Customer Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
 A great little scale reference and cheap too!, June 11, 2003
By SilverFlash (Covington, GA United States)
|
|
This is a great scale book for guitarist and one that I refer to often. I still haven't found the ONE perfect scale book (hence only four stars), but this one comes close. It is one of three scale books that I use, and because of its compact size, it is usually the one that I have handy when I need it. Troy does a great job of explaining the scales and giving some exercises for practice. What I like best about this book is that it shows the scales in all positions across 22 frets with the root notes highlighted. Also, many scale books only show fretboard diagrams of the scales in one key, usually C or E and then explain how to move them around. This book includes diagrams of several keys (including G and A, which are favorites of mine). The only other thing I wish about this book is that it was spiral bound so it would lay flat when open, but I would rather have this book than any of the other gig bag sized ones that are spiral bound. All in all a great little scale reference and cheap too!
39 of 40 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 Small Cheap and full of information, August 20, 2003
By Guitarist and PC Geek (Cuyahoga Falls, OH USA)
|
|
By far it contains a wide diverse set of scales, fingerings, and even a few exotic scales at the end. It is small enough to fit in any gig bag or guitar case, making it very conveninet. Unlike other scale/method books that present one scale and make a few variaitions on it, this one uses entirely different scales in different keys.....another great book by Troy Stetina
19 of 19 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
What a great resource!, October 28, 2005
By Michael A. Fratto (Syracuse, NY)
|
|
I love this book. I just read the 1st couple of pages and "click", I am starting to see the relationship between notes on the fret board. He shows the shapes and explains how to move them on the fretboard. This was something I was trying to get my guitar teacher to show me and all I got was "memorize the circle of fifths." Stetina's explanations about scales, how they are used, and his exmamples are clear and concise. I highly reccomend this book to anyone trying to learn guitar.
16 of 17 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
The best book to carry in your gig bag for scales and more scales and theory, February 13, 2007
By Carlos .. (al corazon de las Americas)
|
|
okay, so the photo looks like a shiny eyed kind of long hair heavy metal kind of guy. Check out his list of other books, including Black Sabbath licks. Also see the college music departments he has run, and programs he has designed. Visit his eponymous website, and build your trust. You too will believe that you can one day play.
The scales in this book are just right and just enough, are just what you need, and only what you need, with enough theory underneath to understand the hows and whys. And its format fits right in the neck of your guitar case. What more could you ask for?
I could ask for a few basic chord progressions to run each scale form over, but that you can find in other music and "fake" books, and would make this few-frills presentation more weighty and unwieldly. I like it just as it is. The writer does provide genres in which each scale is often heard (such as the long list under Major Pentatonic, including country, pop, rock, blues-rock, and jazz), and that should be enough of an indication for any student of music, for further study and application, for improvising and general grooving and noodling around while your fingers build their bones and find the notes and intervals (the sounds and the silence) and the chops start coming like rain, like on the records, in the clubs.
In fact the author recommends near the end of the introductory theory section:" . . .it is important to realize that for scales to ultimately be learned effectively, you must see them at work in real life situations. Then, you will really know them! All theoretical knowledge, including scales, is useless without application. So it is recommended that as you progress through this book, you learn enough music, songs, and/or solos to see some application of these patterns. (p. 5)"
That brief quote may display some of the common stylistic tendencies of nonwriters, such as the heavy use of the passive voice and split infinitives, and exclamations for declaratory sentences, etc., but do not let such niceties discourage you. Please know that this book is in fact surprisingly well written, very evocatively yet concisely and clearly, despite frequent usage of higher level vocabulary. Do not let that frighten you, but inform you. Within this small book lies a surprisingly large amount of good information and advice along with the well-ordered and arranged scales clearly displayed across the entire guitar fretboard.
The author in fact makes a point of arranging the order of presentation and practice in a logical pattern, beginning (after the extensive and useful introductory section) with the Minor and Major Pentatonic (or five note) and blues scales. You'll be playing Hendrix after this first section alone, and stretching it out into your own cathartic improvisations. Part II then presents the Natural Minor, the Major scale and the modes. Each of the seven modes is well displayed along the fretboard, with discussion of their interrelation and with separate sections for five of the seven modes, including the well-known "odd, mysterious" Lydian mode. I would have liked to have seen the Aeolian mode discussed separately in this way as well, but already enough information is presented here for you to be playing John Coltrane sheets of sound.
In fact Part III handles the jazz scales, with among others the neo-classical or Mohammedan Harmonic Minor and jazz minor modes, including the super-Locrian. The Phrygian-Dominant or Spanish Flamenco scale also comes through here. Miles Davis will resurrect from your guitar fretboard. Hear him cry in a minor mode.
Part IV discusses and teaches atonal scales, beginning with the Chromatic scale with twelve notes to the octave, and the Whole Tone scale with six tones to the octave and "an odd sort of 'lost' quality." A third atonal scale is the Diminished. This Part IV ends with "exotic and ethnic scales" such as one called the enigmatic and the double harmonic or "gypsy" scale, which are basically hybrids of earlier scales. The ethnic scales include the Hungarian, Persian, Arabian (or major Locrian), Egyptian (said to "tend to lack resolution, and sound odd") and a few Japanese scales.
This excellent and very comprehensive and instructive scale book closes with a double appendix. The first appendix is an excellent table for constructing each of the scales, very clear and concise. The second is the always useful display of the note names a guitar fretboard over nearly two octaves (more than you will ever reach or see!)
All in all this is a great guitar scale book, with plenty of theory and all of the scales explained and shown in guitar tabluture format, which is most easily understood by any guitarist rather than "reading" standard notation. An example of standard notation is included nevertheless for each of the scales in order to see clearly in another way the steps between the notes in each of the scales (e.g., whole or half steps). This thin and long book of Hal Leonard's Pocket Guide series (which does slide as easily into any pocket as into your guitar's case as cushion) deserves a place in any practicing and professional guitar player's heart. It makes a great back-up while getting ready for any cutting jam. Stetina's got your back. At this price how can you turn his help away?
11 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
This is the best scale book!!!, March 4, 2006
By The G Man (Peachtree City, GA United States)
|
|
Wow, I have been playing guitar for over 25 years. I have seen a lot of books on scales. This one is hands down the best. This little $5.95 book has more info on scales than any of the books that cost 3 times that amount. Troy is a very good teacher. This book really helps you understand the scales and the relationships between them. The only critisism I can give is that I wish it would relate the chords to the scales better or at least give the basic chords that go along with each scale. I like how Troy starts simple by starting with the Minor Pentatonic scales and building from there. This book is great as a reference book or as a method book. It is nice that he also give the scales in different case to help contrast them. I can not say enough for this book. Oh and the explanation on modes is brilliant. I never was able to really grasp the concept even after having two different guitar teachers try to explain them. With this book I really get it now. This book Rocks!
9 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Excellent Scale Book, March 13, 2006
By SaveFerris369 (Los Angeles, CA)
|
|
This is a great book at a great value. For only $6, almost anyone can buy this book. Don't be mislead however, in this little book there is a wealth of information about scales. This book practically taught me to improvise. It may be small but it will take many months and almost guarantee years for the beginners to master the material. Also works great at building left and right hand technique if you have been playing guitar for a while.
8 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 Doesn't Use TAB, February 26, 2009
By guitar student (Michigan)
|
|
This book is an OK crash course in scales, however the author does not use standard TAB diagrams. It requires a little adjustment in reading his charts.
6 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Ultimate Scale Book, February 6, 2007
By James V. Mollicone (Austin)
|
|
I bought the ultimate scale book and the guitar scale bible at the same time and the ultimate scale book was much better. It was much more systematic, or if you just want the book for a reference guide then it will work as well. If not then go through the book page by page. It will walk you through it in terms a human being with not alot of guitar playing expirence can understand.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 Not what I was looking for., January 9, 2007
By Woody Stringer (South Carolina)
|
|
Perhaps this would be more useful for a more advanced player, but it did not give me enough step by step training for my skill level.
5 of 15 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
This IS the Ultimate Scale Book!!!, March 30, 2007
By Shane Displaced (Hawthorne, Nv. USA)
|
|
You cannot beat the price, quality, and value of this little book! Troy Stetina lays out a box system with fretboard diagrams that is easy to understand. This book will increase your knowledge of scales and their practical application in a short amount of time. He also points out effective methods of practice. I have purchased other instructional books by Troy Stetina and have always been happy with his products. I've been playing guitar for 18 years and I fully recommend his instructional books.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Clear, compact, cheap, December 27, 2005
By A reader (Providence, RI)
|
|
I had been struggling with a "how-to" lead guitar book for weeks, and not quite getting it. I picked up this book on a whim and everything "clicked." I now feel I've got a pretty good understanding of how scales work. This isn't a bad place to start if you're interested in playing lead guitar.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Amazing, May 7, 2008
By Nick
|
|
This book is better than a guitar teacher. It shows you the scales, but more importantly it illustrates how they fit together. If you're a guitar player wondering how some players can shred up and down the neck, its because they understand how scales work, exactly what this book teaches you. This book has made it possible for me to improvise solos. If you don't understand how the positions of scales fit together, and major and minor relativity, this book is for you. I have a scale and arpeggio book, the Yngwie Malmsteen DVD, Rock Discipline with (John Petrucci), and this book has been most beneficial to my playing.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
good explanations, February 24, 2009
By o'neal lane (louisiana, usa)
|
|
I have recently purchased several guitar scale instructional books, most of them are linked to this item's intoduction on Amazon (See above). They all excellent resources. However, of all my purchases I value this work the highest. In particular what helped me was the illustrations of the scales from each "tone (A,G,E,F etc.)" and "mode (minor, major etc.)" and the notes involved along the entire neck, and how altering key/tone effects the scale. It cleared up a lot of mystery for me as a new student to guitar scalework. Now in fairness all the other books show much the same information, however, it was the particular manner in which the material was presented in this work that made things quickly understandable. (A picture is worth a thousand words--never more true!) Not just any illustration but comprehensive overview and comparison, without getting too bogged down. Personally I recommend this work for anyone starting out, Thanks Troy.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Amazing!!!, August 19, 2008
By dragonchica (USA)
|
|
When I started playing, I couldn't be any more confused. But I've since learned so much from this book. Everything's so clearly outlined and explained and not to mention that it's travel case sized. This book is almost too convenient!!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Small But Handy, August 3, 2008
By Stephen (Baltimore, USA)
|
|
This is a decent booklet on scales. I believe that it is worth the money. Its concise, though for a rank beginner, it may be a bit confusing.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
A must have book, May 15, 2008
By nismo (S.S., E.S.)
|
|
This book is a must have for novice guitarists like me. It contains all the scales and modes you need to know in order to improve knowledge of the fretboard but also helps you build the scales for any note in any mode. This book definitely worth every cent.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 You better get out a magnifying glass if you expect to see the Fretboard images., December 12, 2011
By TZ (Dallas, TX USA)
|
|
When they used the word "Ultimate" in the title I didn't know they meant Ultimate headache your going to experience while trying to view the MICRO images they used for the Fretboard diagrams. Trust me, I think they are trying for the next Guinness Book of World Records. Category: the tiniest, microscopic diagrams ever used in print, in the history of publishing.
I literally suffered eye-strain attempting to view this silly nonsense. Either no-one proof read this book, or no-one made the slightest effort at quality control. It is possible that the person who worked on the illustrations suffers from a severe eye impediment and was simply wearing triple thick, coke bottle eye-glasses that gave them the mistaken impression of normality. But I have my doubts. I just think someone was too lazy to bother with the details and simply copied diagrams from some other book and failed to notice he was working with Postage Stamps. In either case, save your money there are plenty of better material covering the subject of Guitar Scales online and most are free.
BTW, this is the Kindle version. I'm not certain if the Paperback has the same issue. And incase your wondering my vision is a perfect 20/20 in both eyes.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
definitely not for beginners!, December 9, 2011
By Unlistedmoniker (Hudson Valley)
|
|
This may well be the most lucid and interesting treatment of guitar scales every written, but since I can't make sense of half of what he says, it does me little good. It suffers from a very common problem with instructional material on music. It throws out terms without explanation, uses a variety of interchangeable terms without discrimination, and doesn't define the terminology except occasionally in the middle of an explanation where it does not belong. In short, If you don't already know about music and theory, you'll likely be lost in pretty short order.
For Example: "Tonality refers to the pitch of the starting note, or "root" note. For example, A major and G major demonstrate two different tonalities. Different tonalities may also be called simply "different keys." " So a "key" is a "tonalitiy?"...then, "Modalities may be referred to to as being different "types of keys." " ...so then "modalities" must also mean different "types of tonalities" since tonalities equal keys? ....then "So any scale or key requires two things to be specified - a starting pitch (tonality).....BUT WHOA.. didn't we just learn that a tonality is also a key? So then a key, and a tonality, and a pitch are all the same thing...heck, if they all mean the same thing why are we referring to them by 3 diferent names? WEll, me thinks you get the idea. By the time I got done with the first few paragraphs, it had become so convoluted that I simply moved on to other things.
Might be great for music majors, which is the same things as music students (persons who study music), but for the uninitiated its a wipeout.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Important stuff!, July 24, 2011
By Gut string Kenny
|
|
If you understood even 25% of the info in this small book you would be able to solo on any music. It got me out of a decades-long rut and into some very fun and interesting sounds. It may turn you from a guitar player into a musician.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great little book with a small price, July 22, 2011
By GearJunky (Fort Mohave, Arizona United States)
|
|
I have a few scale books that are large and are more like encyclopedias than reference books.
This is a good reference book to have close at hand when you want to do (for instance) a 12 bar blues by combining Minor and Major box scales (the pages are right together).
One reviewer mentioned there was no Tabulation given for the scales.
This is normal for a scale book, and I personally don't see where tabs would do me any good at all when
trying to fly through a scale!
Just my opinion.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
well written, July 21, 2011
By s
|
|
this book is well written and simple. I've dabbled with the guitar for a long time and decided to pick it up again recenty. I purchased this book and went through it page by page, slowly..... My skills have vastly improved simply by starting with the basics that are so well spelled out here. No, I'm not a professional musician or any self proclamied rock star. I'm just a guy who likes to pluck some strings but now I have a foundation to learn from that has worked for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Kindle version works for me, April 2, 2011
By JP (USA)
|
|
This regards Kindle format. It's clean for me. The free sample provides a representative view of how charts will look. I like it.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
A little preciousity of a book, March 28, 2011
By carmarthen (Thunder)
|
|
This is indeed a great book to have to practice and/or to remember your favorite scales.
It's small, lightweight, but don't be misled: it has a lot of useful information for such a low price.
A great finding.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great Book, November 22, 2010
By AGarm
|
|
This book is a great reference for the advanced beginner. The patterns are clear, however a little hard to read from given the book's size. For practice sessions, I transferred the diagrams over to a blank fret board diagram. I would buy the book again.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Handy tool, July 17, 2010
By Mike Nadeau
|
|
If you adopt to use this book to learn scales, you will build progressively a large arsenal of improvisation material from pentatonic minor to harmonic minor. Very good reference book that shows you how to build and use scales. Some guys I sometimes play with recommended this book. I have this book and it is very good book for reference about scales. It has all that you need to know. Simple reading, concise and has a lot of pratical examples.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
great, June 30, 2010
By truth be told (USA)
|
|
Troy does A GREAT JOB AND DOES IT AT A PRICE ALL CAN AFFORD. Many more by him are worth looking at for your collection.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Very Useful Book, December 1, 2009
By J. Paul (USA)
|
|
A great scale book that will fit in any guitar case. Good explanations and suggestions for using many of these scale forms.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Good Scales book--very straight-forward and easy to follow., November 11, 2009
By D. Card (Seattle, WA)
|
|
I have many different scales books, and found this one to be the most straight-forward and easiest to follow. The cost is excellent and cheaper than most. I do have the same complaint as others: it would be nice to have it spiral bound since it's difficult to hold the pages back even using a music stand. Otherwise a good purchase and necessary for any good guitarist.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Nice Scale Book!, October 30, 2009
By MTB (Silicon Valley, CA)
|
|
This is a very concise easy to follow reference guide for scales. Much better in it's explanation than many other sources of information I have come across on scales in book format or on the web. I really like this book and see it as all I need to keep me going regarding scales for some time. I definitely recommend it.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Fast and perfect, July 6, 2009
By T. Ramos (Miami)
|
|
This is exactly what my son was looking for. Simple but effective. For guitar apprentices this book is just ideal. I went through so many options and end up buying this little treasure!
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Truly Ultimate, June 8, 2009
By Flamenco! (San Jose, CA, USA)
|
|
Great book and very compact. Great for on the go and great for begining guitar players, all you need to know on scales and how to start using them.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
The Ultimate Scale Book, April 2, 2009
By David M. Bevan (Atlanta GA)
|
|
Fantastic scale book. Simple, easy to follow and gets right to the point.
No BS in this "must have" item!
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Scale booklet, January 21, 2008
By Book worm (Midwest USA.)
|
|
A lot of interesting, and useful info in a small booklet, well worth the price !.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Excelent pocket reference book!, January 18, 2007
By Shin Akuma (Portugal)
|
|
I have this book and it is very good book for reference about scales. It has all that you need to know. Simple reading, concise and has a lot of pratical examples. If you adopt to use this book to learn scales, you will build progressively a large arsenal of improvisation material from pentatonic minor to harmonic minor. Very good reference book that shows you how to build and use scales. Recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
The book that every guitar player must have!, March 3, 2010
By Hernán Orellana Alarcón (Viña del Mar, Chile)
|
|
Well, I am very satisfied with the purchase of this book. All scales issue is highly showed here. Full of diagrams, explaining some secrets and way of use (very usefull in spite of the kind of music that you play). Two thumbs up!
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
The Little Big Book of Scales., September 6, 2011
By Me (So Cal)
|
|
Enough scales in this portable book to keep you busy for a while. More than i will most likely need.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
I'm becoming a Music Theory Major! Just from a little book ^_^, November 16, 2011
By Jeremiahx
|
|
This book teaches on Diatonic scales, overture, penatonic scales, etc. I have fallen in love with my guitars, and music all over again because of this book it is about 11 inches tall and about 4-5 inches wide. Good for travel or at home study. ^_^
-Jeremiahx
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Excellent Book, October 28, 2011
By Bernard Asencio (Dominican Republic)
|
|
A book that every guitar player must have, I recommended for every guitar player for all level, and a great price, dont hesitate. Buy it.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Kindle Edition Limitations, October 19, 2011
By mpiscatello
|
|
Overall this is a very helpful book. However, on nearly every page there are diagrams of fretboards. As you may or may not know, you cannot zoom in on images using a Kindle Reader. This makes seeing the small diagrams troublesome. Buy the print book.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
guitar guy, January 7, 2012
By guitarguy
|
|
Excellent service--fast, nice packaging. Great little book. You can find scales in many places even for free all over the internet, but to have them all packaged so well in such a concise, easy to reference collection is a tremendous aid. This one will get dog-eared from use. If you want to play lead guitar of any kind, this is a must have.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Home
View Cart
Bookmark This Page
Contact Us
(
