CAGED Minor Chord Forms

Minor Chord Versions of the CAGED Shapes

Each of the five CAGED major shapes has a corresponding minor version. The difference is simple: the 3rd of the chord is lowered by one half step (one fret). This single change transforms the bright, happy sound of a major chord into the darker, more introspective sound of a minor chord.

In practice, this means one finger in each shape moves down by one fret:

• E-shape minor — lift the index finger off the 3rd string (in the barre version, the barre covers it naturally)
• A-shape minor — flatten the shape so only one finger covers the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings instead of the two-or-three-finger major voicing
• D-shape minor — lower the note on the 1st string by one fret
• C-shape minor and G-shape minor — these are less common but still useful for connecting positions

The E-shape and A-shape minor barres are by far the most frequently used. If you already play Em and Am in open position, you already know the shapes — barre chords simply move them up the neck.

A Minor Using E-Shape (Open Position)

Study the Am chord using the E-shape. In open position this is the familiar Am chord. Notice that compared to A major in E-shape, the 3rd (on the 3rd string) is one fret lower.

Play D Minor Using A-Shape

• Find D on the 5th string (fret 5) and build the Am barre shape there
• Compare Dm in A-shape to D major in A-shape — notice only the 3rd changes
• Strum from the 5th string down and check for clean voicing on every string
• Practice a minor chord progression: Am (E-shape open) → Dm (A-shape fret 5) → Em (E-shape open)
• Move the A-shape minor barre to play Cm (fret 3), Dm (fret 5), and Em (fret 7) in sequence