Caged Across – I IV and V

Main chords

Working across rather than up the neck• Will start in the key of G major. • The 3 principle chords in any key are the I, IV

and V Chords.• Scale in the key of G major is: G, A, B, C, D, E,

F#, and G.• The Chord build off of I is G major, chord build

off the IV (4th note of the scale) is C Major and the chord build off of the V (D note) is a D7 or for this we will just use a D.

• In each of these examples the to move from one chord to the next you don’t have to move more than 1 fret up or down the neck.

• While the examples are in the key of G major, it is important to eventually try them in every key!!!

1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

G D G B D G

R 5 R 3 5 R

G (E Form – I Chord)

1

3 3 3

X X

C (A Form – IV chord)

1 1 12

3

4

D F# A D F#R 3 5 R 3

D (C form – V chord)

First place to start.

See how this is the E form to the A form to the C form. You hand does not move more than 1 fret to make any of the changes!! Very key to this. Also the F# on the 1st string 2nd fret on the D chord will lead right up to the G on the G chord when you play a V chord to a I chord.

Try this to the following: 4/4||: G | C | G | C : ||

Let’s talk a bit about voice leading• This is most important in the melody of a song or from

one chord to the other in the highest voice.• For example, in the previous chords the D chord has an

F# as the highest note. That is the 3rd of the D major chord (or even the D7 chord). The 3rd of a V chord wants to resolve to the 1st of the I chord so the F# in D wants to resolve to the G in the G chord.

• Also in this progression the B in the G chord (3rd of the I chord) moves very smoothly to the C in the C chord (1st of the IV chord), (notes on the 3rd string). And then when the C chord or IV chord goes back to the I chord this is just reversed.

• Notice in this that in all cases from one chord to the next the notes (other than the bass notes) move very smoothly.

• This will always sound good in any music. This is referred to as good voice leading.

1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

G D G B D G

R 5 R 3 5 R

G (E Form – I Chord)

1

3 3 3X X C G C E R 5 R 3

C (A Form – IV chord)

1 1 12

3

4

D F# A D F#R 3 5 R 3

D (C form – V chord)

First place to start.

4/4||: G | C | G | C : ||

Note 1

Note #1. Notice how the F# in the D chord resolves to the G in the G chord. The chord degrees are written below to help you with this. Along with the letter names of the notes in the chords. Note #2. Notice the B in the G chord moving to the C in the C chord!

Move this to other keys

• Do the same pattern and you will have the I IV and V chord up the neck.

• For example, at the 4th fret it is Ab Major, 5th fret is A major, 6th fret is Bb major, 7th fret is B major etc. Think of the I – IV and V at each fret. Write out the names of the chords in each key so that you really learn them!

1 2

3

1

2 3

4

D Major D Form (E Major)

0 0 X X

Note you can more the F# on the 1st string 2nd fret toThe 6th string 2nd fret (both strings are the same letterName – it works out better for most cases. As you can see with this form you don’t have to barre. Now you can learn it as a barre based entirely off of the first position D and I would recommend that you try that once this is mastere.

See how this form works below. I personally like this form quite a bit and like to go from the E form to this when going to a IV chord (G to C for example). This will be used for the next example!

1

2 3

4

G (D form) 5th fret!I Chord

X X

5th

Fret 1 1 1

3

C (G Form) 5th fretIV Chord

X X

5th fret.

1

3 3 3

X X

D(A form) 5th fretV Chord

5th

fret

Now to do the same progression but in 5th position. Lots of things to notice here.To start notice that the C form is now the V chord.

4/4||: G | C | G | C : ||

Apply to the same progression.

Move this to other keys just like before

• Do the same pattern and you will have the I IV and V chord up the neck.

• For example, at the 4th fret it is Ab Major, 5th fret is A major, 6th fret is Bb major, 7th fret is B major etc. Think of the I – IV and V at each fret. Write out the names of the chords in each key so that you really learn them!

Now to do the same progression but in 7th position. Lots of things to notice here.To start notice that the C form is now the V chord.

4/4||: G | C | G | C : ||

Apply to the same progression.Note how you have already done these forms earlier. So it is just learning where to play them and how they relate to each other. We did the G above in the C form as a D (2nd position) and the C as a G 3rd position and the D in the G form as a C.

1 1 12

3

4

R 3 5 R 3

G (C form – 1 chord)7th fret

7th

fret1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

R 5 R 3 5 R

C (E form – IV chord)8th fret.

8th fret

1 1 1

3

D (G Form) 7th fretIV Chord

X X

7th

fret

At this point the chords go high up on the neck

• I will continue in G but realize that on a classical or even a steel string acoustic that this is difficult to impossible. But you can apply it to other keys.

• Next page gives it in G major first and then in C major.

1

3 3 3

X X

C(A form) 3rd fretI Chord

3rdfret

1

2 3

4

F (D form) 3rd fret!IV Chord

X X

3h

Fret1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

R 5 R 3 5 R

G (E form –V chord)3rd fret.

3rd fret

1

3 3 3

X X

G(A form) 10th fretI Chord

10th

fret

1

2 3

4

C (D form) 10th fret!IV Chord

X X

10th

Fret1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

R 5 R 3 5 R

D (E form –V chord)10th fret.

10th fret

G Major

C Major

Last set!!

• Again same as previous one – G is tough at the 12th fret but could also be done in 1st position.

1 1 1

3

C (G Form) 5th fret1 Chord

X X

12th fret.

1 1 12

3

4

R 3 5 R 3

F (C form – IV chord)5th fret

12th

fret1

2 3

4

G (D form) 5th fret!V Chord

X X

12th

Fret

1 1 1

3

G (G Form) 12th fret1 Chord

X X

12th fret.

1 1 12

3

4

R 3 5 R 3

C (C form – IV chord)12th fret

12th

fret1

2 3

4

D (D form) 12th fret!V Chord

X X

12th

Fret

In G

In C

Now you have done all 5 moves

• Not that you will never mix them up but this is the easiest way to play the I IV and V chords.

• Learn each one and try to the progression.• Try songs that have the I IV V only.• Learn in every key.• You will see that the forms also follow the CAGED

format.• We started with G in the E form, then the next set was G

in the D form, the next G in the C form, next G in the A form and lastly G in the G form.

• It also follows the same for the IV and the V chords.

Now going up the neck in one key.• Now we have 3 forms of the D chord moving up the neck.• The C form of D to the A form of D to the G form of D. • The G form always follows the A form. Look closely at that

relationship! Along with the fact that the A form always follows the C form you are 3/5ths of the way there.

1 1 12

3

4

C Moveable Chord (D Major)

1

3 3 3

X X

Note the common tone!

A Moveable Chord (D Major Chord)

1 1 1

3

G Form (D Major Chord)

X X

7th fret.

From the G form to the E form.

1 1 1

2

G Form (D Major Chord)

X X

7th fret.

1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

1 5 1 3 5 1

10th fret

(4)

The E form of the D major chord.

1 3 5 1 3

Really notice how the change in order of notes means a difference in the texture of the chord! Again listen. You can also practice singing the chord from bottom note to top or top to bottom.

1 2

3

1

2 3

4

D Major D Form (E Major)

0 0 X X

Note you can more the F# on the 1st string 2nd fret toThe 6th string 2nd fret (both strings are the same letterName – it works out better for most cases. As you can see with this form you don’t have to barre. Now you can learn it as a barre based entirely off of the first position D and I would recommend that you try that once this is mastere.

See how this form works below. I personally like this form quite a bit and like to go from the E form to this when going to a IV chord (G to C for example).

1 1 12

3

4

C Moveable Chord (D Major)

1

3 3 3

X X

A Moveable Chord (D Major Chord)

1 1 1

3

G Form (D Major Chord)

X X

7th fret.

1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

10th fret

The E form of the D major chord.

(4)

1

2 3

4

D Form (D Major)

X X

12th fret, could have also done in 1st position.Arrows are pointing to where

the roots are and move to.

The G form

2

3 4

1 1 1 1 1 1

2

3 4

G Major G Form (A Major Chord)

This form is usually played without playing the 1st and 6th strings. Below is an example of the concept with the 1st and 6th strings in the 3rd diagram muted.Some bands such as the Doobie Brothers used this form as a basis for cool chord riffs.At this point notice that the root moves around by which voicing you are playing.Note that 1 = root. From here on 1 will refer to root rather than writing R.

1 1 1

3

G Form (A Major Chord)

X X C# E A C#

3 5 1 3

A C# E A C# A1 3 5 1 3 1

11 1

E

0 X

1 1

2

A

33

7th fret

0 X

7t Fret

Chords for Listen To The Music. Note that on the E you will hammer on the 9th fret with the 3rd finger and on the A hammer the and and 3rd finger on. This is very cool and a good example of using these 2 forms.

4/4 ||: E | A : ||

Will do the whole song at a later date.

1

1

3 3 3

X X

A Moveable Chord (Bb Major Chord)

G Form (Bb Major Chord)

X X

So do Bb then move up to B – Next slide and continue.

1 1 1

3

Goal for this term

• Learn all the forms and how to find them up the neck in each position.

• Make sure you can do the chords across like in this paper.

• Start to visualize the guitar in the key of G major.