GUITAR: Total Scales, Techniques and Applications (TSTA) – 25th Anniversary Edition is Mark John Sternal’s complete method for mastering every scale, in every position, in every key, on the entire fretboard. It is written for beginner through professional guitarists.
Start with universal scale shapes that work in any key. Then put them to work with practical applications and techniques: increment patterns, string skipping, double-note harmony, hammer ons and pull offs, slides, vibrato, string bending, pre-bends, harmonics, tapping and tremolo bar. Memory comes naturally as you learn to use each scale musically.
The Natural Scale in all 7 positions, scale notes as chords, and key changes through every major and minor key
Modes, plus dozens of exotic and cultural scales and bonus scales, with fretboard note charts, traditional notation and TAB
Quick-reference scale and mode charts and Advanced Lead Guitar Concepts
A 25-year history. TSTA was first printed on April 1, 1998, as a 67-page spiral-bound book. It became a staple-bound edition in 2001. In 2004 it was rewritten with traditional notation in addition to TAB. An audio CD was added in 2005 and a DVD version followed in 2009. In 2012 fretboard note charts and 29 additional scales and modes were added, and a revised edition followed in 2025.
New in this 25th Anniversary Edition (2026): a full proofreading pass with dozens of corrections, a cleaned-up table of contents with clickable links, a page introducing the companion HD video lessons, a new About the Author, and a “More from Mark John Sternal” section with reader reviews of his other courses and ebooks.
Fixed-layout (Print Replica) edition: the original page layout, notation and TAB are preserved. Best on tablets and the free Kindle app.
Prefer the video + book bundle? Get the 200-page handbook plus 4 hours HD video for $39.95 (was $97): https://www.mjsguitarlessons.com/product-page/tstavideobookbundle
Learn more about TSTA 25th Anniversary
All TSTA versions: eBook | Video course | Complete Bundle | Bass TSTA eBook
