Connecting the CAGED Patterns Up the Fretboard

Exercises in section help you identify and play CAGED chord shapes up and down the
guitar fretboard and get the CAGED shapes under your ngers. In each exercise, you’re
taking the open chord and connecting it up the fretboard using each of the CAGED
shapes.

Major CAGED System

C CHORD

A CHORD

G CHORD

E CHORD

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D CHORD

Minor CAGED System

C MINOR CHORD

A MINOR CHORD

G MINOR CHORD

E MINOR CHORD
 D MINOR CHORD

Chord Progressions Using the CAGED System

Once you have a rm grasp on the major and minor CAGED shapes, you need to start
applying them to chord progressions. Use the following examples to practice chord
progressions using the various CAGED chord shapes indicated for each chord. These
progression can be applied to any key.

For the rst progression (I-IV-V), you can play along with the backing track here: https://
appliedguitartheory.com/backing-track/i-iv-v-chord-progression-key-e/

I - IV - V Progression in Key of E
Chord # Chord Chord Forms - Variation 1 Chord Forms - Variation 2

I E E Form C Form
IV A A Form E Form
V B A Form E Form

I - iii - IV - V Progression in Key of G

Chord # Chord Chord Forms - Variation 1 Chord Forms - Variation 2

I G E Form C Form
iii Bm Am Form Em Form
IV C A Form E Form
V D C Form G Form
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