F Major CAGED Chord Shapes: All 5 Positions on Guitar
F major is F, A and C. The CAGED system gives five shapes for it up the neck: the E shape from the first fret, the D shape from the third fret, the C shape from the fifth fret, the A shape from the eighth fret and the G shape from the tenth fret. None of them is an open chord, so each one is a barre or a partial shape.
Keys
CAGED Chords — F
Triads — F
Root position
First inversion
Second inversion
All inversions
The notes of F
F is a major triad: root, major third and fifth (1 3 5), which is a major third (four frets) with a minor third (three frets) on top. Every shape below is those three notes, doubled in different octaves.
How the five shapes connect
From the bottom of the neck up, the shapes run E (first fret), D (third fret), C (fifth fret), A (eighth fret) and G (tenth fret). Each one starts where the last one's top notes are, so playing them in order moves one chord up the whole fretboard. After the G shape, the E shape comes round again twelve frets higher.
The D shape and C shape share 3 notes (C on the G string at the fifth fret, F on the B string at the sixth fret and A on the high e string at the fifth fret), which is the hinge between them.
Where the root, F, sits in each shape: E shape: low E, D and high e; D shape: D and B; C shape: A and B; A shape: A and G; G shape: low E and G. Find that string first and the rest of the shape falls into place around it.
Where F appears
Written out, F uses no sharps or flats at all, so it sits in keys at the centre of the circle of fifths.
F belongs to 8 keys: IV in C major (no sharps or flats), I in F major (one flat) and V in B♭ major (two flats); III in D minor (one flat), VII in G minor (two flats) and VI in A minor (no sharps or flats); VI in A harmonic minor (no sharps or flats) and V in B♭ harmonic minor (five flats).
Of those, C major, D minor, A minor and A harmonic minor are among the open-string guitar keys (C, G, D, A and E major, and A, E and D minor), so F turns up often in guitar songs.
Open strings and capo options for F
One open string is part of F: the A string (the third). None of them is the root, so they colour a voicing rather than anchor it.
To get an open-sounding voicing, use a capo: the E shape with the capo at the first fret, the D shape with the capo at the third fret and the C shape with the capo at the fifth fret.
Closely related chords
Its relative minor, Dm, shares two notes with F (F and A). Its parallel minor, Fm, shares two as well (F and C). The chords a fourth and a fifth away, B♭ and C, are its neighbours in F major and share one note each: F with B♭, and C with C.
F CAGED FAQs
What notes are in a F chord?
F, A and C: the root, major third and fifth (1 3 5).
What are the CAGED shapes for F major?
The E shape from the first fret, the D shape from the third fret, the C shape from the fifth fret, the A shape from the eighth fret and the G shape from the tenth fret. E shape is the lowest; the E shape repeats twelve frets higher.
Where is the easiest F chord on guitar?
The E shape from the first fret is the lowest. Most players start with the E-shape or A-shape barre, then learn the others.
Related
Learn more
The CAGED system explained covers how the five shapes are built and linked. The CAGED guitar lessons set out what to learn next, and the CAGED library has every major and minor chord.