How to connect all shapes in the CAGED system

If you’ve already heard of the CAGED system, then you probably know how powerful it is for navigating the fretboard. 

But simply knowing a handful of shapes isn’t enough – you need to learn to connect them to truly unlock the potential of this amazing system. 

This allows for seamless transitions between chords and scales, giving you the freedom to solo and improvise across the neck.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on how to link all the CAGED shapes together to make the guitar neck one cohesive unit. 

Ready to finally get to grips with the fretboard? Let’s do it!

Connecting the Shapes

We’ll assume you know these five open major chord shapes:

The C shape followed by (in this order) A, G, E, and D – before reaching the C shape again up on the 12th fret.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the CAGED shapes are connected via their root notes:

C shape to A shape

First let’s take our C shape and shift it up two frets. 

Here’s the bit you need to wrap your head around – even though it’s a C shape, it’s now a D chord, because it’s been raised by a tone.

You’ll notice that the root note (R) is on the 5th fret of the A string. 

All the shapes in the CAGED system are connected in this way. 

For example, if we look at our next shape (the A shape) it starts on the exact same fret as the previous shape.

Practice slowly moving between these two shapes until you can almost see the shapes on the neck before you play them.

A shape to G shape

The next shape in the system is G.

It shares most of its notes with the A shape, in fact, It’s almost like an equator splitting the CAGED system down the middle.

If the G shape is a little difficult, you can just play the lowest three strings.

G shape to E shape

This should be a familiar bar chord shape to most of you.

Again, pay close attention to how these two shapes connect. 

You want to build the visual map in your mind even more than the physical act of playing the chords.

E shape to D shape

This one is a little different – the root note is on the D string.

Most guitarists don’t use this shape in everyday chord progressions, but it’s still important to know.

Each position is important for not only chords but also for connecting scales and arpeggio  – so don’t skip over any of these.

All shapes connected

As you can see, the bottom half of the D shape is the top half of the C shape we started with. The circle is complete!

It’s really important that you take your time with this – do your best to memorize these five connected shapes.

Let’s try a couple of simple exercises to help lock in this new information.

Practical Exercises for Connecting Shapes

Here are three exercises to help you lock in these transitions. As always, take your time with these exercises and focus on visualization before playing them at full speed.

This might be a good time to fire up the video and play along with the amazing Dr Molly Miller. 

Exercise 1: Ascending in the Key of C

We’re going to shift the pattern back down to C now.

Start in the open position with the C shape and work your way up through the CAGED shapes using the root, root, strum pattern as demonstrated in the video.

This means you pluck two different root notes from within the shape, then strum the whole chord.

• C Shape: Roots (A string then B string) → Strum
• A Shape: Roots (A string then G string) → Strum
• G Shape: Roots (E string then G string) → Strum (split across two beats)
• E Shape: Roots (E string then A string) → Strum
• D Shape: Roots (D string then B string) → Strum

Repeat the process, focusing on how the root notes guide you from one shape to the next.

Exercise 2: Descending in the Key of C

This is where things get a bit trickier. Starting from the high octave C, work your way down through the shapes:

• D Shape: Root (D string then B string) → Strum
• E Shape: Root (E string then A string) → Strum
• G Shape: Root (E string then G string) → Strum
• A Shape: Root  (A string then G string) → Strum
• C Shape: Root  (A string then B string) → Strum

Descending forces you to visualize the fretboard differently, but mastering this is crucial for complete fretboard freedom.

Exercise 3: Ascend and Descend

Once you’re comfortable moving in one direction, combine both exercises.

Start in the open C shape, ascend to the octave, then descend back to the starting point. 

This exercise forces you to think ahead and visualize both directions as you play.

Tips for Mastery

Focus on Root Notes

The root notes are your road map. 

By identifying where the root is in each shape, you can quickly orient yourself anywhere on the fretboard – make sure you’re consistently aware of their location in each shape. 

Once you can easily visualize the root notes, connecting the shapes becomes much easier.

Visualize First, Play Second

Before attempting these exercises, take time to visualize the connections without playing. 

Picture the shapes and root notes in your mind. This will help you anticipate the transitions.

Practice in All Keys

Once you’ve nailed down the key of C, apply this approach to other keys. 

The system remains the same, but practicing in different keys will reinforce your ability to move fluidly across the fretboard.

Conclusion

Mastering the ability to connect all the shapes in the CAGED system is a game-changer for any guitarist. 

It allows you to see the fretboard as a continuous landscape rather than isolated positions. 

With dedicated practice, you'll be able to move fluidly between chords, scales, and arpeggios, unlocking the freedom to create and improvise across the entire neck. 

Take your time, focus on visualizing the connections, and gradually integrate this approach into your playing. 

The more you practice, the more intuitive it will become, transforming the way you play, and think about the guitar.