Gig Bag Book of Scales for all Keyboards

Rating:
Summary: Picturebook Scales
Review: As a piano teacher for many long years, I am probably familiar with most of the scale books ever printed. This is the scale book I use and love. Why? Because all the scales a pianist ever wants to know how to play are here in pictures.

The book is keyboard scale sized, about five inches tall and eleven or so inches long. When opened on the piano rack, this book stays put. The piano keyboard is shown in black and white with finger numbers for two octaves printed in white circles for one hand, and black circles for the other hand...printed on the keys. There is one big, clear, simple scale keyboard picture per page. Now playing and learning scales becomes easier because the student can see the finger patterns and guidepost notes at a glance.

I wanted to give this book 4.75 stars because I wish the arpeggio fingering was included on the page with the scale. Since it is not, I simply write the numbers in the margin for my students. (4.75 rounds off to 5)

Give this picture book a try. I know you will find the "chore" of playing and teaching scales a lot easier and a little more fun.

Now, if only I had thought of the idea first!

Rating:
Summary: Incomplete
Review: This book's strength is in its presentation. The author took the time to provide clear diagrams with fingering designations. However, before committing to purchasing, you should be aware of some of its notable omissions and peculiarities. If you already know your major and minor scales cold, making the necessary adjustments for the modal scales is not all that difficult, and I doubt you will benefit greatly from the other materials presented here. If you are new to the piano, these sections might be helpful. Regardless, here are some possible concerns:
1.) There is no mention anywhere of diminished scales which are crucial to jazz and other genres. The book dedicates 14 two-sided pages to the fingerings of the two whole tone scales; this is unnecessary since they are easy to visualize. There are only three diminished scales, but they are trickier to negotiate than whole tone scales. No suggestions are offered here, and I was immediately disappointed.
2.) It includes all of the major modes, and one minor mode, the lydian flat 7--used frequently in jazz, but there is no mention of other pertinent scales such as the altered dominant scale or superlocrian. I bought this thinking that I'd have a complete reference source, but it turned out to be lacking in critical areas while inclusive of other obvious ones.
3.) The blues scale fingerings do not coincide with other sources I have. Consult a good teacher before considering the ones offered here. Some of them sound good, but the recommended fingerings can be awkward and inconsistent.

If you already own Hanon's classic work or other works based on his fingerings, you won't glean too much out of this one. The book's diagrams are a great idea, but the overall effort lacks important information.