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Preset
F - Major / Ionian |
F - Major / Ionian |
F - Major / Ionian |
F - Major / Ionian |
F - Major / Ionian |
F - Major / Ionian |
F - Minor / Aeolian |
F - Minor / Aeolian

4 notes per string scale patterns

4 notes per string scale patterns

This chart shows how to play the major and minor scales using repeated 4 notes per string (4nps) patterns. 4nps patterns can be repeated over the entire fretboard to cover a lot of range in several octaves, and compared to the three notes per string (3nps) and CAGED patterns the 4nps patterns are less complex but do require a little more stretch.

Major scale patterns

To play an octave of the major scale a single 4 note pattern can be played on two adjacent strings, this two-string pattern can then be moved over the fretboard to play additional octaves. Fretboard 1 shows an example using a repeated 4nps pattern to play three octaves of the major scale.

1.
F - Major / Ionian
I
II
III
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415

In comparison to fretboard 1, fretboard 2 to 6 shows how to play the major scale using the 3nps and CAGED patterns, fretboard 1 also shows a way to connect the box-shapes visible in fretboard 2 to 6.

CAGED-Boxes

2.
F - Major / Ionian
E-shape
C-shape
G-shape
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415
3.
F - Major / Ionian
D-shape
A-shape
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415

3 notes per string

4.
F - Major / Ionian
1st - "Major/Ionian"
4th - "Lydian"
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415
5.
F - Major / Ionian
2nd - "Dorian"
5th - "Mixolydian"
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415
6.
F - Major / Ionian
3rd - "Phrygian"
6th - "Aeolian"
7th - "Locrian"
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415

Minor scale patterns

To play the minor scale the 4 note scale pattern to play the major scale can be altered in two different ways:

  1. Keep the root positions and alter the scale pattern to include the minor scale notes, see fretboard 7.
  2. Change the root positions but keep the key and major scale pattern, alter the scale degrees and its' positions and change the whole patterns' position, see fretboard 8.

Please note that the three two-string patterns in fretboard 1 contain two different 4nps patterns. Also note that the major scale pattern can be altered according to the statements 1 and 2 to play any other mode of the major scale as well.

7.
F - Minor / Aeolian
I
II
III
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
B
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
G
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
D
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
A
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
E
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
0123456789101112131415
8.
F - Minor / Aeolian
I
II
III
E
7
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
B
♭5
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
G
2
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
D
6
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
A
3
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
E
7
♭3
3
4
♭5
5
♭6
6
♭7
7
1
♭2
2
♭3
3
4
0456789101112131415161718

Happy playing!

This chart shows how to play the major and minor scales using repeated 4 notes per string (4nps) patterns. 4nps patterns can be repeated over the entire fretboard to cover a lot of range in several octaves, and compared to the three notes per string (3nps) and CAGED patterns the 4nps patterns are less complex but do require a little more stretch.

Major scale patterns

To play an octave of the major scale a single 4 note pattern can be played on two adjacent strings, this two-string pattern can then be moved over the fretboard to play additional octaves. Fretboard 1 shows an example using a repeated 4nps pattern to play three octaves of the major scale.

1.
F - Major / Ionian
I
II
III
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2

In comparison to fretboard 1, fretboard 2 to 6 shows how to play the major scale using the 3nps and CAGED patterns, fretboard 1 also shows a way to connect the box-shapes visible in fretboard 2 to 6.

CAGED-Boxes

2.
F - Major / Ionian
E-shape
C-shape
G-shape
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2
3.
F - Major / Ionian
D-shape
A-shape
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2

3 notes per string

4.
F - Major / Ionian
1st - "Major/Ionian"
4th - "Lydian"
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2
5.
F - Major / Ionian
2nd - "Dorian"
5th - "Mixolydian"
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2
6.
F - Major / Ionian
3rd - "Phrygian"
6th - "Aeolian"
7th - "Locrian"
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2

Minor scale patterns

To play the minor scale the 4 note scale pattern to play the major scale can be altered in two different ways:

  1. Keep the root positions and alter the scale pattern to include the minor scale notes, see fretboard 7.
  2. Change the root positions but keep the key and major scale pattern, alter the scale degrees and its' positions and change the whole patterns' position, see fretboard 8.

Please note that the three two-string patterns in fretboard 1 contain two different 4nps patterns. Also note that the major scale pattern can be altered according to the statements 1 and 2 to play any other mode of the major scale as well.

7.
F - Minor / Aeolian
I
II
III
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
1
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
2
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
3
2
5
1
4
6
2
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2
8.
F - Minor / Aeolian
I
II
III
EADGBE
0
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
4
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
5
3
6
2
5
7
3
6
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4
7
♭5
7
3
6
♭2
♭5
8
5
1
4
♭7
2
5
9
♭6
♭2
♭5
7
♭3
♭6
10
6
2
5
1
3
6
11
♭7
♭3
♭6
♭2
4
♭7
12
7
3
6
2
♭5
7
13
1
4
♭7
♭3
5
1
14
♭2
♭5
7
3
♭6
♭2
15
2
5
1
4
6
2
16
♭3
♭6
♭2
♭5
♭7
♭3
17
3
6
2
5
7
3
18
4
♭7
♭3
♭6
1
4

Happy playing!

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