Chords in E major
E major: the five boxes up the neckLabels
CAGED / Chord
- root
E, root on the 6th string, open
E arpeggio
- root
E G♯ B
Major pentatonic
- root
E F♯ G♯ B C♯
Major scale
- root
E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
CAGED / Chord
- root
E, root on the 4th string, fret 2
E arpeggio
- root
E G♯ B
Major pentatonic
- root
E F♯ G♯ B C♯
Major scale
- root
E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
CAGED / Chord
- root
E, root on the 5th string, fret 7
E arpeggio
- root
E G♯ B
Major pentatonic
- root
E F♯ G♯ B C♯
Major scale
- root
E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
CAGED / Chord
- root
E, root on the 5th string, fret 7
E arpeggio
- root
E G♯ B
Major pentatonic
- root
E F♯ G♯ B C♯
Major scale
- root
E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
CAGED / Chord
- root
E, root on the 6th string, fret 12
E arpeggio
- root
E G♯ B
Major pentatonic
- root
E F♯ G♯ B C♯
Major scale
- root
E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
Shape neighbours: a key without moving your hand
Open position is the C-shape region of C major: C, F (E shape), G, Am, Dm and Em all sit in the first three frets. Slide the region up the neck and the same family comes with it in new shapes. The layout follows the circle of fifths: IV on the left, V on the right, each with its relative minor below.
Try this: play I–IV–V–I in this region, then press → and play it again in the next region. Five regions, one key, and you never jump more than a couple of frets.