Chord bible

Chord Bible is the generic name given to a variety of musical theory publications featuring a large number of chord diagrams for fretted stringed instruments. The subject matter applies exclusively to chordophones, stringed musical instruments capable of playing more than one note at a time. Members belonging to the chordophone family include the guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, charango, balalaika, bajo sexto and many other stringed instruments. With the chord bible, the format only tends to apply to fretted or keyboard instruments where a clear diagram can be illustrated to show the musician where to place his or her fingers on the fingerboard or keyboard.

Allied publications will alternatively be labelled chord dictionaries or chord encyclopaedias, but are essentially laid out in a similar way, albeit in a sometimes truncated format.

Selection of currently available publications

Bouzouki

• Richards, Tobe A. (2007). The Greek Bouzouki Chord Bible: CFAD Standard Tuning 1,728 Chords. United Kingdom: Fretted Friends Music/Cabot Books. ISBN 978-0-9553944-8-5.
• Richards, Tobe A. (2005). The Irish Bouzouki Chord Bible: GDAD Irish Tuning 2,447 Chords. United Kingdom: Cabot Books. ISBN 978-0-9553944-0-9.
• Richards, Tobe A. (2007). The Irish Bouzouki Chord Bible: GDAE Mandolin Tuning 1,728 Chords. United Kingdom: Cabot Books. ISBN 978-1-906207-02-1.

Guitar

• Latarski, Don (2011). Ultimate Guitar Chords. lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-557-71913-6.
• Capone, Phil (2006). Guitar Chord Bible: Over 500 Illustrated Chords for Rock, Blues, Soul, Country, Jazz, and Classical. Chartwell Books. ISBN 978-0-7858-2083-3.
• Nunes, Warren (2000). Jazz Guitar Chord Bible Complete. United Kingdom: IMP/Faber. ISBN 978-0-7692-7972-5.
• Brown, Buck (2004). The Ultimate Guitar Chord Bible. United Kingdom: National Guitar Workshop. ISBN 978-1-929395-66-8.

Mandolin

• Richards, Tobe A. (2007). The Mandolin Chord Bible: 2,736 Chords. United States: Fretted Friends Music/Cabot Books. ISBN 978-1-906207-01-4.

Piano & Keyboard

• Gibbons, Al (1986). The Keyboard Bible. A. Gibbons.
• Ashworth, Steven (2008). Keyboard Players Chord Bible. Chartwell Books. ISBN 978-0-7858-2455-8.
• Lennon, Paul (2008). Keyboard Players Chord Bible: Illustrated Chords for All Styles of Music. Apple Press. ISBN 978-1-84543-298-0.

Ukulele

• Richards, Tobe A. (2007). The Ukulele Chord Bible: GCEA Standard Tuning 2,160 Chords. United Kingdom: Fretted Friends Music/Cabot Books. ISBN 978-0-9553944-7-8.
• Richards, Tobe A. (2007). The Baritone Ukulele Chord Bible: DGBE Standard Tuning 2,160 Chords. United Kingdom: Fretted Friends Music/Cabot Books. ISBN 978-0-9553944-9-2.

Publishers external links

• Apple Press
• Fretted Friends Music/Cabot Books
• IMP/Faber Music
• National Guitar Workshop at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 2006-08-29)