Caged

lesson by Michael Chodosh

Ask us about books

This is where we actually start to pursue learning a system of chords as opposed to hoping to cover it all by just learning whatever songs we want to. It's not only great but extremely important that you continue to learn all of the songs that you can, however, you will never feel confident about your chord knowledge until you learn a huge mass of songs or until you adopt a system of chord manipulation that makes sense to you. Here in lies the beginning of that system!

No, we're not going to start with chord theory. But, the chords and the system that you will learn here will advance you toward the level of understanding that you need to reach before you attempt those lessons in chord theory.

A friend of mine, Brian Durocher, referred to the open position chords as "Caged" since the foundation for most simple chords are found in the chords C, E, A, D, and G which letter names are found in the word "Caged". It fascinated me that I'd never heard or even noticed that before. So, I would like to dedicate this lesson to my friend Brian who has also been a student at Chodosh Guitar.
	Brian Durocher

The open chord study "C, E, A, D, G".

These are all major chords. The underlined numbers show root notes. Numbers within the chord show which finger to place on that note. Remember to picture the top (head) of the guitar above the drawing where the name of the chord is. This visualization will help you to place your fingers properly on the guitar.

C

               0       0
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
              |   |   |   |   1   | - 1st fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   2   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
               3   4   |   |   |   | - 3rd fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
    |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+

| |

6th string 1st string

E

   0               0   0
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
              |   |   |   1   |   | - 1st fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   2   3   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
               |   |   |   |   |   | - 3rd fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
    |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+

| |

6th string 1st string

A

   0   0               0
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
              |   |   |   |   |   | - 1st fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   2   3   4   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
               |   |   |   |   |   | - 3rd fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
    |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+

| |

6th string 1st string

D

               X   0   0
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
              |   |   |   |   |   | - 1st fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   | |   1   |   2
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
               |   |   |   |   3   | - 3rd fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
    |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+

| |

6th string 1st string

G

                         0   0   0
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
              |   |   |   |   |   | - 1st fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   2   |   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
               3   |   |   |   |   4 - 3rd fret
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   |   |   |   |
    |   |   |   |   |   |
   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+

| |

6th string 1st string

Now, strum the chords. Play from the sixth string (or the lowest string that the chord uses) to the 1st string (or the highest that the chord uses) in a single sweeping fashion. That's a strum. In this case you will strum each chord four times before moving on to the next chord. I will show you how most books or charts show the strum and I will write it out in tableture.

C E A D G
\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \
Strum each chord four times
C
()
This is supposed to look like a whole note strum. Strum the chord and hold it for a count of four.

Now, the same exercise, written in tablature.

C E A D G C
E:-0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--2-2-2-2--3-3-3-3--0----
B:-1-1-1-1--0-0-0-0--2-2-2-2--3-3-3-3--0-0-0-0--1----
G:-0-0-0-0--1-1-1-1--2-2-2-2--2-2-2-2--0-0-0-0--0----
D:-2-2-2-2--2-2-2-2--2-2-2-2--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--2----
A:-3-3-3-3--2-2-2-2--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--2-2-2-2--3----
E:-3-3-3-3--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0-----------3-3-3-3--3----

It's simple but get good at it before moving on. Add the following chords over time: F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F# and B. Then add the 7th chords, the major 7th chords, the minor chords, the minor seventh chords and so on and so on . . .

Achieve that dream!
Lesson Information: lessons@chodoshguitar.com
Other questions and comments: mailto:info@chodoshguitar.com

Map of Chodosh Guitar: