Additional Information

Many of Stephen students have asked him if it is important to learn Scales on the banjo, and his answer is always, yes, Scales will sharpen your playing ability, sharpen your ear, increase your knowledge of the fingerboard, increase your knowledge of music, and strengthen your fingers. Scales are an excellent means for exercising the fingers of both hands. Working on the accent placement and clarity of each tone of the scale, will not only strengthen your fingers, but will
also transfer to your playing of songs. In other words, if you will spend a few minutes each day working with Scales, you will find that you are automatically  playing your songs better, and that you are in better control of the banjo. You will find that your ear is better tuned to hear each individual note, and that your execution of these notes is much cleaner. Not only are Scales good exercise, but they are the foundation for every note that is played on the banjo, (the melody, the chords, back-up, lead arrangements, etc. for every song.) For this reason, knowledge of Scales can provide you with a basic understanding of what you are playing as well as with additional tools for creativity.

This book is designed to take you through each major Scale as it works along the "Circle of Fifths". As you work through the Scales, it will also be to your advantage to memorize the order in which they are presented. You will find that this information can be useful in many different ways. Stephen has found with his students  that it is most effective to work through only one Scale at a time, (in the order the Scales are presented), until each specific Scale is learned. Once the student is proficient at playing the C Scale, for example, and knows all of the fingerboard positions for the C Chord, you should then begin learning the G Scale. You will find that there is only one note between the C Scale and the G Scale that is different. Each successive Scale will differ from the preceding Scale by only one note. i.e. the D Scale alters only one note of the G Scale. This pattern will continue as the student progresses to each new Scale. Stephen has  found that working with Scales has helped his students in many different ways, and he hopes that they will also help you. Happy Pickin’!