The instrument
The 6-string guitar in standard tuning: E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 (from the sixth string to the first). The guitar sounds an octave lower than written (written in treble clef with an 8 below). Range: E2 – about D6 (22 frets) or E6 (24 frets). Fundamental frequencies: E2 = 82.4 Hz, E4 = 329.6 Hz.
The CAGED system
The five open major chord shapes (C, A, G, E, D) can be moved along the neck with the barre. Every major chord can be played in five consecutive positions, in the order C–A–G–E–D. Example for C major:
- open C shape (first position, frets 0–3);
- A shape at the 3rd fret (barre at 3);
- G shape around the 5th fret;
- E shape at the 8th fret (barre at 8);
- D shape around the 10th fret;
then it starts over with the C shape at the 12th.
CAGED is used to find a chord in any zone of the neck and to connect chords, arpeggios, and scales in the same position.
Triads on string sets
Six-string chords are full but often too dense in an arrangement. Triads on three adjacent strings are more useful:
- sets: 1-2-3 (high), 2-3-4, 3-4-5, 4-5-6 (low);
- on each set a triad has three positions: root position, first inversion, second inversion.
Example C major on strings 1-2-3:
- second inversion: G (3rd string fret 0), C (2nd fret 1), E (1st fret 0);
- root position: C (3rd string fret 5), E (2nd fret 5), G (1st fret 3);
- first inversion: E (3rd string fret 9), G (2nd fret 8), C (1st fret 8).
Connecting chords with the nearest triad (minimal voice movement) gives pianist-style voice leading.
Other useful voicings
- Power chord (1–5 or 1–5–8): rock and metal, very clear with distortion.
- Shell voicing (1–3–7 or 1–7–3) on strings 6-4-3 or 5-4-3: jazz.
- Drop 2 and drop 3 four-note chords: jazz and soul.
- Chords with open strings (Cadd9, Dsus2, Em7 with open G and B): a wide, “resonant” sound typical of acoustic pop.
- Partial chord / chucking: 2–3 notes on the high strings, rhythmic (Nile Rodgers, funk).
Arranging multiple guitars
- Guitar 1: open chords in first position (low-mid register).
- Guitar 2: the same harmonies with triads on strings 1-2-3 at the 7th–10th fret, or with a capo at the 7th (same chords, higher sound).
- Guitar 3: an arpeggio or arpeggios with delay.
In this way you avoid duplicates in the same register. A common studio technique is Nashville tuning (high strung): strings 3, 4, 5, 6 replaced with strings an octave higher, for a bright acoustic guitar to layer over the normal one.
Capo and key
The capo lets you use open shapes in any key: G shapes with the capo at the 2nd fret = A major. Useful for fitting the key to the voice while keeping open strings.
Rhythm
- Strumming in eighth or sixteenth notes (constant down-up, even when the string isn't hit).
- Palm muting: damping with the palm for a percussive sound.
- Arpeggio (fingerpicking): thumb on the basses, fingers on the high strings (Travis picking).
- Chucking/scratch: muted strokes on the offbeats (funk, reggae skank on 2 and 4).
Practical exercise
Take the loop C–Am–F–G. Play it in three ways: open chords in first position; triads on strings 1-2-3, choosing for each chord the inversion closest to the previous one; CAGED shapes all within frets 5–8. Record the first two versions, panned left and right, and listen to how they complement each other.
Related topics
Triads: Qualities and Diatonic Chords, Chord Inversions, Voicing: Close, Open, Drop 2, Shell, Layering: Arranging by Frequency and Stereo, Acoustic/Unplugged Arranging.