Slonimsky Thesaurus Pdf Jun 2026

Amazon and Google Books offer a generous preview of the first 50+ pages. Those pages contain the Intervals and Trichords —which is exactly where 90% of players should start.

Unlike a PDF, the spiral-bound physical edition ($35-$50 used) lies flat on your music stand. More importantly, the act of reading Slonimsky requires flipping pages backwards and forwards to compare symmetrical scales. A PDF window is terrible for that.

Search for the book on . Depending on your region and the library’s lending status, you can often “borrow” a scanned digital copy for 1 hour or 14 days. It is a real PDF, legally, via controlled digital lending. slonimsky thesaurus pdf

Unlike a standard scale book, Slonimsky’s work is organized mathematically. He uses a system of "equal division" of one or more octaves to create thousands of unique melodic possibilities. Key sections of the book include:

If a blog or forum links you directly to a PDF of the full book, that link will likely be dead within a week due to DMCA takedowns. Amazon and Google Books offer a generous preview

First, a quick reality check. Published in 1947, this book is not a light read. There are no chord charts or pop songs. Instead, Slonimsky—a Russian-born composer, conductor, and lexicographer—created a .

Slonimsky divides octaves into equal parts (Tritones, Major Thirds, etc.) and "interpolates" (inserts) notes between them to create unique scales. More importantly, the act of reading Slonimsky requires

Because the book is highly technical, most musicians follow these practical steps: