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GUITAR SCALES · CAGED SYSTEM
CAGED system explained:
Major pentatonic scale shapes
Learn how the five CAGED chord shapes relate to major pentatonic scales. Compare each reference chord with the same shape played as C major, then see how it fits inside the scale.
These CAGED shapes work in any major key. C major is the default example.
CAGED BASICS
What is the CAGED system?
The CAGED system, also called the CAGED method, maps the guitar fretboard using five movable chord forms: C, A, G, E and D. These forms connect different positions of the same chord. Each chord shape helps you locate the scale notes around it.
For major pentatonic, start with the major chords C, A, G, E and D. Each section starts with a reference chord so you can see the original shape. The next diagram uses that shape to play C major, followed by the scale around it.
The letter names the shape. C names the chord you hear. Moving a chord shape lets you play different chords, while its CAGED name stays the same.
How to read the chord and scale diagrams
Read the four numbered diagrams in order: reference chord → C major chord → C major pentatonic → overlap. Gold follows the C major chord; blue shows the scale.
Low E is on the left, high e on the right. The reference chord shows where the shape gets its name.
01 / FIVE CHORD SHAPES
The C shape in C major
- Start with the open C major chord shown first.
- The next diagram shows the same C chord shape higher up the neck.
- The C-shaped major chord inside the scale gives this position its name.
Chord and scale diagrams
See it in action
02 / FIVE CHORD SHAPES
The A shape in C major
- Start with the open A major chord shown first.
- Use that same shape to play C major farther up the neck.
- The A-shaped major chord inside the scale gives this position its name.
Chord and scale diagrams
See it in action
03 / FIVE CHORD SHAPES
The G shape in C major
- Start with the open G major chord shown first.
- Use that same shape to play C major farther up the neck.
- The G-shaped major chord inside the scale gives this position its name.
Chord and scale diagrams
See it in action
04 / FIVE CHORD SHAPES
The E shape in C major
- Start with the open E major chord shown first.
- Use that same shape to play C major farther up the neck.
- The E-shaped major chord inside the scale gives this position its name.
Chord and scale diagrams
See it in action
05 / FIVE CHORD SHAPES
The D shape in C major
- Start with the open D major chord shown first.
- Use that same shape to play C major farther up the neck.
- The D-shaped major chord inside the scale gives this position its name.
Chord and scale diagrams
See it in action
CAGED SCALE POSITIONS
The five C major pentatonic positions
For C major, the positions shown run A → G → E → D → C up the neck. This is the repeating C–A–G–E–D cycle, starting at A. Neighboring patterns share notes; these are overlapping positions of the same scale.
The fret ranges are the complete scale positions, not just the chord frets. At fret 12, the open-position pattern repeats an octave higher.
GUITAR PRACTICE
How to practice CAGED major pentatonic shapes
Start with the E shape. Practice the chord and scale separately, then play a short phrase over the C chord.
- Find the roots. Locate every C in that shape. Play each one and say its name.
- Pick out the chord. Play C, E and G one note at a time. Use a smaller part of the chord if the full shape is a stretch.
- Add the scale. Bring in D and A. Make a short phrase, then resolve it to C over the C chord.
- Try the next shape. Find the same notes in the D shape. Keep your rhythm and melody while changing the fingering.
CAGED QUESTIONS
CAGED scales & chord shapes: common questions
Why is it called the G shape when the chord is C major?
The first diagram shows an open G major chord. Move that form to play C major: the fingering keeps its G-shape name. The chord inside this scale position is C major.
What is the CAGED method on guitar?
The CAGED method is another name for the CAGED system. It connects five movable chord forms—C, A, G, E and D—across the guitar neck. Each form helps you find the same chord and the scale notes around it in a different position.
Do these CAGED shapes work in every major key?
Yes. Move the five shapes to play in another major key. The CAGED letters stay the same; the chord and scale change. C major is the default example in this guide.
How does CAGED work with major pentatonic scales?
Each major pentatonic position contains a major chord in one of the five CAGED forms. In C major, the chord notes are C, E, G. The scale adds D and A.
Does the E shape mean I am playing in E major?
E names the chord form, not the key. Move that form to play different major chords. The selected example shows an E-shaped C major chord inside C major pentatonic.
Are major and minor CAGED scale shapes the same?
Major and minor shapes are named after their own tonic chord forms. Relative scales can share the same notes but have different CAGED names: the G form of C major pentatonic shares its scale pattern with the E form of A minor pentatonic.
Are CAGED shapes the same as pentatonic boxes?
They can describe the same five regions. Box numbers follow a teaching sequence; CAGED letters identify the tonic chord form within each region. Use the chord inside the scale to check the name.
Do I need to play every full CAGED chord?
No. Use smaller parts of a chord to learn where it sits inside the scale. The full C and G forms can be stretches; you can still use them as fretboard landmarks.
Related guitar lessons
Lesson notes & references. Diagrams follow StrumForge’s major pentatonic models in standard tuning; animations and stills show the same selected voicings. For further background, see Wolf Marshall’s CAGED guide and Fretboard Foundation’s pentatonic forms. You can use smaller parts of the C and G major chord shapes if the full shapes are difficult to play.