Guitar Triads through the CAGED system

Have you ever felt limited in your ability to navigate the guitar whole guitar neck? 

If so, mastering triads using the CAGED system is your key to unlocking your full fretboard potential. 

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this guide will simplify complex chord shapes and give you the tools to move freely across the neck.

You’ll learn how to apply the CAGED system to triads, giving you a clear roadmap for finding these essential chords all over the fretboard. 

Plus, there’s a free video lesson on triads using CAGED at the bottom of this page to help you see these concepts in action.

In this article we’ll show you how to:

• Identify and play triads in multiple positions on the fretboard.
• Use the CAGED system to simplify complex chord progressions.
• Integrate triads into your rhythm playing and lead lines.

By mastering these concepts, you’ll open up a whole new world of guitar playing possibilities, making your music more dynamic and versatile.

What are guitar triads?

Understanding the basics

At the heart of nearly every chord you play on the guitar is a triad. 

• A triad is the most basic type of chord, made up of just three notes. 
• These three notes are the root, the third, and the fifth (R, 3, 5) 
• Think of triads as the building blocks of harmony.

Whether you're strumming chords or picking out melodies, triads form the foundation of your sound.

These small shapes all make a D major triad. They’re the same notes, just in a different order.

This is called an inversion – more on this in a moment.

Breaking down a triad

Let’s break down what each note in a triad does.

Root

The root note is the starting point; it gives the chord its name. For example, in a C major chord, the C note is the root.

Third 

The third defines whether the triad is major or minor. In a C major triad, the third is E. If you lower the third by one fret (half step), it becomes E♭, creating a C minor triad.

Fifth

The fifth adds stability to the chord. In a C major triad, the fifth is G. This note is the same in both major and minor triads.

So how do these numbers translate to musical note names?

Triad note names

Here’s how this looks for a C major triad:

• C (root)
• E (third)
• G (fifth)

And for a G major triad:

• G (root)
• B (third)
• D (fifth)

Here you can see how those numbers or ‘scale degrees’ tell us which notes the R, 3 and 5 in a scale.

Inversions of triads

As seen in the neck diagram earlier, triads can also be played in different inversions. 

An inversion simply means that a different note is in the lowest position (the bass note).

• Root position: The root note is the lowest note.
• First inversion: The third is the lowest note.
• Second inversion: The fifth is the lowest note.

For example, in a C major triad:

• Root position: C (root), E (third), G (fifth)
• First inversion: E (third), G (fifth), C (root)
• Second inversion: G (fifth), C (root), E (third)

Not too complicated, right?

These inversions allow you to play the same chord in different positions on the fretboard, adding variety and richness to your playing. 

Understanding these triad forms and their inversions is key to unlocking the fretboard, and when you combine them with the CAGED system, you’ll see how the entire neck becomes your playground.

Why you should learn triads

You might wonder why triads are so important if you can just play full chords. There are bunch of different reasons to choose triads for your guitar parts.

Versatility

Triads can be played on just three strings, making them perfect for riffs, arpeggios, and fills. 

They’re versatile in another way too – they work for any genre!

So by investing a little time in triads, you can apply them to any style you want to play in the future.

Simplicity

They break down complex chord shapes into manageable parts, helping you understand what’s happening musically.

You can also simplify the guitar part you’re playing to sit better in a band. Sometimes strumming a full chord can be a little too much for certain song sections.

Mobility

Triads are easy to move around the fretboard, allowing you to play the same chord in different positions.

Now that you have a solid understanding of what triads are, it’s time to explore how you can apply them using the CAGED system. This is where the magic really happens!

How the CAGED system applies to triads

Connecting triads with CAGED shapes

Now that you know what triads are, let’s see how the CAGED system makes them easy to find all over the fretboard. 

• The CAGED system breaks the fretboard into five simple shapes: C, A, G, E, and D. 
• Each of these shapes corresponds to a chord form that can be moved up and down the neck.
• This allows you to quickly play any chords or triads anywhere on the fretboard.

Each CAGED shape contains its own triads, which can be played in root position, first inversion, and second inversion.

This means you can play the same triad in different positions using different shapes.

Here you can see how each of those D major triad shapes you just learned, are part of those larger chord shapes.

If you already know your open chord and bar chords, the shapes will be familiar to you.

Applying each CAGED shape to triads

Let’s break down how you can use each CAGED shape to find triads across the neck.

C shape triads

Let’s start with the C shape – if you look closely you’ll see the root note is on the 5th fret of the A string (which is a D)

This means that even though the shape is a C, the chord itself is a D.

You can see there are three possible triad inversions in this shape – super straightforward.

• Play the A, D, and G strings for the root position (R, 3, 5)
• Play the D, G, and B strings for the first inversion (3, 5, R)
• Play the G, B, and E strings for the second inversion (5, 3, R)

A shape triads

The A shape only contains only two inversions.

• Play the D, G, and B strings for the second inversion (5, R, 3)
• Play the G, B, and E strings for the root position (R, 3, 5)

Note: Playing the A, D, and G strings together forms a power chord, not a triad (because it only contains R and 5)G shape triadsThe A and the G shapes share a triad – that straight line is almost like the equator for the CAGED system.

• Play the E, A, and, D strings for the root position (R, 3, 5)
• Play the A, D, and G strings for the first inversion (3, 5, R)
• Play the D, G, and B strings for the second inversion (5, R, 3)

E shape triadsLike the A shape, this contains the recognizable power chord shape on the lower half.

• Play the A, D, and G strings for the second inversion (5, R, 3)
• Play the D, G, and B strings for the root position (R, 3, 5)
• Play the G, B, and E strings for the first inversion (3, 5, R)

D shape triadsWe arrive at the D shape, which crosses back over into the C shape that we started with.

• This is a the smallest CAGED shape as it only covers four strings.
• It contains only one triad shape – the second inversion on the G, B, and E strings (5, R, 3)

Why is the CAGED system important?Using the CAGED system to find triads all over the fretboard has several benefits:

• Simplifies chord shapes into easy-to-understand patterns.
• Expands your ability to play in different positions.
• Enhances your rhythm and lead playing by making it easier to see how chords connect.

Many great guitarists have used this concept – Hendrix was one of the pioneers of this idea and used it to create his unique rhythm style.If you spend a little time learning these shapes, you’ll be able to navigate the fretboard and turn awkward chord progressions into simple triad guitar parts.ConclusionMastering triads through the CAGED system is a powerful way to unlock the fretboard and expand your guitar-playing skills. By understanding how to find and use triads in different positions, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the structure of music, making it easier to navigate chord progressions and create more melodic lines.

• Remember, each CAGED shape contains its own set of triads, which you can play in root position, first inversion, and second inversion. 
• This knowledge allows you to play any chord in multiple ways across the fretboard, giving you greater flexibility and creativity in your playing.
• To reinforce what you’ve learned, it’s essential to practice these concepts. 

With consistent practice, you’ll soon find yourself moving confidently across the fretboard, using triads to enhance your rhythm playing, create interesting riffs, and even develop your lead guitar skills. For guided exercises that will help you apply the CAGED system to triads, be sure to watch the video lesson below.Happy playing!