The Guitar Grimoire: A Compendium of Formulas for Guitar Scales and Modes

Im really tempted to give this book 4 stars only because there is only 16 pages of text and then the rest of the book is just chord/scale charts. I have a deep disdain for people who make guitar chord and scale chart books as the chord and the scale patterns are the same for all 12 keys on a guitar. And so unsuspecting beginners waste a lot of brain energy memorizing the same pattern over and over not knowing its just the same pattern on different parts of the fretboard. But considering most other guitar books dont cover music theory at all and just expect people to blindly memorize the CAGED patterns with no knowledge of what notes even are in the chords they are playing, then I guess this book is worth it. Ive also read most the other books in the guitar grimoire series and they have a lot of redundant information, meaning these books could all be condensed into one book easily, especially considering that 11/12ths of the chord/scale charts could be removed as they are redundant.

The Grimoire series of music theory books is incredible, dense yet digestible.Highly recommended for musicians of any level.

If you know how to do sweeps then this book is perfect t for you to start practicing with and help increase tour finger dexterity and speed if played with a metronome. My fiance swears by this book ad far as getting better at playing guitar.

This is required-reading for any axe grinder trying to understand music theory. There's SO much information packed between the covers.

I'll start by saying that if you are relatively new to the guitar this might seem pretty overwhelming. The long finger stretches, sheer volume of scales, and how foreign some of the information might sound in the intro might de-motivate you. That being said I don't think it's unreasonable to believe that newer players wouldn't gain from this. They could use the lay outs to plan exercises for improving hand and finger dexterity as well familiarize themselves with shapes that you see through out the major scale, for instance. For more advanced players, this book is awesome. It's just an incredible reference tool that can definitely be used to help players. For instance, this can help ease the struggle of staying in one area of the fret board thanks to full scale lay outs. You can start incorporating the whole fret board and start visualizing shapes a lot easier.Of course, you won't read this and all of sudden be a virtuoso. This is essentially a knowledge book so in order to make it worth it you have to study it like you would something in school. Study, practice, study, practice, etc...Guitar can be tedious but Im committed to being better a player, if you feel that same way then I definitely recommend this.

Personally, I bought this book more as a quick reference guide, since I have a very solid foundation in theory. Furthermore, I thought it would be a good book to help when teaching.On the other hand, (please keep in mind only an opinion)as mentioned, I do have a very solid foundation in Music Theory, and for a beginning student, without going into great, unnecessary detail, I do not care for his teaching method, or the terminology used, which may be intimidating to a beginner.Furthermore, to elaborate, there are much easier ways to explain scales/modes, as his attempt, or approach, makes it seem complex, more complex than it is.For example, an easier way, would simply to have stated that all scales are based on the C Major Scale, following the whole step/half step method. Simply a half step between B and C/E and F, the rest whole steps. Therefore, also helping in the understanding of intervals, build everything from that as a starting point, simplicity, etc. I could go on and on. Terminology? I would simply have had a list of vocabulary and definitions, once you learn the vocabulary, the rest is easily understood, etc, etc, etc.Again, please keep in mind, it is a personal opinion, and I am not slamming the book, but the method itself.By contrast, it is a great reference tool, and with guidance, once understood, it will offer many years of use. Other than the teaching method, or approach he uses, I like the book. However, suggested for the more intermediate/advanced, or even a basic understanding of fundamentals. Otherwise, it may take more effort than necessary to truly absorb.

I've read through less than 1/16th of this and I've learned quite a bit of new playing material.I hope this doesn't discredit the selling of this book, but yes: You could easily google all the information within. HOWEVER, this is quite a beautiful presentation and if you enjoy books when sitting quietly alone as I do; then this is absolutely worth it.The explanatory text is very well thought out, and easy to comprehend. If you really want to go to amazing places with guitar, or music in general; then taking the time to sit down and learn some theory is very well worth it. I know the description says 'intermediate' but I'm pretty sure mid to high level beginners can take away just as much as I can from this. And that's assuming I'm an advanced player after 10+ years of learning and playing. Just take the time to sit down, read, and learn. Oh and patience helps, start slow, then build up momentum.

You need to be able to improvise to be able to utilize this book, within five minutes I found a scale i've never heard of before, realized its major, the f major persian scale, in most scales that are f major you can play these scales in drop d with chugging, you need this kind of knowledge to get anything quickly, otherwise you'll have to know the scales pretty well and you'd have to practice enough, but having some basic knowledge about scales and the notes in them is really needed, overall the best books about scales i've picked up. nothing competes, you get so many scales in this book, and the book is as big as a tab book, as opposed to references used by teachers that are tiny