Wolf Marshall’s GUIDE TO C-A-G-E-D

The C-A-G-E-D System is a useful method for organizing all styles of music on the guitar. It is based on five essential guitar chord
forms found in the first position: C, A, G, E and D.
The C-A-G-E-D System provides a simple way of grouping melodies with their related chord shapes. That is useful for understanding
the physical structure of guitar harmony, hearing note–to–chord relationships, and using chords and licks purposefully in your music.

Parent Shapes Major Major Chords Chords

Open in C Pentatonic Scales Linked Up Linked Up
Chords Scales C/G/D A/E/C
G E G E

C 12 G E 12 E A D G E 12 E A D G B E C

C
E C C F C F
E
3 C E E A B E A
3 C 3 C G
15 C 15 G C D G 15 G C F D G

5 G C E 5 G C E
A E

E A B E A

A
E A C 3 C G 3 G C D G 3 G C F D G 7 E 7

3 B C C C G C

5 G C E 5 A D G C E A 5 A D G C E A
9 9 E
5 F
C G C

G C E

B 12 G E 12 G E

G
B 5 G C E 5 A D G C E A 5 A D G C E A
C C
3 G G F
E
7 E 7 E A D 7 B E A D B

5 C C C G C C F G C 15 15 C

E B E

G 7 7 E A D 7 B E A D B

E
B E C G C C G C C F G C

3 9 E 9 E 9 B E

G C D G C A D D G C F A D

9 9 E 9 B E

D
Watch Wolf Marshall
A F C D G C A D D G C F A D
demonstrate the
3 D different shapes of
the C-A-G-E-D system
G E 12 E G E 12 E D G E
12 A D A B by scanning the
C C
QR code on the left
5 F C F
or go to daddario.com.
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Wolf Marshall is internationally acclaimed as guitarist, author

and educator. Through his many products and recordings, Wolf has
attained a worldwide following and status and has been listened
to and watched by generations of aspiring and professional
guitarists. Wolf is on the faculty of UCLA and has performed with
Kenny Burrell, Burt Bacharach, BB King, and many others. He
leads his own groups in the Southern California area.
www.wolfmarshall.com