Mastering the 3 Notes Per String (3NPS) Scale System: All 7 Symmetrical Boxes (Fret 1 to Fret 15) & Indian Sargam

9-minute read
Dhruvik Donga
Guitar Fundamentals • Scale Mastery • Reference Guides
Guitar • Scales • Music-Theory • 3nps • Sargam • Guitar-Practice • Lead-Guitar • Shred

Traditional box shapes change the number of notes per string, which can interrupt picking consistency. The 3 Notes Per String (3NPS) framework eliminates this by placing exactly 3 sequential notes on every single string.

1. The 7 3NPS Positions & Swara Directory (Nut to High Frets) Link to heading

Here are the 7 interconnected 3NPS scale boxes ordered sequentially from the low end of the fretboard (Fret 1) up to the 15th fret:

Sequential Order3NPS Box / ModePrimary Fret SpanString 6 Start NoteIndian Swara StartFinger Pattern (per String)
Box 1F LydianFrets 1 – 6F (Fret 1)MaTone – Tone (Whole – Whole)
Box 2G MixolydianFrets 3 – 8G (Fret 3)PaTone – Tone (Whole – Whole)
Box 3A Aeolian (Minor Root)Frets 5 – 10A (Fret 5)Dha (Minor Sa)Tone – Semitone (Whole – Half)
Box 4B LocrianFrets 7 – 12B (Fret 7)NiSemitone – Tone (Half – Whole)
Box 5C Ionian (Major Root)Frets 8 – 13C (Fret 8)SaTone – Tone (Whole – Whole)
Box 6D DorianFrets 10 – 15D (Fret 10)ReTone – Semitone (Whole – Half)
Box 7E PhrygianFrets 12 – 17E (Fret 12)GaSemitone – Tone (Half – Whole)
  • Red (:root): Major Root (C / Sa)
  • Gold (:start): Relative Minor Root (A / Dha / Minor Sa)

2. All 7 3NPS Scale Boxes (Ordered from Fret 1 to Fret 17) Link to heading

Box 1: F Lydian (Frets 1 to 6) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: F (Fret 1 / Ma)
  • Root Anchors: String 5 Fret 3 (C / Sa), String 3 Fret 5 (C / Sa), String 6 & 1 Fret 5 (A / Dha)
3NPS Box 1: F Lydian (Frets 1 to 6)
O1234567
e
G
A
Stop B
B
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
Start F
G
A
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Ma (1) → Pa (3) → Dha (5)
    • String 5: Ni (2) → Sa (3) → Re (5)
    • String 4: Ga (2) → Ma (3) → Pa (5)
    • String 3: Dha (2) → Ni (4) → Sa (5)
    • String 2: Re (3) → Ga (5) → Ma (6)
    • String 1: Pa (3) → Dha (5) → Ni (7)

Box 2: G Mixolydian (Frets 3 to 8) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: G (Fret 3 / Pa)
  • Root Anchors: String 5 Fret 3 (C / Sa), String 3 Fret 5 (C / Sa), String 1 Fret 8 (C / Sa), String 6 & 1 Fret 5 (A / Dha)
3NPS Box 2: G Mixolydian (Frets 3 to 8)
O12345678
e
A
B
Stop C
B
E
F
G
G
B
C
D
D
F
G
A
A
C
D
E
E
Start G
A
B
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Pa (3) → Dha (5) → Ni (7)
    • String 5: Sa (3) → Re (5) → Ga (7)
    • String 4: Ma (3) → Pa (5) → Dha (7)
    • String 3: Ni (4) → Sa (5) → Re (7)
    • String 2: Ga (5) → Ma (6) → Pa (8)
    • String 1: Dha (5) → Ni (7) → Sa (8)

Box 3: A Aeolian (Natural Minor Home Base / Frets 5 to 10) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: A (Fret 5 / Dha / Minor Sa)
  • Root Anchors: String 6 & 1 Fret 5 (A / Dha), String 4 Fret 7 (A / Dha), String 6 & 1 Fret 8 (C / Sa), String 3 Fret 5 (C / Sa)
3NPS Box 3: A Aeolian (Natural Minor Home Base / Frets 5 to 10)
O12345678910
e
A
B
Stop C
B
F
G
A
G
C
D
E
D
G
A
B
A
D
E
F
E
Start A
B
C
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Dha (5) → Ni (7) → Sa (8)
    • String 5: Re (5) → Ga (7) → Ma (8)
    • String 4: Pa (5) → Dha (7) → Ni (9)
    • String 3: Sa (5) → Re (7) → Ga (9)
    • String 2: Ma (6) → Pa (8) → Dha (10)
    • String 1: Dha (5) → Ni (7) → Sa (8)

Box 4: B Locrian (Frets 7 to 12) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: B (Fret 7 / Ni)
  • Root Anchors: String 6 & 1 Fret 8 (C / Sa), String 4 Fret 10 (C / Sa), String 4 Fret 7 (A / Dha), String 2 Fret 10 (A / Dha)
3NPS Box 4: B Locrian (Frets 7 to 12)
O123456789101112
e
B
C
Stop D
B
G
A
B
G
D
E
F
D
A
B
C
A
E
F
G
E
Start B
C
D
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Ni (7) → Sa (8) → Re (10)
    • String 5: Ga (7) → Ma (8) → Pa (10)
    • String 4: Dha (7) → Ni (9) → Sa (10)
    • String 3: Re (7) → Ga (9) → Ma (10)
    • String 2: Pa (8) → Dha (10) → Ni (12)
    • String 1: Ni (7) → Sa (8) → Re (10)

Box 5: C Ionian (Major Root Base / Frets 8 to 13) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: C (Fret 8 / Sa)
  • Root Anchors: String 6 Fret 8 (C / Sa), String 4 Fret 10 (C / Sa), String 2 Fret 13 (C / Sa), String 5 Fret 12 (A / Dha), String 2 Fret 10 (A / Dha)
3NPS Box 5: C Ionian (Major Root / Sa / Frets 8 to 13)
O12345678910111213
e
D
E
Stop F
B
A
B
C
G
E
F
G
D
B
C
D
A
F
G
A
E
Start C
D
E
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Sa (8) → Re (10) → Ga (12)
    • String 5: Ma (8) → Pa (10) → Dha (12)
    • String 4: Ni (9) → Sa (10) → Re (12)
    • String 3: Ga (9) → Ma (10) → Pa (12)
    • String 2: Dha (10) → Ni (12) → Sa (13)
    • String 1: Re (10) → Ga (12) → Ma (13)

Box 6: D Dorian (Frets 10 to 15) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: D (Fret 10 / Re)
  • Root Anchors: String 4 Fret 10 (C / Sa), String 2 Fret 13 (C / Sa), String 5 Fret 12 (A / Dha), String 3 Fret 14 (A / Dha)
3NPS Box 6: D Dorian (Frets 10 to 15)
O123456789101112131415
e
E
F
Stop G
B
B
C
D
G
F
G
A
D
C
D
E
A
G
A
B
E
Start D
E
F
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Re (10) → Ga (12) → Ma (13)
    • String 5: Pa (10) → Dha (12) → Ni (14)
    • String 4: Sa (10) → Re (12) → Ga (14)
    • String 3: Ma (10) → Pa (12) → Dha (14)
    • String 2: Ni (12) → Sa (13) → Re (15)
    • String 1: Ga (12) → Ma (13) → Pa (15)

Box 7: E Phrygian (Frets 12 to 17) Link to heading

  • Starting Note on String 6: E (Fret 12 / Ga)
  • Root Anchors: String 5 Fret 15 (C / Sa), String 2 Fret 13 (C / Sa), String 5 Fret 12 (A / Dha), String 3 Fret 14 (A / Dha), String 1 Fret 17 (A / Dha)
3NPS Box 7: E Phrygian (Frets 12 to 17)
O1234567891011121314151617
e
F
G
Stop A
B
C
D
E
G
G
A
B
D
D
E
F
A
A
B
C
E
Start E
F
G
  • Sargam Breakdown (Low to High):
    • String 6: Ga (12) → Ma (13) → Pa (15)
    • String 5: Dha (12) → Ni (14) → Sa (15)
    • String 4: Re (12) → Ga (14) → Ma (15)
    • String 3: Pa (12) → Dha (14) → Ni (16)
    • String 2: Sa (13) → Re (15) → Ga (17)
    • String 1: Ma (13) → Pa (15) → Dha (17)

3. Master 3NPS Interlocking Fret Map (Low to High Summary) Link to heading

Box #Primary Fret SpanString 6 Notes (Low to High)Major Root (Sa) CoordinatesMinor Root (Dha) Coordinates
Box 1Frets 1 – 6F (1) – G (3) – A (5)String 5 Fret 3, String 3 Fret 5String 6 & 1 Fret 5, String 3 Fret 2
Box 2Frets 3 – 8G (3) – A (5) – B (7)String 5 Fret 3, String 3 Fret 5, String 1 Fret 8String 6 & 1 Fret 5, String 4 Fret 7
Box 3Frets 5 – 10A (5) – B (7) – C (8)String 6 & 1 Fret 8, String 3 Fret 5String 6 & 1 Fret 5, String 4 Fret 7, String 2 Fret 10
Box 4Frets 7 – 12B (7) – C (8) – D (10)String 6 & 1 Fret 8, String 4 Fret 10String 4 Fret 7, String 2 Fret 10
Box 5Frets 8 – 13C (8) – D (10) – E (12)String 6 Fret 8, String 4 Fret 10, String 2 Fret 13String 5 Fret 12, String 2 Fret 10
Box 6Frets 10 – 15D (10) – E (12) – F (13)String 4 Fret 10, String 2 Fret 13String 5 Fret 12, String 3 Fret 14
Box 7Frets 12 – 17E (12) – F (13) – G (15)String 5 Fret 15, String 2 Fret 13String 5 Fret 12, String 3 Fret 14, String 1 Fret 17

Speed & Accuracy Practice Rules Link to heading

  1. Alternate Picking Consistency: Maintain a strict Down - Up - Down | Up - Down - Up sequence across all string transitions.
  2. Sing the Sargam: Vocally intone each Swara as you ascend to build absolute interval recognition across the entire neck.
  3. Chain Across the Neck: Practice starting at Box 1 (Fret 1) and shifting position on each higher string until you land at the top of Box 7 (Fret 17) in one continuous diagonal run.