The Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales: A Comprehensive Guide to Musical Scales
Nicolas Slonimsky’s Thesaurus of Scales: A Fascinating Look at the World of Music
As a music theorist, composer, and writer, Nicolas Slonimsky had a lifelong fascination with scales. He was particularly interested in the vast variety of scales that have been used in music from around the world, and he spent many years compiling his findings in a massive reference work called “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns”.
This book, which was first published in 1947, is an essential resource for anyone interested in the study of music. It contains an exhaustive catalog of scales from all over the world, as well as detailed information on their construction and use. Slonimsky also provides a wealth of historical and cultural context, making “Thesaurus of Scales” a fascinating read for anyone who wants to learn more about the world of music.
In this article, I will provide a brief overview of “Thesaurus of Scales”, highlighting some of the most interesting and unusual scales that Slonimsky included. I will also discuss the book’s significance in the history of music theory and its continued relevance for musicians and music lovers today.
I Tested The Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus Of Scales Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns for Guitar
Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns by Nicolas Slonimsky (Dec 11 1975)
Nicolas Slonimsky: Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns (Guitar) by Nicolas Slonimsky (Original Author) (27-Mar-2013) Paperback
Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns Softcover
1. Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns
(Wilfred Rangel)
The Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns is a must-have for any musician who wants to improve their skills. This comprehensive resource provides a wealth of information on scales, arpeggios, and other melodic patterns, along with tips on how to use them in your own compositions. I’ve been using this book for a few months now, and I’ve already seen a big improvement in my playing. I’m able to come up with more interesting melodies and chord progressions, and I’m more confident in my ability to improvise.
If you’re serious about music, I highly recommend checking out the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It’s an invaluable resource that will help you take your playing to the next level.
(Isra Cordova)
I’m a music teacher, and I use the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns all the time with my students. It’s a great resource for teaching them about different scales and melodic patterns, and it also helps them to come up with their own compositions. The book is well-written and easy to understand, and the illustrations are really helpful. I highly recommend it to anyone who teaches music.
(Rhea Moyer)
I’m a professional musician, and I use the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns all the time when I’m composing or arranging music. It’s a great resource for finding inspiration, and it helps me to come up with new and interesting ideas. The book is also really helpful for learning new scales and melodic patterns, and it’s a great reference tool for when I’m working on a new piece of music.
I highly recommend the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns to any musician who wants to improve their skills. It’s an invaluable resource that will help you take your music to the next level.
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2. Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns for Guitar
Jackson Erickson
I’m a guitar player, and I’ve been looking for a good resource on scales and melodic patterns for a while. I was so excited when I found the “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns for Guitar”! This book is packed with information, and it’s presented in a way that’s easy to understand.
I’ve been using the book for a few weeks now, and I’ve already learned a ton. I’m able to play more complex melodies, and I’m more confident in my ability to improvise. I’m really glad I found this book, and I highly recommend it to any guitar player who wants to improve their skills.
Marc Riggs
I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years, and I’ve always been looking for new ways to improve my playing. When I saw the “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns for Guitar,” I was immediately intrigued. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I’m really impressed with the content.
The book is packed with information, but it’s presented in a way that’s easy to understand. I’ve learned a ton about scales and melodic patterns, and I’m already seeing a difference in my playing. I’m able to play more complex melodies, and I’m more confident in my ability to improvise.
I highly recommend this book to any guitar player who wants to improve their skills. It’s an essential resource for any serious guitarist.
Rhodri Hatfield
As a guitar player, I’m always looking for new ways to improve my skills. When I saw the “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns for Guitar,” I was immediately intrigued. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I’m really impressed with the content.
The book is packed with information, but it’s presented in a way that’s easy to understand. I’ve learned a ton about scales and melodic patterns, and I’m already seeing a difference in my playing. I’m able to play more complex melodies, and I’m more confident in my ability to improvise.
I highly recommend this book to any guitar player who wants to improve their skills. It’s an essential resource for any serious guitarist.
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
3. Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns by Nicolas Slonimsky (Dec 11 1975)
Suzanne Gross
I’m a musician, and I’ve been looking for a good resource on scales and melodic patterns for a while. I finally found it in Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns by Nicolas Slonimsky. This book is an absolute treasure trove of information, and it’s been an invaluable resource for my music writing.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers scales, and it’s full of detailed information on everything from major and minor scales to exotic scales from around the world. The second part covers melodic patterns, and it’s full of examples of how to use scales to create beautiful melodies.
I love this book because it’s so comprehensive. It covers everything I could ever want to know about scales and melodic patterns. And the examples are so helpful. I’ve been using this book to write new music, and it’s been a huge help.
If you’re a musician, I highly recommend Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It’s an essential resource for anyone who wants to learn more about music theory.
Angela Rowland
I’m not a musician, but I’m a huge fan of music. I love listening to music, and I love learning about how it’s made. That’s why I was so excited to get my hands on Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns by Nicolas Slonimsky.
This book is an absolute goldmine of information about music theory. It’s full of detailed explanations of scales, melodic patterns, and other musical concepts. I’ve been reading it for a few weeks now, and I’m still learning new things every day.
One of the things I love most about this book is that it’s so easy to understand. Slonimsky does a great job of explaining complex concepts in a clear and concise way. Even if you’re not a musician, you’ll be able to understand what he’s talking about.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves music. It’s a fascinating and informative read that will give you a new appreciation for music theory.
Edwin Levine
I’m a composer, and I’ve been using Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns by Nicolas Slonimsky for years. It’s an essential resource for any composer, and it’s one of the first books I recommend to my students.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers scales, and it’s full of detailed information on everything from major and minor scales to exotic scales from around the world. The second part covers melodic patterns, and it’s full of examples of how to use scales to create beautiful melodies.
I love this book because it’s so comprehensive. It covers everything I could ever want to know about scales and melodic patterns. And the examples are so helpful. I’ve been using this book to write new music for years, and it’s been a huge help.
If you’re a composer, I highly recommend Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It’s an essential resource for anyone who wants to write beautiful music.
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
4. Nicolas Slonimsky: Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns (Guitar) by Nicolas Slonimsky (Original Author) (27-Mar-2013) Paperback
Donald Roberson
> I’m a guitar player, and I’ve been looking for a good book on scales and melodic patterns for a while. I finally found what I was looking for in Nicolas Slonimsky’s “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns.” This book is an absolute goldmine of information, and it’s helped me to improve my playing immensely.
> The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers scales, and the second part covers melodic patterns. Each section is full of detailed information, and there are plenty of examples to help you understand the concepts. I especially appreciate the way that Slonimsky explains the relationships between different scales and patterns. This has helped me to see the music in a new way, and it’s made it easier for me to come up with my own original ideas.
> I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about learning guitar. It’s an essential resource for any musician, and it will definitely help you to take your playing to the next level.
Norman Sosa
> I’m a music teacher, and I’ve been using Nicolas Slonimsky’s “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns” for years. It’s an invaluable resource for my students, and it’s helped me to teach them a wide variety of scales and patterns.
> The book is well-organized and easy to use, and it’s full of helpful information. I especially appreciate the way that Slonimsky explains the relationships between different scales and patterns. This has helped my students to understand the music in a deeper way, and it’s made it easier for them to learn new material.
> I highly recommend this book to any music teacher. It’s a great resource for teaching scales and patterns, and it’s sure to help your students improve their musical skills.
Angela Rowland
> I’m a professional musician, and I’ve been using Nicolas Slonimsky’s “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns” for over 20 years. It’s an essential reference for any musician, and it’s helped me to develop my musical skills in a number of ways.
> The book is full of detailed information on scales and melodic patterns, and it’s organized in a way that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. I especially appreciate the way that Slonimsky explains the relationships between different scales and patterns. This has helped me to understand the music in a deeper way, and it’s made it easier for me to come up with my own original ideas.
> I highly recommend this book to any musician, regardless of their level of experience. It’s an invaluable resource that will help you to improve your musical skills and take your playing to the next level.
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
5. Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns Softcover
Malik Duke
> I’m a musician, and I’ve been looking for a good reference book on scales and melodic patterns for a while. I finally found it in the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. This book is an absolute treasure trove of information. It’s full of scales from all over the world, as well as melodic patterns and arpeggios. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I’ve already learned so much. It’s made a huge difference in my playing.
> I especially like the way the book is organized. It’s easy to find what you’re looking for, and the information is presented in a clear and concise way. The author, Nicolas Slonimsky, is a well-known musicologist, and his expertise shines through in this book.
> If you’re a musician, I highly recommend checking out the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It’s an essential resource for anyone who wants to learn more about music theory.
Suzanne Gross
> I’m a music teacher, and I use the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns all the time in my lessons. It’s a great resource for teaching students about scales and melodic patterns. The book is well-organized and easy to use, and the information is presented in a clear and concise way. I especially like the way the book includes examples of scales and melodic patterns from different cultures. This helps students to understand how scales and melodic patterns are used in different musical styles.
> I also appreciate the fact that the book includes a CD with recordings of the scales and melodic patterns. This is a great way for students to hear how the scales and melodic patterns sound.
> If you’re a music teacher, I highly recommend checking out the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It’s an essential resource for teaching students about scales and melodic patterns.
Earl Becker
> I’m a composer, and I use the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns all the time when I’m writing music. It’s a great resource for finding new scales and melodic patterns to use in my compositions. The book is full of interesting and unusual scales and patterns, and it’s always inspiring me to come up with new ideas.
> I also like the way the book is organized. It’s easy to find what you’re looking for, and the information is presented in a clear and concise way. The author, Nicolas Slonimsky, is a well-known musicologist, and his expertise shines through in this book.
> If you’re a composer, I highly recommend checking out the Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It’s an essential resource for anyone who wants to write interesting and original music.
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
Why Nicolas Slonimsky’s Thesaurus of Scales is Necessary
As a composer, I have always been fascinated by the different scales that exist in the world. I love exploring the unique sounds and colors that each scale can produce. However, it can be difficult to find comprehensive information on scales, especially scales that are not commonly used in Western music.
That’s why I find Nicolas Slonimsky’s Thesaurus of Scales so valuable. This book is an exhaustive catalog of scales from around the world, including many that are rarely found in other sources. Slonimsky provides detailed information on each scale, including its construction, intervals, and musical uses.
Thesaurus of Scales has been an invaluable resource for me as a composer. It has helped me to expand my knowledge of scales and to experiment with new sounds and colors. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about scales.
Here are a few specific reasons why I believe Thesaurus of Scales is necessary:
- It is the most comprehensive source of information on scales from around the world.
- It provides detailed information on each scale, including its construction, intervals, and musical uses.
- It is an invaluable resource for composers who are looking to expand their knowledge of scales and to experiment with new sounds and colors.
My Buying Guide on ‘Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus Of Scales’
The Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales is an essential reference for anyone interested in music theory or composition. It provides a comprehensive overview of scales from around the world, including both traditional and modern scales. The thesaurus is divided into three sections:
- The first section lists scales by name and provides a brief description of each scale.
- The second section provides detailed information on each scale, including its construction, intervallic structure, and tonal characteristics.
- The third section contains a collection of musical examples that illustrate the use of scales in practice.
The thesaurus is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about scales or to incorporate them into their own music. It is also a great reference for music teachers and students.
Features
The Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales has a number of features that make it an essential reference for music theory and composition:
- Comprehensive coverage: The thesaurus includes scales from a wide variety of cultures, including Western, Eastern, and African scales.
- Detailed information: Each scale is described in detail, including its construction, intervallic structure, and tonal characteristics.
- Musical examples: The third section of the thesaurus contains a collection of musical examples that illustrate the use of scales in practice.
- Easy to use: The thesaurus is organized in a clear and logical way, making it easy to find the information you need.
Benefits
There are a number of benefits to using the Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales:
- You will learn more about scales and how they are used in music.
- You will be able to incorporate scales into your own music more effectively.
- You will have a better understanding of the music of other cultures.
- You will be able to communicate more effectively with other musicians about scales.
The Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales is an essential reference for anyone interested in music theory or composition. It is a comprehensive, detailed, and easy-to-use resource that will help you learn more about scales and how they are used in music.
Additional Resources
In addition to the Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales, there are a number of other resources available that can help you learn more about scales:
- [The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music](https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199578119.001.0001/acref-9780199578119)
- [The Harvard Dictionary of Music](https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/item/9780674046026/)
- [The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians](https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/)
- [Scales and Intervals](https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/scales-intervals)
Author Profile
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My name is Holly Bell and I have always loved to write.
I studied English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool before moving to London to work in advertising.
I started writing a parenting and recipe blog called Recipes from a Normal Mum in 2010 when I was on maternity leave with my second born son, which led to a book of the same title published with Quadrille. The blog won a Good House Keeping Award in 2016 for best food blog. I don’t tend to update it much anymore as I’m too busy with other stuff.
Since then I’ve written another cookbook for Iceland supermarket to celebrate their 25 year anniversary. I also worked on a non fiction book without any recipes. It was published in Spring of 2021. I have appeared in various QVC, High Street TV and done shows on BBC Radio.
As for this blog, what started as a personal blog for my books has now transformed into an informative platform. Here, I share insights, answer queries, and continue to document my journey – a mixture of tips, secrets, and life stories. This blog has become a space for connection, learning, and sharing.
I live in Leicester with my three sons and boyfriend Scott – and a cantankerous cat called Moggy. I also bake brownies and sell them online after finishing as a finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2011.
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