Detail 01
Encyclopedia format
Organized for lookup, not for reading front to back. There's no lesson sequence pushing you through it.
Product detailSKU #1273887991355
Carl FischerGuitar Grimoire Chord Encyclopedia Book
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A thick chord reference for guitar. For a player who wants to look up shapes and voicings on demand rather than follow a graded lesson course.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Songwriters hunting for a voicing they don't already know
- Players moving past open chords into extended and altered shapes
- Keeping on the music stand as a look-it-up desk reference
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Absolute beginners who need step-by-step lessons first
- Players wanting songs, tabs, or repertoire to learn
- Anyone who prefers a chord app on their phone
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Chord-focused
It covers shapes and voicings. Scales, technique and songs are outside what this volume is for.
Detail 03
Guitar-specific
Shapes are drawn for six-string fretboard geometry, so they don't transfer to bass, ukulele or keyboard.
Detail 04
$41.99
Priced above a method book because of sheer page count. Cost per chord is low; up-front cost isn't.
Detail 05
Print book
Stays open on a stand while your hands are on the guitar, which a phone screen won't do.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Reference volume — pair it with a method book if you're starting out
- 02You need to already read chord diagrams
- 03Book only; no audio or video accompaniment
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Do I need to read music to use this?
You need to read chord diagrams — the grid showing strings, frets and finger positions. Standard notation reading is not required to find and play a shape.
02Is this a good first guitar book?
It's a reference, not a course. A first-time player is usually better served by a method book that teaches technique and progression, with this alongside it for lookups.
03Will it work for left-handed players?
Diagrams are drawn for right-handed fretting. A left-handed player can mirror them mentally, but that adds a translation step to every lookup.
04Does it cover bass or ukulele chords?
No. It's written for guitar, and the shapes depend on six-string tuning and spacing. Other instruments need their own reference.
