The Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios: & Cadences

Excellent book that helps me learn my scales.

Really well laid out book. Circle of fifths and key reference table on the inside front cover. The book is then divided into seven sections with all scales presented on a single pair of facing pages: 1) Brief but clear sections on the structure of scales, chords, inversions, different arpeggios etc. and a guide to fingering. 2) Major scales in sharp keys 3) Major scales in flat keys Parallel in octaves, contrary motion, in thirds and sixths. Major triads within the scale and Roman numeral terminology, cadences. Arpeggios and dominant 7th scales in root to 3rd inversion. 4) Minor scales in sharp keys 5) Minor scales in flat keys Natural, harmonic and melodic minors in parallel, contrary harmonic. Triads, cadences. Minor arpeggios in 3 positions and diminished seventh arpeggios in 4 positions. 6) Chromatic scales Parallel in octaves and in major and minor 3rds and 6ths Contrary starting in unsion and also separated by major and minor 3rds and sixths 7) Enrichment options Harmonizing, blocked, accelerating, expanding, double thirds, sixths and octaves, grand form scales Boken triads, plus more. Inside back cover has comprehensive fingering charts for all scales and arpeggios All in all this is an excellent and comprehensive overview of the topic that is very clearly laid out an easy to use. Highly recommended.

I chose this rating because in my opinion this is a most useful, practical guide for anyone who wants to understand the fundamentals of major and minor scales, arpeggios and cadences and how they may be practised in order to gain the most benefit, especially if one is not all that experienced at playing piano and might not appreciate the improvements to be made with performance, due to regular practice of scales,etc. The recommended finger positions for scales and arpeggios are very useful indeed. The information is set out very clearly in bold type, and begins with thorough explanations and illustrations of the basics such as tetrachords, triads,chord progressions,scale degrees etc. If I need to refresh or improve my own knowledge to the next level, the information required can be easily accessed, as there are bold headings on, and throughout each page. I would recommend this book to beginner`s, amateur pianists, and anyone seeking to improve their skills or understanding.

It's comprehensive and clearly laid out, but UK buyers should be aware that it does use American terminology (e.g. whole and half notes). That aside, there is some good information about keys, chords, fingering, etc included as well as the practical content.

I bought this book as a replacement to an old scales and arpeggios book that had been lost. I am glad I did. This book is neatly laid out, plenty of white space so it is easy to read and less tiring for the eyes. The print is a good size, so it is easy to see the notes at a distance. The title says it all regarding the content. It says "The Complete Book of....." and it certainly is. This book is a HUGE improvement on my previous book, so in a way, I am glad it was lost. This book stays within MY arms reach. It will not be lent to anyone. If friends and family want an arpeggio book next time, I will recommend that they BUY this from Amazon. Highly Recommended.

Excellent production and comprehensive, all you need to know content including circle of fifths diagram and an at-a-glance summary of key signatures.

For a book that labels itself as the complete book of scales, it's very incomplete. Now as a disclaimer, I've only been playing piano for about a month so take anything I write with that in mind. However I have played other instruments and played bass for many years. During this time I took lessons for about a year from a respected New York jazz bassist so used to know a thing or two about scales, chords and improvisation. This book gives you 4 scales (the Major and the Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor scales) in all the keys and it does this well, but fails to even mention a lot of other scales such as the Blues scales, the various Jazz scales and none of the really weird ones (but you really don't need these in your life anyway). If you want something to get you through the classical piano grades then this will probably fit the bill perfectly. If you really want a reference book of scales to be able to play a wider range of music then it falls well short. Personally I've used the Jamie Abersold books and 'The Improvisor's Bass Method' both of which have a much wider range and better explanation of scales, but aren't piano focused . I'll be looking for a more complete reference book and may yet return this book.

It has it all. It is like the holy grail of scales, chords, etc. for piano players.

Recueil très complet - toutes les tonalités très bien présentées et en détails. Lecture facile. Vraiment excellent.

Very useful basic reference about chords and scales.

Este libro contiene todos las escalas, acordes y arpegios que cualquier músico, incluso amateur, debe conocer. No solo los estudiantes de piano, sino es válido para las personas que disfruten aprendiendo cualquier instrumento para su propio disfrute. Los fundamentos del piano son esenciales y comunes para todos los aprendices y aficionados a la música.

*Self learners and intimidated beginners, This book is for you! I can't bear to take away a star for the damaged spine, that is how wonderful this book is. - I'm your average child piano lessons quitter, now regretfully nostalgic and determined adult learner💪🏽. I didn't absorb enough theory back then, to actually know the piano. I knew just enough to memorize and play average pop sheet music. Easier standard classicals etc. Unless I use a chord dictionary, I know zero chords except Cmajor, zero scales except Cmajor, nothing about key signatures, let's not even talk about rest counts, note beats, etc. Basically any little foundation I had, has been long forgotten, BUT, it's never too late to learn as long as you're healthy enough and breathing, and this is a phenomenal book to start with. PROS: 1. It's big with a remarkably visually appealing layout to making studying and memorization easier and more welcoming. The voice/tone of the book is warm and not overly formal or stiff like others I've tried. 2. Placed on the inside of the cover page, where it can be easily referenced, is a large sized, very detailed explanation of the Circle of 5ths. I have been trying to understand it's concepts for years with no success, but I took one quick glance over this one, and boom! I finally understood it. This is HUGE for me. 💃🏽 3. Explanation paragraphs are greatly detailed precise and super easy to understand, as you can see in the pictures 4. The diagrams are big and fantastic. With arrows pointing things out to ensure clarity. 5. Things aren't squished together, which, I've found, often make studying musical concepts or reading music itself seem much much harder, and burdensome, than it really is. CONS: the only con may be one of the things that makes this book great - the "oversizeness" of it all. It is a "music book" size book. For adult studiers, this is not your pocket sized travel study companion. This one will tag along in your large(er) tote or a knapsack or good sized man bag. + I finally found a book I'll actually enjoy studying, that will keep my struggles and confusions to a minimum. I believe you'll feel the same. Worth every single penny. I will be using this book until it's ragged. Buy it and enjoy your piano learning journey.

He estado usando los libros de iniciación del mismo autor y me parecen buenos, sin embargo, estos no profundizan en la teoría y no prestan mucha atención al estudio de escalas, las cuales son importantes si es que quieres tomar habilidad en el instrumento. Este libro cubre las deficiencias de los libros antes mencionados. Hace una explicación bastante clara de acordes y de como se arman estos e incluye varios ejercicios de escalas. Definitivamente este tipo de libros son necesarios para desarrollar una buena técnica y creo que tanto el principiante como alguien que ya tiene un conocimiento previo, puede sacarle provecho a este libro.