importance as well, as your starting chord, determines the shape progression.
For example:
If I start on an Open A, the progression to make an A sound down the neck would be (AGEDC):
- (0 / Nut) Open A.
- (2nd Fret) Barred on 2, G shape (aka. Crab hand. This is a bit of a stretch though, no one would do this in their right mind).
- (5th Fret) Barred on 5, E shape.
- etc...
If I started on E the progression would be EDCAG
Hope this helps anyone out there wanting to learn some cool shit.