Movable Guitar Chords

One way we organize our mental map of the guitar is to use movable chord forms, a chord that lends its shape to the other 11 tones (positions).

There are 5 basic chord forms: CAGED. We could organize chord forms around different chords, yet the chords C, A, G, E, and D provide a great combination of complete fretboard mapping.

Learn to fret (play) each one first, then we'll create other chords by moving each one up the fretboard.

Chord forms

There are a number of other ways to finger these chords. The fingerings shown on the chord charts and tab above are one way to fret these chords.

• The C is the normal fingering.
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• The A could be barred with the 1, 2, or 3. Or, it could be fingered 2, 3, 4, OR 2, 1, 3 (4, 3, 2 strings respectively).
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• The G could be 3, 2, 4 rather than 2, 1, 3. I Love Guitar is a fan of the 3, 2, 4 fingering. There are also other ways to play G. You can always leave the 1st open. This is very common, and creates a chord called G6. The 3rd finger (or pinky) could even fret the 2nd string, and leave the high E open (still G6). You have options.
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• The E and D are typical, yet can have inverted fingers, depending on context.

Finger labels

Once you can fret the chords with the fingers indicated on the frames &/or tab, get to moving each form up the fretboard.

When a chord moves up the neck, the index finger is responsible for 'closing' the previously open strings. In some instances, we will eliminate strings to make the chord easier to fret (create fragments). Different styles use different (and common) voicings.

We'll call any chord that doesn't use all 6 strings, a fragment.

For the C Form, we will 'eliminate' the first string so we don't have to bar.

As you build your chord vocabulary (fretted library), you are looking for resonance. For a given situation, is this version of this chord offering enough resonance? Is it an appropriate voicing?

C Form moving up the neck to create D-flat

We can eliminate the lowest root on the 5th string, & just fret the 4, 3, & 2 strings. This is a useful fragment for this chord form.

When you do this, depending on which fret you move it to, the open A string (5th), can enhance the chord, or create dissonance. To fix the dissonance, your 3rd fingertip can mute the A string, or get your thumb all the way over the top. This fragment resonates very nicely with the open A at positions 2, 4, 5, 7, & 9.

With all forms (CAGED), 12 for 1

1. There are 12 tones
2. The shape can be moved to any fret. (12 positions - 12 guitar chords).

Chord Forms to the Front and Back of 6, 5, & 4 Strings

Complete CAGED Map for C Major (C-E-G)

Double shapes are borders (shared tones) between chord forms.

Guitar Chords - the E Form