Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have worked for many publishing companies as an editor and author, and I rarely come across a book I want to add to my own overflowing collection. But when I picked up Chad Johnson's Guitarist's Guide to Scales over Chords, I knew I needed this book on my shelf. Many guitarists practice scales, but don't learn how to apply those scales to real-world situations. That's where the Guitarist's Guide to scales over Chords comes in. The book begins by studying the construction of major and minor scales (and their pentatonic counterparts), and diving into diatonic harmony and theory. If you don't already have a little scale knowledge, you'll need to carefully study the first few chapters (this book is not for beginners!). The book then explores a variety of scales, using them in a wide array of formats ranging from fusion and jazz to blues and progressive rock. Along the way, Johnson talks about when and where to use each specific scale, and--just as importantly--how to craft great solo phrases instead of passages that sound like you're simply running scales up and down (a common pitfall!). By the end, you'll be tearing up the fretboard, applying major and minor scales and their modes alongside more complex sounds like Lydian Dominant and Super Locrian. Of course, you shouldn't expect to get there overnight. There's so much information compressed into 96 pages that to really get each scale under your fingers and every concept burned into your mind, you'll need to integrate this book into your practice plan for many months. This requires a commitment on your part, but it also makes the payoff from this book even greater. Johnson includes top-notch audio for every example, so you can hear how he applies each idea to a phrase or complete solo within the context of a band. If you want to learn how to apply scales in many ways over limitless chord progressions, this book is for you.