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Mel Bay Presents Advanced Modern Rock Guitar Improvisation Paperback – January 1, 1999

by Jon Finn (Author)

4.3 70 ratings

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Renowned Berklee College of Music faculty guitarist Jon Finn, combines his experience, education, and stylistic versatility in this eclectic series of lessons for aspiring rock guitarists. Jon's innovative approach is unique, fun, and challenging. The book/CD set and DVD both offer a well researched original take on the use of pentatonic scales in rock improvisation. Using his "Warp Refraction Principle" which takes into account the major third tuning interval between the second and third strings, Jon presents a series of five vertical patterns applied in two-string increments throughout the fretboard. The philosophy behind this project is to present concepts and techniques as a thought process rather than simply providing a reference manual.

Print length

128 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Mel Bay Pubns
Publication date

January 1, 1999
Dimensions

9 x 0.25 x 12 inches
ISBN-10

0786647922
ISBN-13

978-0786647927
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mel Bay Pubns (January 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0786647922
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0786647927
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 0.25 x 12 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,789,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,816 in Brass Instruments (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 70 ratings

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4.3 out of 5

70 global ratings

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Great book - offers new & interesting concepts

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

I already had a decent understanding of the modes, conceptually. But what I struggled with was how to incorporate the modes using the scale shapes I was familiar with. I knew what I wanted to be able to do in my mind, but it seemed like overkill in terms of memorization and thinking too much while playing, which ends up taking away from the musicality. I was having a hard time switching between full major scale shapes (all 7 notes) and pentatonic shapes (5 notes), and I wanted to be able to add the 2 color/modal notes when I felt necessary, rather than just blasting through the scale shapes and hitting them accidentally at times. I've been struggling with this for weeks now, and once I came across 2 pages about halfway through this book, it all clicked. Game changing for me.

Haven't made it all the way through the book, and some parts are interesting but aren't clicking with me...but for those 2 pages that helped the modes click, it's worth the entire price of the book for me. Highly recommended if you are a big-time pattern-thinker who may not have hours per day to devote to learning theory and memorizing things the hard way

4 people found this helpful

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Michael Le

The next step if you are sick as a beginner

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2019

Verified Purchase

I felt like I was stuck playing the guitar for a while, then I bought this book. As lame as that sounds this book worked for me. It walks you through how to progress up and down the neck and move sideways too finding those notes and showing you how to use and play them.

It definitely could have been summed up a lot, but it gets the job done in help you figure out to to move along the neck.

2 people found this helpful

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C. Fata

Perceive the fretboard in a new way

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2009

Verified Purchase

I had a solid grasp on pentatonics and some of the modes before working with this book, however, the author, Jon Finn, has shown me how to view the actual geometry of the fretboard differently.
What I found very helpful:

I found he very effectively explained how to handle position changes between the G-B-E strings. This sounds simple, however, I now know how to navigate this area with confidence.

He breaks the 5 minor pentatonics into 5 mini four-note shapes. At first, I didn't think I would benefit from this, but I found it extremely helpful in regards to knowing how these shapes repeat over the fretboard.

Getting into modes:
He applies a similar mini-shape method to the modes which I found confusing at first, but once I played around with them, I actually found them very helpful.
He also explains how to use the modes quite well. Before, I would stay within one mode throughout a solo, e.g. aeolian, however I didn't really have a grasp on when to use the colour notes. I am now able to seamlessly interchange the modes while I'm playing, in any area of the fretboard. I found the Lydian and Phrygian modes helpful when soloing over some common blues-rock chord progessions.

There are example tracks as well as practice rhythm tracks which I found worthwhile.

I haven't explored this far yet, but he gets into Real Harmonic Minor, and Harmonic minor in the latter chapters.

Overall, the book is well written. It is organized and the concepts are continued as the material becomes more difficult. The author brings larger concepts to your attention, and lays out how larger concepts are inter-connected.

The book will not answer all of your playing needs, but I found that it filled in many holes in my knowledge, and I feel as though I have a better and more solid understanding of what to do over more complex musical examples.

I would recommend this book as a long-term study guide, while also pursuing other interests.

5 people found this helpful

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G Brux

Feel You are Stuck??? Get this book!!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2007

Verified Purchase

Living here in Boston has given me the opportunity to study with great Berklee Professors (Tomo Fujita & Don Lappin)... never Jon though. He's too busy. I've seen Jon play in pretty small bars here in Boston and always asked myself how he does it. This book explains it all.

This book is great for guitar players who are stuck in one position. I've been there and this book summarizes the fretboard geometry very well. Jon explains his approach to moving up and down the neck without being stuck in one position. It all makes sense.

It comes with a CD and DVD. Great Book, Great Player, Very Inspiring!!!

6 people found this helpful

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J. Lee

The holy grail...

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2011

Verified Purchase

For me, this book was the holy grail (and is)...this is the way of looking at the fretboard that I KNEW someone had to have the keys to. I felt it was out there, and knew it would help me if I could just put it all together...

And here it is.

Buy this book. No matter what your level. It will help you. There is no higher recommendation I can give than this : EVERY guitarist SERIOUSLY needs this book, especially if you're a "visual" thinker who needs to understand what you're doing, rather than just reproduce (sterile sounding?) rote memory...

7 people found this helpful

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Madoxx

BIG LETDOWN

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2009

Verified Purchase

Not what i expected at all. I could not find a clear explanation to improvisation. highly unrecommended

One person found this helpful

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Cody

The best and easiest explanation on how to visualize and remember ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

The best and easiest explanation on how to visualize and remember your scale shapes that I’ve ever seen. Jon really helps you understand how to link your pentatonic, modal, melodic, and harmonic scales. Some of his explanations can be a bit of a brain teaser but once you grasp his concepts there won’t be any scale that you can’t play. Don’t worry, this is not another book about the CAGED system.

One person found this helpful

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David Mc Nulty

Really challenges your thinking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2021

Verified Purchase

Each chapter has ideas that take your playing to another level. I had to really work at some of them but I can tell the difference it's made to my playing. Excellent purchase.

Rob Near

A very different approach

Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

A very different approach of visualizing scales & getting out of the boxes. If your looking for ideas to improve your ability to move horizontaly, there's a good chance this will help. There is far more to this book but that was my reason for getting it & for that, it has opened up new possibilities for me. It just might for you too.

The Aimless

Genial!

Reviewed in Germany on January 17, 2011

Verified Purchase

Nur kurz...dieses Buch ist schlichtweg genial! Hier geht es auschlieslich darum, wie man mit einfachen Mitteln..fast sämtliche Skalen bzw. Modes auf dem Griffbrett ohne zu überlegen spielen kann (relativ Textlastig, wenig Noten). Jon hat hier ein sogenantes "BOX-System" entwickelt, das seines gleichen sucht. Ist etwas schwer zu erklären..jede Tonleiter wird in kleine Fragmente "Boxen" zerlegt, die nur aus wenigen Noten bestehen, und aus diesen Boxen, kann man mit einfachsten Regeln wirklich jede Modale Skala (3-Note-per-String) bzw Pentatonic und Blues Tonleitern "zusammenbauen", und sofort über das ganze Griffbrett verteilt spielen...von oben nach unten, von vorn nach hinten und von links nach schräg... Ich kann das Buch nur jedem nur ans Herz legen, der mal von "12. Bund Em Pentatonic" weg will, und mal seinen Horizont am Griffbrett erweitern möchte.

2 people found this helpful

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Charles Gaerlan

very nice book its a little advanced for me but I ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

very nice book its a little advanced for me but I think this is a reference material not a 1 time read and throw away i'm now okay thing. The delivery is prompt

Hydropsyche

What they said

Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

I don't have much to add other then "what they said". This is worth 5 stars and of all the surfing I did, with the goal of learning how to improvise, this book got me there quicker then anything else. But remember, it tells you where the notes are...nothing but practice will teach you how to use them.

One person found this helpful

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Mel Bay Presents Advanced Modern Rock Guitar Improvisation Paperback – January 1, 1999

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