Guy's Grids is a 228-page, 11' x 17' book divided into 4 major tabbed sections -- Open Chord Grids, Moveable Chord Grids, Open Chord Index, and Moveable Chord Index. Open Chords Grids are sorted in two steps: Step 1 / Step 2 Open chords found higher up on the neck than those traditionally used are presented as bonus sets. Moveable Chord Grids are sorted in two steps: Step 1 / Step 2. (mouse over to view highlights)
The chord forms in this book conform generally to those found in other chord books, with certain enhancements. The vertical lines represent the strings on the guitar, with the thickest string shown to the far left and the thinnest string to the far right. The horizontal lines represent the frets on the guitar neck, these frets being numbered along the left side of the chord form.
The black circles and boxes are fingering symbols, which depict the fingering of the chord form. A boxed number indicates that the fretted note is the root, while a circled number indicates that the fretted note is a note other than the root. The particular fingering indicated is not mandatory. Indeed, different fingering may be advantageous, depending upon the other chord forms preceding and/or following the subject chord form. So the guitarist must exercise his or her own judgment in this regard.
Strings that are played while not fretted are commonly called 'open strings' and are designated by the '?' symbol above the string. Strings that are not played or are muted are designated by the 'X' symbol above the string.
When two strings are shown fretted by the same finger and connected by a straight or curved black line, that finger is laid down as a barre -- either fretting (straight line) or fretting and/or muting (curved line) the strings between the finger symbols. The chord tone being played on a given string is shown below that string. The major scale degree corresponding to that chord tone is shown above the string. 'NR' in the upper left corner of the chord form means 'no root' - i.e., the chord form is lacking the root note.
Not all chord forms are of equal value. Indeed, some are more valuable and some are less valuable - either based on the sound quality or the ease of playing. This book categorizes chord forms into three categories of usefulness, as discussed below.
Anchor Chords
At the front of the book is a listing of the most essential guitar chord forms, which are referred to as 'Anchor Chords.' The beginning guitarist should start with this section and should master the Root-in-Bass Anchor Chord forms through rote memorization. Anchor Chords are visually distinguished throughout the book by a gold shading.
Value Chords
Other highly valuable chord forms not included in the Anchor Chords section are visually distinguished throughout the book by a maroon shading. Value Chords are extremely useful chord forms that intermediate and advanced students of the guitar should strive to master and 'own' as part of their playing repertoire.
Other Chords
Finally, the chord forms without any shadow are generally less useful chord forms, and are included primarily to add context for the Anchor Chords and Value Chords.
This book can be used as a traditional chord book. In the Index, the student will find a variety of chord forms for any given chord. These chord forms are presented in a format that may be particularly useful to the music composer who would like, for example, to quickly find a second inversion Eb open chord.
However, as the tag line states, Guy's Grids is 'more than a chord book.' The reason is found in the great utility of the Grid pages. A serious student of the guitar can substantially expand his or her chord repertoire and enhance his or her knowledge of the fretboard by closely studying the chord forms (and their relationships to other chord forms) on any particular Grid page. The process for the serious student should be slow and deliberate - taking the time to recognize the chord ton
