Learn Guitar Triads and the CAGED System
Prefer drilling to reading? Open the trainer
Three free guides that build on each other: what triads are, how the CAGED system organises the neck, and how inversions let you move between chords without jumping positions. Read them in order if you are starting out, or jump to whichever gap you are trying to close.
The Guides
- What Are Triads?
- The starting point. A triad is three notes stacked in thirds — root, third and fifth. This guide covers all four qualities (major, minor, augmented, diminished), the interval formula behind each one, how triads sit on the four three-string sets, and why compact three-note voicings beat barre chords in most playing situations.
- The CAGED System Explained
- Five open chord shapes — C, A, G, E and D — that tile the entire fretboard in any key. This guide walks through each shape, how they overlap, how CAGED works for minor chords, how the five pentatonic boxes line up with the five shapes, and the mistakes that make people give up on the system.
- Triad Inversions on Guitar
- Root position, first inversion and second inversion — what changes, how to spot which one you are holding, and how to use them for voice leading so chord changes move by one or two frets instead of leaping across the neck.
Where to Start
- Read What Are Triads? to get the three notes and four qualities straight.
- Drill major and minor shapes on one string set in the trainer until they are automatic.
- Read Triad Inversions and start noticing which inversion you are playing.
- Read The CAGED System to connect the shapes into one map of the neck.
- Keep the triads chart or a printable PDF nearby while you practise.
Reference Charts
- Guitar Triads Chart — every quality and inversion in any key, with all positions spelled out.
- CAGED System Chart — the five shapes tiled across the full neck.
- CAGED Triads Chart — which triads live inside each CAGED shape.
- All Printable PDFs — 39 free charts, no email required.