The CAGED Method for Guitar

The CAGED method is used to help learn the notes and guitar chords on the fretboard. CAGED stands for the names of the guitar chord forms used in the method.

The first step in learning the CAGED method is learning the open chord forms of the C major, A major, G major, E major, and D major chords.

Now let's look at just the root notes used in each of these chords.

When these forms of the root notes are connected down the length of the fretboard in the C-A-G-E-D order, the CAGED method is formed.

Starting with the C chord in the open position and using the other chord forms (A-G-E-D), you can locate more forms of the C chord up the neck of the guitar.

Using the CAGED Method

If you start with the A chord form in the open position, you can locate the other forms of the A chord up the guitar's neck by using the other chord forms of the CAGED Method. Starting with A, then G-E-D-C (in the order of the spelling of CAGED with the chord forms). This works with each chord form if you start in the open position.

The diagram below is of the A major arpeggio. Note how the CAGED method is moveable on the fretboard based on the root notes.

The diagram below is of the C major arpeggio. A major arpeggio uses the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes from its scale, C, E, G. This is a good example of using the CAGED method.

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