MILLPAD guitar modes fingering and CAGED system

MILLPAD System

MILLPAD guitar modes fingering and CAGED system

We already described the MILLPAD table and the MILLPAD fingering shapes with root note on string 6.

Using MILLPAD table you can also easly find all the CAGED position major scales horizontally on the neck.

CAGED system

The CAGED positions are based on the shapes of the open-string chords in horizontal sequence on the neck. First you find the C shape, then A shape, and so on with G, E and D shapes.

You may be wondering why CAGED shapes are exactly 5: the answare is that there is one chord shape for the root note on each different guitar string; because we have two E strings (strings 6 and 1), the result is that we can find root notes on 5 different positions:

• Chord Shape C = root note on string 2 (B)
• Chord Shape A = root note on string 5 (A)
• Chord Shape G = root note on string 3 (G)
• Chord Shape E = root note on string 6 (E) and 1 (e)
• Chord Shape D = root note on string 4 (D)

                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   
  String 2 (B)   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   |   
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   
  String 5 (A)   |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15

As you can see, in this perspective it would be better named BAGED system, but the open strings chord shape with root note on string 2 is the C chord shape and so the name given to the system is CAGED.

Ionian scale in all CAGED positions

                                Ionian
                                  ^
  Root notes:     G C F B E A D G C F B E A D
  --------------------------------^----------
  Modes:          M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.: 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 2
  --------------------------------^----------  | Mode fingering (start note on string 6)
  C shape strings:        E A D G B e          | Phrygian   (E)
  A shape strings:              E A D G B e    | Mixolydian (G) 
  G shape strings:          E A D G B e        | Aeolian    (A)
  E shape strings:                E A D G B e  | Ionian     (C)
  D shape strings:            E A D G B e      | Dorian     (D)
  --------------------------------^----------  |
  
  Shapes:        C A G E D
  Modes:         P M A I D
  Start str. 6:  E G A C D

C shape = Phrygian (E)

  Mode:     M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   1 2 2 0 0 0
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 2 (B)   | R |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 3 (G) o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 4 (D) o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A) o |   | o | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E) o | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note  (E)

A shape = Mixolydian (G)

  Mode:             M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   0 0 0 1 1 2
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   |   | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   | o | R |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 4 (D)   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 5 (A)   |   |   | R |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E)   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note              (G)

G shape = Aeolian (A)

  Mode:   M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 0 0 0 1
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o | R |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   | R |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                      (A)

E shape = Ionian (C)

  Mode:           M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   0 0 1 1 2 2
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o | R |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                                  (C)

D shape = Dorian (D)

                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 1
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o | R |   | o |   Fingering Type 1
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                                          (D)

E shape = Ionian (C) and A shape = Mixolydian (G) are enough to cover almost all the neck.

MILLPAD Guitar Modes Scales with root note on string 6

MILLPAD System
Guitar Modes Scales
with root note on string 6

Using the MILLPAD table we can easly rebuild the fingering shapes for all modes. Let's build modes with root note on string 6.

MILLPAD Table:

  Modes:          M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.: 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 2

Mixolydian

  Mode:             M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   0 0 0 1 1 2
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B) |   |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 3 (G) |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 5 (D) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 5 (A) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
               |----------------------------

Ionian

  Mode:           M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   0 0 1 1 2 2
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B) |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G) |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 4 (D) |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 5 (A) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
               |----------------------------

Lydian

  Mode:         M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   0 1 1 2 2 0
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 6 (E) |   |   | o |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 0
  String 2 (B) |   |   | o |   | o | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G) |   | o |   | o | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D) |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 5 (A) |   | o | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 6 (E) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
               |----------------------------

Locrian

  Mode:       M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   1 1 2 2 0 0
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 2 (B) |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 3 (G) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A) | o | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 6 (E) | o | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
               |----------------------------

Phrygian

  Mode:     M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   1 2 2 0 0 0
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 2 (B) |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 3 (G) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 4 (D) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E) | o | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 1
               |----------------------------

Aeolian

  Mode:   M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 0 0 0 1
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 2 (B) |   | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 3 (G) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 4 (D) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 5 (A) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
               |----------------------------

Dorian

  Mode: M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.:   2 0 0 0 1 1
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  
               |----------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 2 (B) |   |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 3 (G) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 4 (D) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 5 (A) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E) | o |   | o | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
               |---------------------------- 

Some more use of MILLPAD System:

MILLPAD modes and CAGED system

MILLPAD Guitar Modes Scales Fingering

MILLPAD System

Guitar Modes Scales Fingering

---

Author: Fausto Marzoli

Date: 2021-06-28

Studying modes for guitar I tried to find out an easy method to fix in mind the various fingering patterns, and I came out with the "MILLPAD" idea here described; the idea is original by me, but I suppose that probably someone else used this concept before. 

Some more use of MILLPAD System:

Guitar Modes Scales with root note on string 6

 

MILLPAD modes and CAGED system

Spread Fingering Shape

First of all, this MILLPAD method is based on the so-called "Spread Fingering Shape" for guitar. Using the "spread fingering shape" (in italian: "diteggiatura lata") on a single string, we always find three notes and we use only three different types of fingering:

• Type 0 = 3 notes with no semitones = Whole-Whole intervals
• Type 1 = 3 notes with semitone as first interval = Half-Whole intervals
• Type 2 = 3 notes with semitone as second interval = Whole-Half intervals

Type 0 fingering

  |------------------------
  | o |   | o |   | o |   |
  |------------------------

Type 1 fingering

  |------------------------
  |   | o | o |   | o |   |
  |------------------------

Type 2 fingering

  |------------------------
  |   | o |   | o | o |   |
  |------------------------

Type 0 fingering (after type 2)

  |------------------------
  |   | o |   | o |   | o |
  |------------------------

For example, C ionian scale at fret 8:

               |------------------------
  String 1 (e) |   |   | o |   | o | o |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B) |   |   | o |   | o | C |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G) |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 4 (D) |   | o | C |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String 5 (A) | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String 6 (E) | C |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
               |------------------------
  Fret           8               12

Keep in mind that when you switch from string 3 (G) to string 2 (B) you must shift right (up the neck) one semitone (half step), because of the guitar standard tuning peculiarity (unless you adopt "the all fourths tuning" for guitar like some jazz player does or like bass players).

Fingering Types Sequences

As you can see from the previous table, ionian scale fingering types sequence from string 6 to string 1 is: 0 0 1 1 2 2.

If you write down the fingering types sequence for each mode, you will end up with a table like this:

  ------------|----------------|------
              | E A D G B e    | 
  ------------|----------------|------
     Mode     | Fingering Seq. | Carry
  ------------|----------------|------
  Ionian      | 0 0 1 1 2 2    | 0
  Dorian      | 2 0 0 0 1 1    | 2
  Phrigian    | 1 2 2 0 0 0    | 1
  Lydian      | 0 1 1 2 2 0    | 0
  Mixolydian  | 0 0 0 1 1 2    | 2
  Aeolian     | 2 2 0 0 0 1    | 1
  Locrian     | 1 1 2 2 0 0    | 0
  ------------|----------------|------

Because modes are 7 and guitar strings are 6, there is always a "shift carry" fingering not available on the guitar neck (that would be available if you had 7 strings guitar). If you look at this table with more attention, you will note that there is ONLY ONE fingering sequence (that is 0 0 0 1 1 2 2), left-shifted depending on the mode you select; moreover, the left shifting has a rule: there is one single left shift for each descending circle of fifths step (that is: intervals of fourth).

In order to better understand this rule, let's start from the Mixolydian (G) mode that has the most ordered fingering sequence 0 0 0 1 1 2 (2): the next descending step in the circle of fifths after Mixolydian (G) is Ionian (C), and the ionian fingering sequence is 0 0 1 1 2 2 (0); as you can see, this sequence corresponds to the Mixolydian sequence shifted left by one step. Here is the same table, with modes ordered in circle of fifths descending steps:

  ------------|----------------|------
              | E A D G B e    | 
  ------------|----------------|------
     Mode     | Fingering Seq. | Carry
  ------------|----------------|------
  Mixolydian  | 0 0 0 1 1 2    | 2
  Ionian      | 0 0 1 1 2 2    | 0
  Lydian      | 0 1 1 2 2 0    | 0
  Locrian     | 1 1 2 2 0 0    | 0
  Phrigian    | 1 2 2 0 0 0    | 1
  Aeolian     | 2 2 0 0 0 1    | 1
  Dorian      | 2 0 0 0 1 1    | 2
  ------------|----------------|------

If you imagine a fretboard without strings number limit and tuned in "all fourths tuning" (each string tuned at a fourth interval from the previous one, without the "B string exception" as in standard tuning), you will see the following patterns repeating:

               |------------------------
               ... and so on ...
  String High  |   |   | o |   | o | o |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   |   | o |   | o | o |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   |   | o | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 1
  String       |   |   | o | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 1
  String       |   | o |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 0
  String       |   | o |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 0
  String       |   | o |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 0
  String       |   | o |   | o | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   | o |   | o | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String       |   | o | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 1
  String       | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String       | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
  String Bass  | o |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 0
               |------------------------

As you can see there is always a “half step up” switching to fingering type 1 from fingering type 0. Keep in mind that in standard tuning you will find a “half step up” also switching from string 3 (G) to string 2 (B).

MILLPAD

Doing the "left shifting" with all the modes in the descending circle of fifths order ends up with the following table, that resumes the MILLPAD method:

  Modes:          M I L L P A D M I L L P A D
  Fingering Seq.: 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 2

Modes in this table are indicated on the first line with the starting letter in the sequence of the descending circle of fifths: Mixolydian, Ionian, Lydian, Locrian, Phrygian, Aeolian, Dorian. As you can see, this sequence makes the word "M I L L P A D" and you can easly fix it in mind with the corresponding sequence 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 (expecialy if you associate "MILL"="0001" and "PAD"="122"). You must start reading the fingering types sequence at the mode corresponding letter, and follow right for the 6 guitar strings.

Some examples:

• Starting reading at M = Mixolidian, you find that the fingering sequence is: 0 0 0 1 1 2.
• If you start reading at P = Phrygian, fingering sequence is: 1 2 2 0 0 0.
• If you start reading at D = Dorian, fingering sequence is: 2 0 0 0 1 1.
• If you start reading at L = Lydian, fingering sequence is: 0 1 1 2 2 0.

Fixing in mind this simple table, you can easly find the fingering sequence of every mode.

Root notes

This method is valid for root notes on any string, and it's especially useful with root notes on string 6 and string 5.

If you start with root note on string 6 with a mode, you will also notice that you can find the following MILLPAD mode at the same position starting on string 5. For example, Mixolydian mode with root note on string 6 (sequence 0 0 0 1 1 2) has the Ionian mode at the same position on string 5 (0 0 1 1 2 2).

I did not invented the wheel

Later researches on the internet gave me some few info that a similar method is sometimes used by bass players (I found some reference to "Anthony Wellington's MILLPAD approach to modes"), but the documentation about it is very few and somewhat confusing. I think that the concept is the same, anyway. 

 

Some more use of MILLPAD System:

Guitar Modes Scales with root note on string 6

 

MILLPAD modes and CAGED system