The CAGED Scale Framework: Mastering All 5 Position Boxes from Fret 0 to 15 with Indian Sargam

8-minute read
Dhruvik Donga
Guitar Fundamentals • Scale Mastery • Reference Guides
Guitar • Scales • Caged-System • Music-Theory • Sargam • Guitar-Practice • Lead-Guitar

The CAGED system is the foundational visual framework for organizing the guitar neck. By linking the five basic open chord forms (C – A – G – E – D) with their corresponding scale fingerings, you can navigate the entire fretboard in any key without getting lost.

Every CAGED major scale box contains its relative natural minor scale starting on the 6th degree (A, located 3 semitones / 3 frets lower), mapped directly to Indian Classical Sargam swaras (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni).

1. The CAGED Box Sequence Across the Neck Link to heading

Ordered sequentially from the open nut up through the 15th fret in the key of C Major / A Minor:

Sequential OrderCAGED Form ShapePrimary Fret SpanPrimary Major Root (Sa) StringsPrimary Minor Root (Dha) Strings
Box 1C-Shape FormFrets 0 – 3 (Open)Strings 5 & 2Strings 5 & 3
Box 2A-Shape FormFrets 2 – 5Strings 5 & 3Strings 6, 3, 1
Box 3G-Shape FormFrets 4 – 8Strings 6, 3, 1Strings 6, 4, 1
Box 4E-Shape FormFrets 7 – 10Strings 6, 4, 1Strings 4, 2
Box 5D-Shape FormFrets 9 – 13Strings 4 & 2Strings 6, 2, 1
Box 1 (Octave)C-Shape (High)Frets 12 – 15Strings 5 & 2Strings 5 & 3
  • Red (:root): Major Root (C / Sa)
  • Gold (:start): Relative Minor Root (A / Dha / Minor Sa)

2. All 5 Sequential CAGED Scale Boxes (Fret 0 to Fret 15) Link to heading

Box 1: Open C-Shape Position (Frets 0 to 3) Link to heading

  • Underlying Chord Form: Open C Major Chord
  • Root Anchors: String 5 Fret 3 (C / Sa), String 2 Fret 1 (C / Sa), String 5 Fret 0 (A / Dha), String 3 Fret 2 (A / Dha)
  • Sargam Path: Starts on Ga (E) on open String 6.
CAGED Box 1: C-Shape (Open Position / Frets 0 to 3)
O123
e
E
F
Stop G
B
B
C
D
G
G
A
D
D
E
F
A
A
B
C
E
Start E
F
G
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Ga (0) → Ma (1) → Pa (3)
    • String 5: Dha (0) → Ni (2) → Sa (3)
    • String 4: Re (0) → Ga (2) → Ma (3)
    • String 3: Pa (0) → Dha (2)
    • String 2: Ni (0) → Sa (1) → Re (3)
    • String 1: Ga (0) → Ma (1) → Pa (3)

Box 2: A-Shape Position (Frets 2 to 5) Link to heading

  • Underlying Chord Form: Barre form based on open A Major
  • Root Anchors: String 5 Fret 3 (C / Sa), String 3 Fret 5 (C / Sa), String 6 & 1 Fret 5 (A / Dha), String 3 Fret 2 (A / Dha)
  • Sargam Path: Starts on Pa (G) on String 6 Fret 3.
CAGED Box 2: A-Shape Position (Frets 2 to 5)
O123456
e
G
Stop A
B
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
Start G
A
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Pa (3) → Dha (5)
    • String 5: Ni (2) → Sa (3) → Re (5)
    • String 4: Ga (2) → Ma (3) → Pa (5)
    • String 3: Dha (2) → Ni (4) → Sa (5)
    • String 2: Re (3) → Ga (5) → Ma (6)
    • String 1: Pa (3) → Dha (5)

Box 3: G-Shape Position (Frets 4 to 8) Link to heading

  • Underlying Chord Form: Barre form based on open G Major
  • Root Anchors: String 6 & 1 Fret 8 (C / Sa), String 3 Fret 5 (C / Sa), String 6 & 1 Fret 5 (A / Dha), String 4 Fret 7 (A / Dha)
  • Sargam Path: Starts on Dha (A) on String 6 Fret 5.
CAGED Box 3: G-Shape Position (Frets 4 to 8)
O12345678
e
A
B
Stop C
B
E
F
G
G
B
C
D
D
G
A
A
D
E
F
E
Start A
B
C
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Dha (5) → Ni (7) → Sa (8)
    • String 5: Re (5) → Ga (7) → Ma (8)
    • String 4: Pa (5) → Dha (7)
    • String 3: Ni (4) → Sa (5) → Re (7)
    • String 2: Ga (5) → Ma (6) → Pa (8)
    • String 1: Dha (5) → Ni (7) → Sa (8)

Box 4: E-Shape Position (Frets 7 to 10) Link to heading

  • Underlying Chord Form: Barre form based on open E Major
  • Root Anchors: String 6 & 1 Fret 8 (C / Sa), String 4 Fret 10 (C / Sa), String 4 Fret 7 (A / Dha), String 2 Fret 10 (A / Dha)
  • Sargam Path: Starts on Ni (B) on String 6 Fret 7.
CAGED Box 4: E-Shape Position (Frets 7 to 10)
O12345678910
e
B
C
Stop D
B
G
A
G
D
E
F
D
A
B
C
A
E
F
G
E
Start B
C
D
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Ni (7) → Sa (8) → Re (10)
    • String 5: Ga (7) → Ma (8) → Pa (10)
    • String 4: Dha (7) → Ni (9) → Sa (10)
    • String 3: Re (7) → Ga (9) → Ma (10)
    • String 2: Pa (8) → Dha (10)
    • String 1: Ni (7) → Sa (8) → Re (10)

Box 5: D-Shape Position (Frets 9 to 13) Link to heading

  • Underlying Chord Form: Barre form based on open D Major
  • Root Anchors: String 4 Fret 10 (C / Sa), String 2 Fret 13 (C / Sa), String 5 Fret 12 (A / Dha), String 2 Fret 10 (A / Dha)
  • Sargam Path: Starts on Re (D) on String 6 Fret 10.
CAGED Box 5: D-Shape Position (Frets 9 to 13)
O12345678910111213
e
D
Stop E
B
A
B
C
G
E
F
G
D
B
C
D
A
G
A
E
Start D
E
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Re (10) → Ga (12)
    • String 5: Pa (10) → Dha (12)
    • String 4: Ni (9) → Sa (10) → Re (12)
    • String 3: Ga (9) → Ma (10) → Pa (12)
    • String 2: Dha (10) → Ni (12) → Sa (13)
    • String 1: Re (10) → Ga (12)

Box 1 (Octave): High C-Shape Position (Frets 12 to 15) Link to heading

  • Underlying Chord Form: Higher octave of the open C-shape form
  • Root Anchors: String 5 Fret 15 (C / Sa), String 2 Fret 13 (C / Sa), String 5 Fret 12 (A / Dha), String 3 Fret 14 (A / Dha)
  • Sargam Path: Starts on Ga (E) on String 6 Fret 12.
CAGED Box 1 (Octave): High C-Shape Position (Frets 12 to 15)
O123456789101112131415
e
E
F
Stop G
B
B
C
D
G
G
A
D
D
E
F
A
A
B
C
E
Start E
F
G
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Ga (12) → Ma (13) → Pa (15)
    • String 5: Dha (12) → Ni (14) → Sa (15)
    • String 4: Re (12) → Ga (14) → Ma (15)
    • String 3: Pa (12) → Dha (14)
    • String 2: Ni (12) → Sa (13) → Re (15)
    • String 1: Ga (12) → Ma (13) → Pa (15)

3. Master Summary: 5-Box CAGED Interlocking Map Link to heading

Sequential BoxUnderlying FormPrimary Fret SpanMajor Root (Sa) CoordinatesMinor Root (Dha) Coordinates
Box 1C-ShapeFrets 0 – 3String 5 Fret 3, String 2 Fret 1String 5 Fret 0, String 3 Fret 2
Box 2A-ShapeFrets 2 – 5String 5 Fret 3, String 3 Fret 5String 6 & 1 Fret 5, String 3 Fret 2
Box 3G-ShapeFrets 4 – 8String 6 & 1 Fret 8, String 3 Fret 5String 6 & 1 Fret 5, String 4 Fret 7
Box 4E-ShapeFrets 7 – 10String 6 & 1 Fret 8, String 4 Fret 10String 4 Fret 7, String 2 Fret 10
Box 5D-ShapeFrets 9 – 13String 4 Fret 10, String 2 Fret 13String 5 Fret 12, String 2 Fret 10
Box 1 (Octave)C-Shape (High)Frets 12 – 15String 5 Fret 15, String 2 Fret 13String 5 Fret 12, String 3 Fret 14

Practice Steps Link to heading

  1. Trace the Root Shapes: Before playing the full scale, locate the root notes (Red for C, Gold for A) and visualize the chord shape that frames them.
  2. Sing the Sargam: Vocally intone Sa - Re - Ga - Ma - Pa - Dha - Ni - Sa to train your ear alongside finger placement.
  3. Shift Across Positions: Practice ascending in Box 1 (C-Shape), shifting into Box 2 (A-Shape) on the higher strings, and resolving into Box 4 (E-Shape) at the 8th fret.