Mel Bay presents Jazz Pentatonics: Advanced Improvising Concepts for Guitar (Mel Bays Private Lessons) [Paperback]

Bruce Saunders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

This anthology features Dimitris Fampas' guitar music- one of Greece's most celebrated classical guitarists-composers and a professor. His artistry reached far beyond the borders of his country and for a long time he was considered one of the world's leading performers. Also acclaimed as a composer, he enriched the guitar repertoire with many wonderful and original works, full of beautiful melodies and lively, exciting rhythms, mainly influenced by his native country's musical tradition. Guitarists of all levels will discover and enjoy the originality and beauty of Fampas' works as well as the quality of the compositions which cover a variety of styles. From the first piece "Triplet Memory" (to Emilio Pujol) which is filled with Latin American influences to the last short, but very attractive tremolo "The Windsong," his music stands as a very romantic, colorful being skillfully written for the guitar. Also includes two rhythmic and lively Greek dances "Sirtos" and "Ballos," the very pleasing "Waltz," "Reverie" and "3 Songs for Guitar," and the easily played "Sentimental Preludes," "Romanza" and "Variations for Evgenia." Enjoy the inspiring "Heart-felt Conversation with A. s Segovia as well as the romantic and exciting "A Lafkos' Faire."his whole

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078667167X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786671670
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #538,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book from a Master Improviser and Teacher, March 10, 2006

By 

Louis W. Arnold "life long guitarist" (Lunenburg, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mel Bay presents Jazz Pentatonics: Advanced Improvising Concepts for Guitar (Mel Bays Private Lessons) (Paperback)

This book gives the student (we're all students aren't we?)a very balanced approach to broadening his or her mastery of pentatonics in a jazz context. Bruce Saunders explains the many applications of familiar pentatonic scales in a really concise way and lays out very musical illustrations in notation and tab with recorded examples. I like the recorded tracks because they are played in a swinging relaxed style by some really happening players who make a living playing jazz in New York. Bruce has been a teacher at Berklee College since the 1980's and a working musician for a long time. I've found that good focused work on this material has opened my ears and fingerboard awareness. While the book begins with the familiar minor seventh pentatonics, Bruce shows how to use them in new ways and then gives us other less familiar but really important pentatonic scales with applications and recorded examples. There's lots to work on here but I believe it's just the right amount of material - not overwhelming and that's important.

Jazz improvisation is a life long pursuit and no one teacher or book will make a student a great improviser over night. This book is one of the really useful ones due to its balanced content, the quiet competence of the author, solid musicality and straight ahead playing by the musicians on the included CD.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, November 24, 2009

By 

Jason Q "jasonqtx" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mel Bay presents Jazz Pentatonics: Advanced Improvising Concepts for Guitar (Mel Bays Private Lessons) (Paperback)

this is a well thought out, well organized presentation of pentatonics for jazz. Bruce Saunders is a great teacher and player. this book includes plenty of conceptual information as well as exercises for getting the scales under your fingers and into your improvising. check out his other ones too, they're all great.

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you want to know about Diminished scale, September 1, 2010

By 

Steve B. (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay presents Jazz Pentatonics: Advanced Improvising Concepts for Guitar (Mel Bays Private Lessons) (Paperback)

Not a book for beginners need to have a good grasp of Jazz theory and improve, but if you do you will enjoy really exploring the diminish scale and how gain control of how and when to use it. Lots of examples to play and get your ear tuned into the sound. I highly recommend.