Rock Lead Scales for Guitar

by Mike Christiansen

A fabulous technique book for the rock guitarist, Rock Lead Scales for Guitar presents an assortment of rock scales, and combines them with solos studies to develop a sense of the proper usage of individual scale segments.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Mike Christiansen is a versatile guitarist who is as comfortable playing music by The Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and Sting as he is playing Antônio Carlos Jobim, Johann Sebastian Bach, jazz standards and show tunes. Mike has played for audiences from New York to Hawaii. He works as a soloist, with the Brazilian group, Evening in Brazil, with the Lightwood Duo, and the band, Mirage. He has backed up artists including: Johnny Hiland, Joe Diorio, Jack Petersen, Tommy Emmanuel, Glen Frey (the Eagles), Natalie Cole, and Take Six. Recently, he worked with Broadway stars Alfie Boe, Sutton Foster, Brian Stokes Mitchel, and the Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. He has performed from coast to coast doing concerts and providing background music for corporate events, restaurants, and receptions. He has recorded music for television and film, including the guitar work on the film, Surviving Picasso starring Anthony Hopkins. Mike’s sound is just as amazing live as it is on recordings. With a repertoire ranging from classic rock and pop to classical, his noticeable, but not distracting, style can please any audience and add class and comfort to any occasion.
Mike is Professor Emeritus at Utah State University where he was Professor and Director of Guitar Studies for 39 Years. His awards include: Utah State University Professor of The Year, Caine College of the Arts Professor of the Year, and a U.S. Carnegie Professor of the Year. He has been a TED speaker and has authored/co-authored over 40 guitar and ukulele instruction books and appears on hundreds of instruction videos.
Mike is currently co-owner and Director of Curriculum for Consonus Music (cmilearn.org).

Reviews

[Bilgewater · Rating 3 out of 5]

"All day, every day..."

Any guitarist who can play knows this mantra about scales. There is no substitute for hard practice and muscle memory when it comes to solos, and it's nearly impossible to create some on-the-fly if you don't have a solid base, which comes from daily practice and ear-training to stay in the right key.

While this book is far too limited for anyone who wants to play more than just rock music, it is a great place for beginners who want to at least start learning what a solo is all about and to get some practice ripping out more than just an arpeggio or random bends. Plus, it gives you more material to practice until you no longer have any flesh left on your fingers.