PickFretFree cheat sheet
Every C chord on the neck
C major has five shapes up the guitar neck, one for each letter of CAGED: the C shape (open), the A shape (fret 3), the G shape (fret 5), the E shape (fret 8) and the D shape (fret 10). After the D shape, the C shape comes back at fret 12. Every shape uses only the notes C, E and G.
The five shapes of C
Most players learn the open C first. That grip is the first of the five. Learn the other four and you can play C anywhere on the neck, next to whatever you play before or after it.
Cshape
Open
The open C you already know.
Ashape
Fret 3
Index finger barres fret 3 from the A string down.
Gshape
Fret 5
A stretch as a full chord. Most players use part of it.
Eshape
Fret 8
The E-shape barre chord, with its root on the low E string.
Dshape
Fret 10
Open D moved up: root on the D string at fret 10.
| Shape | Frets | Where | Notes, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|
| C shape | x 3 2 0 1 0 | Open | C E G C E |
| A shape | x 3 5 5 5 3 | Fret 3 | C G C E G |
| G shape | 8 7 5 5 5 8 | Fret 5 | C E G C E C |
| E shape | 8 10 10 9 8 8 | Fret 8 | C G C E G C |
| D shape | x x 10 12 13 12 | Fret 10 | C G C E |
| C shape | x 15 14 12 13 12 | Fret 12 | C E G C E |
Memory trick: C, A, G, E, D
The shapes always climb the neck in the order C, A, G, E, D. After D, start again at C, 12 frets above where you began.
No barre: the C triads
Short on fingers? The top three strings of these shapes hold four small C chords. Each is C, E and G in a different order, and none needs a barre.
G C E
Top of the C shape
C E G
Top of the A shape
E G C
Top of the E shape
G C E
Top of the D shape
| Frets (G B e) | Notes, low to high | Inside the |
|---|---|---|
| 0 1 0 | G C E | C shape |
| 5 5 3 | C E G | A shape |
| 9 8 8 | E G C | E shape |
| 12 13 12 | G C E | D shape |
Watch it in 33 seconds
How to practise it
- Play each shape slowly and say its letter. Start with the open C, then the A shape at fret 3.
- Climb: strum each shape four times, then move to the next one. Go up to the D shape and back down.
- Do the same with the four triads on the top three strings. Each sits at the top of a shape you just played.
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Questions
What does CAGED mean on guitar?
CAGED names five open chord shapes: C, A, G, E and D. Moved up the neck, each shape plays other chords. For C major they line up in that order from the nut, and the C shape comes back at fret 12.
How many ways can you play a C chord on guitar?
Five shapes cover the whole neck in standard tuning, and each one repeats 12 frets higher. Smaller grips, such as the three-note triads on the top strings, give you more ways again.
Do I need a barre for every shape?
No. The open C shape needs no barre, and neither do the four triads on the top three strings. The A and E shapes are the usual barre chords.
Does CAGED work for other chords?
Yes. The five shapes keep the same order for every major chord; only the starting fret changes. G major starts with the open G shape, then the E shape at fret 3, the D shape at fret 5, the C shape at fret 7 and the A shape at fret 10.
What is a triad?
A triad is the three notes that make a chord. For C major they are C, E and G. On the top three strings, each C triad fits under two or three fingers.