: How to read this guitar chord cheat sheet? Coming from a piano background, I have decided to give a try to the guitar and I have started learning some chords. Looking for a cheat sheet on Google, I have found this: http://www.princessdesign.net/wp/wp-conte

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It's probably obvious, but firstly, it is a chart of the C major scale.

The top part is the guitar neck. Tone letter are given on the neck.

Below that, patterns 1-5 are the pentatonic scales of the CAGED system. In those patterns [0] is the tonic, [X] are pentatonic scale tones, and [x] are the diatonic tones that 'fill in' the pentatonic scale for a full major scale.

The next "fret|scale|chord" lists aren't clear to me. Personally, that part feels like information overload. I can't immediately tell what it is and so it isn't helping.

Below that are the four basic triad types. The are arranged in columns under the CAGED patterns to show the triad's relation to each of the CAGED patterns. For some reason in this section the chord roots are designated by [0] instead of C as on the guitar neck diagram. I suppose the point of this is demonstrate the chord shapes can be moved to roots other than C. Also notice that b and # are used to modify the chords from a major triad and those modified tones (like b3 in the minor chords) are not listed on the guitar neck diagram. This part is inconsistent in that some patterns are notated to go over all the strings, but others aren't. I see no reason for that inconsistency, it should cover all strings for all chords IMO.

That's what all the stuff is. But, how to use it?

Obviously, you can practice the C major scale and the C pentatonic scale.
You can see the interlocking patterns of the modes of the pentatonic scale (the CAGED system) and indirectly you get the modes of the diatonic major scale (but the chart doesn't label them.)
You can practice chromatic modifications of the tonic chord.

Drawbacks of this particular chart:

I don't think it does a good job of showing how the patterns repeat at the octave at the 12th fret. If you look closely you can find it, but the chart doesn't really visually make it clear.
Most of this stuff is moveable by just sliding patterns up or down a few frets, but the chart - which basically an elaboration on the CAGED idea - doesn't show scales and chords in open position. But, I suppose that isn't a problem, open position should probably be a separate chart.
The CAGED patterns 1-5 split the difference between 2 notes per string and 3 notes per string with a combination of pentatonic scale tones and diatonic scale tones. I think it would be better to show them as separate but related patterns: show the CAGED pentatonic patterns for 2 notes per string, and then the related diatonic scale as a 3 notes per string pattern.
The big problem is the harmonic perspective. It looks like the chart has lots of chord information, but as presented the chord stuff is all rooted on C. But playing C+, C, Cm, Co isn't practical. What the chart doesn't show is that all the functional, diatonic chords are hidden in those patterns. Common progressions like ii7 V7 I are within the chart's scale, but not labeled.

I think it's an OK chart. But look for some others: open position stuff, 3 notes per string, functional chords, etc.

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The top row is scales:

x = this note is in the major scale
[x] = this note is in the pentatonic scale
red = this note is the tonic

The second row gives you the transpositions: if I play the pattern at fret x, y is the tonic. Because the chart you found is based on the "CAGED" system, the root of the chord in a give finger position may not match the position - you'll shift up one fret to play some of the chords relative to the scale

The next four rows show you chord voicings based on that major scale fingering.

I don't care for the chart... but then I don't care for CAGED in general. It's a major simplification of what the guitar can do, and if you start there (as opposed to learning the note names on the fretboard) you end up overlooking some really useful patterns.