CGDAE: Mixed minor and major pentatonics

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)

CGDAE: a different perspective on the pentatonic boxes

CGDAE:
a different perspective on the pentatonic boxes

We can apply the MILLPAD concepts also to the pentatonic scales, resulting in an easy method to fix in mind the various pentatonic boxes fingering patterns and positions; in this case there are two types of fingering on a single string:

• Type 2 = 2 notes with 2 semitones interval = Whole interval (2nd)
• Type 3 = 2 notes with 3 semitones interval = Half-Whole interval (minor 3rd)

Type 3 fingering

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

Type 2 fingering

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

Type 3 fingering (after Type 2, shifted left)

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

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.

CAGED and pentatonic boxes

As you may know, pentatonic fingering boxes correspond to CAGED positions. A lot of music theory texts call them simply "boxes" (box 1, 2, etc.) but I think that it is much better to associate each box with the CAGED chord shape position: doing so you will be less confused in maj/min pentatonic switching, you will understand better the theory behind pentatonic fingering boxes, and (last but not least) you will never get lost on the neck after a couple of box switches.

For example this is the Major Pentatonic E shape box fingering:

                 |------------------------
    String 1 (e) |   | R |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
    String 2 (B) |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
    String 3 (G) | o |   | o |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
    String 4 (D) | o |   |   | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
    String 5 (A) | o |   |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
    String 6 (E) |   | R |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
                 |------------------------

And this is the Minor Pentatonic E shape box fingering:

                 |------------------------
    String 1 (e) |   | R |   |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 3
    String 2 (B) |   | o |   |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 3
    String 3 (G) |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
    String 4 (D) |   | o |   | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
    String 5 (A) |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
    String 6 (E) |   | R |   |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 3
                 |------------------------

Pentatonic fingering patterns

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 standard tuning "B string exception"), you will see the following patterns repeating for both minor and major pentatonic scales:

               |------------------------
               ... and so on ...
  String High  | o |   |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String       |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   | o |   | o |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   | o |   |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String       |   | o |   |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String       |   |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   |   | o |   | o |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String       |   |   | o |   |   | o |   Fingering Type 3 (min. start point)
  String       |   |   | o |   |   | o |   Fingering Type 3
  String       |   |   |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 2 (maj. start point)
  String       |   |   |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 2 
  String Bass  |   |   |   | o |   | o |   Fingering Type 2
               |------------------------

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

Major pentatonic fingering table for the CAGED positions:

  ------|----------------|------
        | E A D G B e    | 
  ------|----------------|------
  Shape | Fingering Seq. | 
  ------|----------------|------
    C   | 3 3 2 2 2 3    | 
    A   | 2 2 3 3 2 2    | 
    G   | 3 2 2 2 3 3    | 
    E   | 2 3 3 2 2 2    | 
    D   | 2 2 2 3 3 2    | 
  ------|----------------|------

The same Major pentatonic fingering table, re-ordered to obtain figering patterns in sequence:

  ------|----------------|------
        | E A D G B e    | 
  ------|----------------|------
  Shape | Fingering Seq. | 
  ------|----------------|------
    C   | 3 3 2 2 2 3    | 
    G   | 3 2 2 2 3 3    | 
    D   | 2 2 2 3 3 2    | 
    A   | 2 2 3 3 2 2    | 
    E   | 2 3 3 2 2 2    | 
  ------|----------------|------

Minor pentatonic fingering table for the CAGED positions:

  ------|----------------|------
        | E A D G B e    | 
  ------|----------------|------
  Shape | Fingering Seq. | 
  ------|----------------|------
    C   | 2 2 2 3 3 2    | 
    A   | 3 3 2 2 2 3    | 
    G   | 2 2 3 3 2 2    | 
    E   | 3 2 2 2 3 3    | 
    D   | 2 3 3 2 2 2    | 
  ------|----------------|------

The same Minor pentatonic fingering table, re-ordered to obtain figering patterns in sequence:

  ------|----------------|------
        | E A D G B e    | 
  ------|----------------|------
  Shape | Fingering Seq. | 
  ------|----------------|------
    C   | 2 2 2 3 3 2    | 
    G   | 2 2 3 3 2 2    | 
    D   | 2 3 3 2 2 2    | 
    A   | 3 3 2 2 2 3    | 
    E   | 3 2 2 2 3 3    | 
  ------|----------------|------

I suppose it's not a coincidence that the "CGDAE" sequence is exactly the ascending circle of fifths sequence.

CGDAE

All the previous tables can be summarized into the following simple chart, that resumes the CGDAE system:

  Min. Pent.  C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering   2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 
  Maj. Pent.  D A E C G D A E C G 

Or if you prefer to keep the same "literal" sequence CGDAE:

Major pentatonic:

  Shape (box):  C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering:    3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2

Minor pentatonic:

  Shape (box):  C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering:    2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3

As you can see, Major pentatonic start with the "33" sequence and Minor pentatonic start with the "222" sequence: very easy to remember.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:

Major pentatonic fingering sequence from the ROOT note is always:

2 3 3 2 2 2.

Minor pentatonic fingering sequence from the ROOT note is always:

3 2 2 2 3 3.

If you can find root notes on the neck using CAGED system, then you will easly rebuild fingering shapes in all positions.

Major Pentatonic scale in all CAGED positions

The fingering sequence from the ROOT note is always: 2 3 3 2 2 2.

Major pentatonic intervals: R 2 3 5 6.

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 standard tuning "B string exception"), you will see the following patterns repeating for minor pentatonic scales:

               |------------------------
               ... and so on ...
  String High  | 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   Fingering Type 3 [3 + 5]
  String       |   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2 [R + 2]
  String       |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2 [5 + 6]
  String       |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2 [2 + 3]
  String       |   | 6 |   |   | R |   |   Fingering Type 3 [6 + R]
  String       |   | 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   Fingering Type 3 [3 + 5]
  String       |   |   | R |   | 2 |   |   Fingering Type 2 [R + 2]
  String       |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   Fingering Type 2 [5 + 6]
  String       |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   Fingering Type 2 [2 + 3]
  String       |   |   | 6 |   |   | R |   Fingering Type 3 [6 + R]
  String       |   |   | 3 |   |   | 5 |   Fingering Type 3 [3 + 5]
  String       |   |   |   | R |   | 2 |   Fingering Type 2 [R + 2] (start point)
  String       |   |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   Fingering Type 2 [5 + 6]
  String Bass  |   |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   Fingering Type 2 [2 + 3]
               |------------------------

Major pentatonic fingering intervals:

  Fingering:  2   3   3   2   2   2
  Intervals:  R   3   6   2   5   R
              2   5   R   3   6   2

Major pentatonic fingering sequence:

  Shape (box):  C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering:    3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2

C shape Major C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e) 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 2 (B)   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G) 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D) 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A) 6 |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 6 (E) 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note  (E)

A shape Major C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2
  Strings:                E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G)   |   | 6 |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 4 (D)   |   | 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 5 (A)   |   |   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note              (G)

G shape Major C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2
  Strings:            E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   | 6 |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   | 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   | 6 |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                      (A)

E shape Major C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2
  Strings:                  E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 6 |   |   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                                  (C)

D shape Major C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2
  Strings:              E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 6 |   |   | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 3 |   |   | 5 |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   | 2 |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 5 |   | 6 |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 2 |   | 3 |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                                          (D)

Minor Pentatonic scale in all CAGED positions

The fingering sequence from the ROOT note is always: 3 2 2 2 3 3.

Minor pentatonic intervals: R b3 4 5 b7.

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 standard tuning "B string exception"), you will see the following patterns repeating for minor pentatonic scales:

               |------------------------
               ... and so on ...
  String High  | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   Fingering Type 3 [5  + b7]
  String       |   | b3|   | 4 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2 [b3 +  4]
  String       |   | b7|   | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 2 [b7 +  R]
  String       |   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2 [4  +  5]
  String       |   | R |   |   | b3|   |   Fingering Type 3 [R  + b3]
  String       |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   Fingering Type 3 [5  + b7]
  String       |   |   | b3|   | 4 |   |   Fingering Type 2 [b3 +  4]
  String       |   |   | b7|   | R |   |   Fingering Type 2 [b7 +  R]
  String       |   |   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   Fingering Type 2 [4  +  5]
  String       |   |   | R |   |   | b3|   Fingering Type 3 [R  + b3] (start point)
  String       |   |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   Fingering Type 3 [5  + b7]
  String       |   |   |   | b3|   | 4 |   Fingering Type 2 [b3 +  4]
  String       |   |   |   | b7|   | R |   Fingering Type 2 [b7 +  R]
  String Bass  |   |   |   | 4 |   | 5 |   Fingering Type 2 [4  +  5]
               |------------------------

Minor pentatonic fingering intervals:

  Fingering:  3   2   2   2   3   3
  Intervals:  R   4   b7  b3  5   R
              b3  5   R   4   b7  b3

Minor pentatonic fingering sequence:

  Shape (box):  C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering:    2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3

C shape Minor C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
  Strings:          E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   | R |   |   | b3|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 3 (G) 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 4 (D)   | b3|   | 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A)   | b7|   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note      (F)

A shape Minor C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
  Strings:                E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   | B3|   | 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G)   |   |   | b7|   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D)   |   |   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A)   |   |   | R |   |   | b3|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 6 (E)   |   |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note              (G)

G shape Minor C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
  Strings:            E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   | b7|   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   | b3|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   | b3|   | 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   | b7|   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                          (Bb)

E shape Minor C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
  Strings:                  E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   | b3|   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | b3|   | 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | b7|   | R |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   | b3|   |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 3
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                                  (C)

D shape Minor C pentatonic

  Shapes:           C G D A E C G D A E 
  Fingering Seq.:   2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
  Strings:              E A D G B e
  Root note string:         ^
  
                   C       A       G           E       D           C
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  String 1 (e)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | b3|   | 4 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 2 (B)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | b7|   | R |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 3 (G)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 4 |   | 5 |   |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
  String 4 (D)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | R |   |   | b3|   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 5 (A)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 5 |   |   | b7|   |   |   Fingering Type 3
  String 6 (E)   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | b3|   | 4 |   |   |   Fingering Type 2
              ---|------------------------------------------------------------
  Fret                     3       5       7       9           12         15
  Start note                                              (Eb)

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

 

Bootable SD Card Cloning

(OpenSuse 11.4)

DISCLAIMER

If you don't know what you do, you can seriously damage your system with the commands used in this post. Please DOUBLE CHECK any command you run, and be absolutely sure to understand what it does before hitting "ENTER" or copy/paste as a dumb. If you are in doubt, DON'T DO IT! You have been warned.

You want to clone on an SD card your bootable OpenSuse 11.4 Linux installation and be able to boot from the SD card itself. Or you simply want to clone a bootable SD card or USB flashpen into another one.

• Solution 1: use clonezilla
• Solution 2: you want to do it manually for some reason

This article is about solution 2. You should not do this on a running system, so your source SD card or hard disk can not be running while doing that. You must have another system running and use it. All commands used here need root privileges.

You must follow the steps below:

• Partition the target SD card
• Format the target SD card
• Copy the system directories
• /etc/fstab adapting
• Install the bootloader

We suppose the target SD card being /dev/sdc and the source being dev/sdg.
My system language setting is Italian, so some of the outputs shown here are in italian.

Partitioning & Formatting

/dev/sdc must be unmounted.

Start fdisk:

  # fdisk /dev/sdc

Delete all the existing partitions (usually one):

  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): d
  Partizione selezionata 1

Create two partitions, one for the system and one for the swap:

  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): n
  Azione comando
      e   estesa
     p   partizione primaria (1-4)
  p
  Numero della partizione (1-4, predefinito 1): 
  Utilizzo del valore predefinito 1
  Primo settore (2048-62333951, predefinito 2048): 
  Utilizzo del valore predefinito 2048
  Last settore, +settori or +size{K,M,G} (2048-62333951, predefinito 62333951): 61285375
  
  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): n
  Azione comando
      e   estesa
     p   partizione primaria (1-4)
  p
  Numero della partizione (1-4, predefinito 2): 
  Utilizzo del valore predefinito 2
  Primo settore (61285376-62333951, predefinito 61285376): 
  Utilizzo del valore predefinito 61285376
  Last settore, +settori or +size{K,M,G} (61285376-62333951, predefinito 62333951): 
  Utilizzo del valore predefinito 62333951
  
  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): t
  Numero della partizione (1-4): 2
  Codice esadecimale (digitare L per elencare i codici): 82
  Modificato il tipo di sistema della partizione 2 in 82 (Linux swap / Solaris)
  
  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): a
  Numero della partizione (1-4): 1
  
  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): p
  
  Disk /dev/sdc: 31.9 GB, 31914983424 bytes
  64 testine, 32 settori/tracce, 30436 cilindri, totale 62333952 settori
  Unità = settori di 1 * 512 = 512 byte
  Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
  I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
  Identificativo disco: 0x00000000
  
  Dispositivo Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
  /dev/sdc1   *        2048    61285375    30641664   83  Linux
  /dev/sdc2        61285376    62333951      524288   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Save and exit:

  Comando (m per richiamare la guida): w
  La tabella delle partizioni è stata alterata!
  
  Chiamata di ioctl() per rileggere la tabella delle partizioni.
  Sincronizzazione dei dischi in corso.

Now format the partitions:

  # mkswap /dev/sdc2
  Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 524284 KiB
  nessuna etichetta, UUID=94e66236-e300-4b7d-83aa-c8baaf48c088
  #
  # mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdc1
  mke2fs 1.41.14 (22-Dec-2010)
  Etichetta del filesystem=
  Tipo SO: Linux
  Dimensione blocco=4096 (log=2)
  Dimensione frammento=4096 (log=2)
  Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
  1916928 inode, 7660416 blocchi
  383020 blocchi (5.00%) riservati per l'utente root
  Primo blocco dati=0
  Maximum filesystem blocks=0
  234 gruppi di blocchi
  32768 blocchi per gruppo, 32768 frammenti per gruppo
  8192 inode per gruppo
  Backup del superblocco salvati nei blocchi: 
          32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208, 
          4096000
  
  Scrittura delle tavole degli inode: fatto                           
  Creating journal (32768 blocks): fatto
  Scrittura delle informazioni dei superblocchi e dell'accounting del filesystem: fatto
  
  Questo filesystem verrà automaticamente controllato ogni 20 mount, o
  180 giorni, a seconda di quale venga prima. Usare tune2fs -c o -i per cambiare.
  #

System Copy

Let's mount the target SD card (being /dev/sdc) and the source (being dev/sdg):

  # mount /dev/sdc1 /mnt
  # mount /dev/sdg1 /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3
  # df
  File system        blocchi di 1K   Usati   Dispon. Uso% Montato su
  rootfs                15907324  12375740   2723520  82% /
  devtmpfs               1653368       308   1653060   1% /dev
  tmpfs                  1658796         4   1658792   1% /dev/shm
  /dev/sda10            15907324  12375740   2723520  82% /
  /dev/sda3              5162828   3684960   1215608  76% /documents
  /dev/sda11            23867088  19794348   2860236  88% /home
  /dev/sda7             15488716   8913140   5788796  61% /local
  /dev/sda8             10429552   3473932   6531828  35% /download
  /dev/sda9              1050152    653468    396684  63% /windoc
  /dev/sda2             25806300  17392260   7103136  72% /virtual
  /dev/sda11            23867088  19794348   2860236  88% /home/faumarz
  /dev/sdc1             30160428    176196  28452152   1% /mnt
  /dev/sdg1             30265344  23713308   5016656  83% /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3
  #

I showed the source dev/sdg mounted into a /media directory because I let it be mounted by the system.

Now we can do the long copy of the system:

  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/bin /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/boot /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/dev /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/etc /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/home /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/lib /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/lib64 /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/opt /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/root /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/sbin /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/srv /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/studio /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/tmp /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/usr /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/var /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/bootincluded_archives.filelist /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/success /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/.Trash-0 /mnt
  cp -av /media/ca11ec65-e12b-4e89-a39a-7cda9482e2d3/.gnupg /mnt
  
  mkdir /mnt/flash
  mkdir /mnt/media
  mkdir /mnt/mnt
  mkdir /mnt/proc
  mkdir /mnt/selinux
  mkdir /mnt/sys

(Your system can be different: check it)
This will take a long time. Let's take a coffee. (you can also use dd to do the copy, if you want to wait longer).

Bootloader & Friends

I assume you have grub bootloader. OpenSuse is very scared about the damages you can cause to your system using the grub-install script, and you should be scared, too. OpenSuse is so scared that renamed the script into grub-install.unsupported in order to be really sure that you know what you do when you call it.

Old grub versions (OpenSuse 11.4):

  grub-install.unsupported --recheck --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdc

Newer grub versions:

  grub-install.unsupported --recheck --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sdc

The --recheck options is needed to avoid the following error:

  /dev/hdc does not have any corresponding BIOS drive

---

Another way to solve this error is to add the following line to the /mnt/boot/grub/device.map:

  (hd2) /dev/hdc

The important thing is that you have to edit the device.map which is in <root-directory>/boot/grub, and NOT the file on the drive you booted from. If you modify the/mnt/boot/grub/device.map you can also use interactive grub shell instead of grub-install script:

  # grub --device-map=/mnt/boot/grub/device.map
  grub> root (hd2,0)
  root (hd2,0)
  grub> setup (hd2)
  setup (hd2)
   Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
   Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
   Checking if "/boot/grub/fat_stage1_5" exists... no
   Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd2) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/grub/menu.lst "... succeeded
  Done.
  grub> quit

---

Now check the /mnt/etc/fstab file and be sure that its content are the desired mountings for the target system, in particular the swap partition should be /dev/sda2 (supposing that your system boots the SD card considering it as /dev/sda).

I suggest also to check the /mnt/boot/grub/menu.lst in order to be sure that the booting references to the hard disk partitions are correctly referred to /dev/sda (or whatever your system will consider as boot device).

Creare USB-serial alias in Linux

(OpenSuse 11.4)


Per avere sempre gli stessi dispositivi USB-seriali ho fatto quanto suggerito qui: [http://hintshop.ludvig.co.nz/show/persistent-names-usb-serial-devices/]
e cioe' creato il file /etc/udev/rules.d/99-usb-serial.rules contenente:

  # Assegna dei symlink con nomi fissi ai dispositivi USB-Serial
  
  ACTION!="add|change", GOTO="usb_serial_rules_end"
  SUBSYSTEM!="tty", GOTO="usb_serial_rules_end"
  
  SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", GOTO="usb_serial_rules_vendorcheck"
  GOTO="usb_serial_rules_end"
  
  LABEL="usb_serial_rules_vendorcheck"
  
  SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6001", ATTRS{serial}=="FTDOCOXM", SYMLINK+="ttyLPC2000"
  
  
  LABEL="usb_serial_rules_end"

Il file di esempio qui sopra assegna all'adattatore USB con serial nr. "FTDOCOXM" l'alias /dev/ttyLPC2000.

Per rilevare ATTRS{idVendor}, ATTRS{idProduct} e ATTRS{serial} dei dispositivi USB:

  # tail -f /var/log/messages

Nota: gli adattatori USB Serial con chipset Prolific NON sembrano avere serial nr, quindi non e' possibile utilizzare questo metodo. I chipset FTDI invece sono OK.