Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Guitar Scale Bible (National Guitar Workshop)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I found this book, I was finally able to stop haunting music and book stores. I can't imagine needing a scale that is not in this book. It goes way beyond the modes and major/minor pentatonics that most of us use. From Lydian Dominant 13 Pentatonic to Sus4b9b5 Pentatonic, from Banshiki-Cho to Banshiki-Cho to Zokuso, you can't find a more varied listing. It gives you an explanation and enough shapes to practice for you to be able to use the scales in your playing.
There's some theory and practice ideas in the appendices, but that's just icing on the cake, as is the low price. Highly recommended.

My friend showed me this book, and once I saw it I knew I had to buy it! 130 scales, each one shown in all 12 keys with a few variations (2-finger, one-string, open), it has the broad diversity of scales that I've been seeking for a long time. It also explains how the scale works musically and its general application. The people who are going to find the best use of this book though are those who understand music well enough and really want to step outside the basic major, minor and pentatonic scales, but it could be a bit confusing to everyone else. The thing is, it's a book of 130 scales with incredibly different and maybe confusing musical applications in them, so the guitarist who has little theoretical knowledge about music will have a hard time finding a place for these scales in their music (not to discourage them, for if they like messing around with scales, it could still be a bit fun). The substance, you could say, is advanced because it assumes what I'd say is an intermediate knowledge of music theory and uses the terms as if you know full well what it's talking about (I wish I could type out one of the full explanations to give an understanding), but if you feel you have that kind of experience, it's a valuable songwriting resource! I give this product a 5 because it's just what I've wanted for a long time, and I'm completely satisfied.

Don't be misled by the title - this book of scales has a wealth of information and inspiration to offer to any improvising singer or instrumentalist. I am a jazz singer, and this is one of my favorite (and most useful) books. Sometimes I want to practice something specific, sometimes I just open it at random - I am always rewarded. With a little basic music theory under your belt and this book as a travel guide, you will find your ears and your ideas and your music expanding in exciting ways. Highly highly recommended.

Not enough technical and helpful information for me. I think this book is more of a dictionary rather than a helpful guide for guitar players seeking to improve skills. You wouldn't buy a dictionary to understand grammer just as this book won't help in making you a better player. I think it might be useful to people who are professional musicians but for the rest of us, the book is hard to apply. I returned my copy and will be looking for something more applicable.

A very complete scale reference book. In fact, The Guitar Workshop, the editors of this book, have a variety of interesting books for the guitarist... check it out!