BOOK REVIEWS
Total Scales Techniques
and Applications
by Mark John Sternal
Maybe this is stating the obvious, but
Americans are always looking for a quick
fix. If that weren’t true, I wouldn’t be getting numerous emails each day offering to
get rid of my spare tire and consolidate my
debts overnight. Sadly, that same desire for
the “quick fix” often pervades the six-string
world – there are numerous books and DVDs
flooding the market, promising to turn any
fumbling teenager into a bona fide rockstar
with just a few minutes a day. Where’s the
dedication to settle in for the long haul?
If you’re tired of the quick fix, there’s now a
better way. Guitarists who aren’t afraid to put
some honest-to-God elbow grease into their
chops will want to pick up a copy of Total
Scales Techniques and Applications. In one of
the most thorough books I’ve seen,
Total Scales takes you from the basics
– musical notation and tuning your guitar
– all the way to complex fretting hand techniques and truly exotic scales.
$24.95
mjspublications.com
Of course, there’s a catch. After each example given (and there are plenty), whethe r it”s
covering two-string exercises or ghost
bends, the book dutifully instructs
you to, “apply this to every scale
position, technique, application and
rhythm in this book.” Yeah, you read
that right. There’s a lot of ground to
cover, and it can be slow going at
times, but there’s no doubt that if you
dedicate yourself, you’ll come out the
other side a completely different player.
Even for those less inclined to spend
hours each night with a book, there’s
plenty to be learned here, from the
detailed scale charts to the finger-testing
exercises. Total Scales would make a good
addition to any guitarist”s library, as both a
valuable reference and a constant reminder
to turn off the television and practice. -AM
