CAGED
The G shape takes the open G major chord and makes it movable. It plays all six strings and has a big, ringing sound, but it needs a wide stretch, so most players use it higher up the neck. Diagrams follow the left- or right-handed setting at the top of the page.
This is one of five CAGED shapes. See how they fit together on the CAGED system page.
The open shape and the movable shape
Left: the open G major chord. Right: the same shape moved up five frets to play C major.
- Root note, the note the chord is named after
- Other chord notes
- Barre: one finger across several strings
- × means do not play that string, ○ means play it open
Drawn for left-handed players: the thickest string (low E) is on the right.Drawn for right-handed players: the thickest string (low E) is on the left. The row of numbers at the bottom is the suggested finger: 1 is your index finger, 2 your middle finger, 3 your ring finger and 4 your pinky.
How to play it
Barre type: Partial barre (D, G and B strings).
- Use your ring finger (3) on the low E string at the root fret and your middle finger (2) on the A string, one fret lower.
- Lay your index finger (1) across the D, G and B strings, three frets below the root. This is a partial barre.
- Use your pinky (4) on the high e string at the root fret. If your pinky cannot reach yet, leave out the high e string. The chord is still complete.
Here is each note in the movable shape, shown for C major.
| String | Fret | Note | Role | Finger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| low E | 8 | C | Root | 3 |
| A | 7 | E | 3rd | 2 |
| D | 5 | G | 5th | 1 |
| G | 5 | C | Root | 1 |
| B | 5 | E | 3rd | 1 |
| high e | 8 | C | Root | 4 |
Find the root note
The root of the G shape is on the low E string. In C major the root, C, appears on the low E string (fret 8), the G string (fret 5) and the high e string (fret 8). Find the chord you want on the low E string, and that fret is where the shape goes.
Find it in every key
This chart shows the G shape for all 12 major chords. Fret numbers are listed from the low E string to the high e string, and x means do not play that string. Where the shape cannot fit below the nut, the chart gives the next place up the neck.
| Chord (major) | Root fret on the low E string | Frets, low E to high e |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 8-7-5-5-5-8 |
| C♯/D♭ | 9 | 9-8-6-6-6-9 |
| D | 10 | 10-9-7-7-7-10 |
| D♯/E♭ | 11 | 11-10-8-8-8-11 |
| E | 12 | 12-11-9-9-9-12 |
| F | 13 | 13-12-10-10-10-13 |
| F♯/G♭ | 14 | 14-13-11-11-11-14 |
| G | 3 | 3-2-0-0-0-3 |
| G♯/A♭ | 4 | 4-3-1-1-1-4 |
| A | 5 | 5-4-2-2-2-5 |
| A♯/B♭ | 6 | 6-5-3-3-3-6 |
| B | 7 | 7-6-4-4-4-7 |
Minor and other chords
The G shape is rarely played as a minor chord. For minor, use the A or E minor shapes instead.
Tips and common problems
- Start with the open G chord and move it up one fret at a time to feel the stretch grow.
- Practice higher on the neck, around frets 5 to 10. The stretch is easier where the frets are closer together.
- Press the barre across D, G and B with the bony edge of your index finger so the other fingers have room.
- Play it slowly and pick the strings one at a time to find any that buzz.
Where this shape sits in CAGED
In C major the G shape sits at frets 5–8. As you move up the neck the shapes follow the order C, A, G, E, D and then C again, so it comes after the A shape and before the E shape. In C major it lines up with Pattern 5 on the C major scale page, so you can find the scale notes around the chord.
Other shapes: C shape · A shape · G shape · E shape · D shape
Practice ideas
- Slide the shape up one fret at a time and say the chord name at each fret. Use the chart above to check.
- Play the open shape, then the movable shape in C, four strums each. Listen for how the same chord sounds in a different place.
- Switch between this shape and the E shape, which comes next in the CAGED order. Keep the chord the same and just change position.
- Go slowly. Start at 60 bpm and keep the chord changes clean before you speed up.