CGDAE:
Mixed minor and major pentatonics
We realized that single string fingering sequences allow to easly fix in mind any mode (MILLPAD concepts) in any position (MILLPAD modes and CAGED system) and also pentatonic boxes (CGDAE: a different perspective on the pentatonic boxes).
Now we will understand that fingering sequences on the single string are very useful for memorizing any kind of scale, including the two pentatonics mixed toghether.
As we did for MILLPAD modes scales and CGDAE pentatonic in all positions, we can do it for mixed minor/major.
In this case, let's start with the two scales in the "start point" position, corresponding to the "E shape" position (often referred as "box 1"):
Major Pentatonic E shape box fingering:
|------------------------
String 1 (e) | | R | | M | | |
String 2 (B) | | M | | M | | |
String 3 (G) | M | | M | | | |
String 4 (D) | M | | | R | | |
String 5 (A) | M | | | M | | |
String 6 (E) | | R | | M | | |
|------------------------
Minor Pentatonic E shape box fingering:
|------------------------
String 1 (e) | | R | | | m | |
String 2 (B) | | m | | | m | |
String 3 (G) | | m | | m | | |
String 4 (D) | | m | | R | | |
String 5 (A) | | m | | m | | |
String 6 (E) | | R | | | m | |
|------------------------
Minor pentatonic intervals: R b3 4 5 b7.
Major pentatonic intervals: R 2 3 5 6.
Major and minor pentatonic mixed, plus b5 "blue note":
|------------------------
String 1 (e) | | R | | M | m3| | Fingering Type 2 (start point)
String 2 (B) | | Mm| | M | m7| | Fingering Type 2
String 3 (G) | M | m3| M3| m | | | Fingering Type 4 (or 2 + 2, with both 3 and b3)
String 4 (D) | M | m7| | R | | | Fingering Type 1 (root 2)
String 5 (A) | M3| m | b5| Mm| | | Fingering Type 4 (or 1 + b5)
String 6 (E) | | R | | M | m3| | Fingering Type 2 (start point)
|------------------------
We can identify three types of fingering on a single string:
- 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 4 = 4 notes with 1 semitones interval = Half-Half-Half intervals
When working out the scales, we may try to play the "Type 4" fingering always using three notes (instead of four) choosing to exclude M3 or m3 or b5 (alternating the options).
Type 2 fingering
|------------------------ | | o | | o | o | | |------------------------
Type 1 fingering
|------------------------ | o | o | | o | | | |------------------------
Type 4 fingering
|------------------------ | o | o | o | o | | | |------------------------
In order to be more exhaustive describing each fingering sequence, we can distinguish them as follows:
Fingering r2: this is the type 2 where the first note is the root note, then 2nd and b3rd.
Fingering 1+: this is the type 4 composed by type 1 plus b5 "blue note" after the first half step interval (3rd, 4th, b5 and 5th).
Fingering 1r: this is the type 1 where the last note is the root note (first ones are 6th and b7).
Fingering 4: this is the type 2M + 2m where the "2M" is a whole interval from the major scale and "2m" is a whole interval from the minor (2nd, b3, 3rd, 4th).
Fingering 2: this is the type 2 where the last note is the b7 of the minor scale (5th, 6th, b7).
The fingering sequence from the ROOT note is always: r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2.
Mixed minor/major pentatonic fingering sequence in the CGDAE system::
Shape (box): C G D A E C G D A E
Fingering: 1+ 1r 4 2 r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
-------------------------------
Intervals: 3 6 2 5 R 3 6 2 5 R
4 b7 b3 4 b7 b3
b5 3 6 2 b5 3 6 2
5 R 4 b7 b3 5 R 4 b7 b3
Mixed minor/major pentatonic scales in all CAGED positions
The fingering sequence from the ROOT note is always: r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2.
Fingering: r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
-------------------------------
Intervals: 1 3 6 2 5 1
4 b7 b3
2 b5 3 6 2
b3 5 1 4 b7 b3
C shape Mixed minor/major C pentatonic
Shapes: C G D A E C G D A E
Fingering Seq.: 1+ 1r 4 2 r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
Strings: E A D G B e
Root note string: ^
C A G E D C
---|------------------------------------------------------------
String 1 (e) M3| m | b5| Mm| | | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1+ (with b5)
String 2 (B) | R | | M | m3| | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type r2 (start point)
String 3 (G) Mm| | M | m7| | | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 2
String 4 (D) M | m3| M3| m | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 4 (with both 3 and b3)
String 5 (A) M | m7| | R | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1r (root 2)
String 6 (E) M3| m | b5| Mm| | | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1+ (with b5)
---|------------------------------------------------------------
Fret 3 5 7 9 12 15
Start note (E)
A shape Mixed minor/major C pentatonic
Shapes: C G D A E C G D A E
Fingering Seq.: 1+ 1r 4 2 r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
Strings: E A D G B e
Root note string: ^
C A G E D C
---|------------------------------------------------------------
String 1 (e) | | | R | | M | m3| | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 2
String 2 (B) | | | M | m3| M3| m | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 4 (with both 3 and b3)
String 3 (G) | | M | m7| | R | | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1r (root 2)
String 4 (D) | | M3| m | b5| Mm| | | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1+ (with b5)
String 5 (A) | | | R | | M | m3| | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type r2 (start point)
String 6 (E) | | | Mm| | M | m7| | | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 2
---|------------------------------------------------------------
Fret 3 5 7 9 12 15
Start note (G)
G shape Mixed minor/major C pentatonic
Shapes: C G D A E C G D A E
Fingering Seq.: 1+ 1r 4 2 r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
Strings: E A D G B e
Root note string: ^
C A G E D C
---|------------------------------------------------------------
String 1 (e) | | | | | M | m7| | R | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1r (root 2)
String 2 (B) | | | | | M3| m | b5| Mm| | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1+ (with b5)
String 3 (G) | | | | | R | | M | m3| | | | | | | | Fingering Type r2 (start point)
String 4 (D) | | | | | Mm| | M | m7| | | | | | | | Fingering Type 2
String 5 (A) | | | | | M | m3| M3| m | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 4 (with both 3 and b3)
String 6 (E) | | | | | M | m7| | R | | | | | | | | Fingering Type 1r (root 2)
---|------------------------------------------------------------
Fret 3 5 7 9 12 15
Start note (A)
E shape Mixed minor/major C pentatonic
Shapes: C G D A E C G D A E
Fingering Seq.: 1+ 1r 4 2 r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
Strings: E A D G B e
Root note string: ^
C A G E D C
---|------------------------------------------------------------
String 1 (e) | | | | | | | | R | | M | m3| | | | | Fingering Type r2 (start point)
String 2 (B) | | | | | | | | Mm| | M | m7| | | | | Fingering Type 2
String 3 (G) | | | | | | | M | m3| M3| m | | | | | | Fingering Type 4 (with both 3 and b3)
String 4 (D) | | | | | | | M | m7| | R | | | | | | Fingering Type 1r (root 2)
String 5 (A) | | | | | | | M3| m | b5| Mm| | | | | | Fingering Type 1+ (with b5)
String 6 (E) | | | | | | | | R | | M | m3| | | | | Fingering Type r2 (start point)
---|------------------------------------------------------------
Fret 3 5 7 9 12 15
Start note (C)
D shape Mixed minor/major C pentatonic
Shapes: C G D A E C G D A E
Fingering Seq.: 1+ 1r 4 2 r2 1+ 1r 4 2 r2
Strings: E A D G B e
Root note string: ^
C A G E D C
---|------------------------------------------------------------
String 1 (e) | | | | | | | | | | M | m3| M3| m | | | Fingering Type 4 (with both 3 and b3)
String 2 (B) | | | | | | | | | | M | m7| | R | | | Fingering Type 1r (root 2)
String 3 (G) | | | | | | | | | M3| m | b5| Mm| | | | Fingering Type 1+ (with b5)
String 4 (D) | | | | | | | | | | R | | M | m3| | | Fingering Type r2 (start point)
String 5 (A) | | | | | | | | | | Mm| | M | m7| | | Fingering Type 2
String 6 (E) | | | | | | | | | | M | m3| M3| m | | | Fingering Type 4 (with both 3 and b3)
---|------------------------------------------------------------
Fret 3 5 7 9 12 15
Start note (D)
