Me with a 4-legged 'unfretted' friend in St. Louis, MO

FRETTED-FRIENDS-MUSIC

The Fretted Friends Series (published by Cabot Books) of musical guides have been created to cater for many different instruments, both standard and specialized in today’s varied musical landscape. No longer will unusual instruments be the exclusive preserve of the select few, but will be able to be enjoyed and understood by the complete beginner to the seasoned working musician. Up until now, only a few mass appeal instruments were adequately catered for in the availability of published musical guides, but this is all changing through Fretted Friends/Cabot Books desire to widen the appeal of instruments as diverse as the charango, the mandola and the Irish bouzouki.

The Chord Bible Series of chord dictionaries were born out of a frustration by the author, Tobe A. Richards (ME!) to track down any suitable musical theory guides for anything but the most popular instruments, such as the guitar and the piano. So armed with some 35 years worth of musical experience I decided that it was time to use what I know to the best advantage. My love of fretted instruments goes way back to the age of around ten when I was given a ukulele for Christmas. Since then, my passion (or some would say 'obsession') has grown to rather alarming proportions with my poor wife having to weave her way through an assault course of fretted instruments to reach her office.

When I'm not writing about music, I run the largest fretted instrument enthusiasts group on the net (also called FrettedFriends).  The group consists of many professional musicians, luthiers and historians, as well as beginners starting out on this fascinating musical road. Musically, I have extremely diverse interests including: folk, rock, jazz, bluegrass, ethnic, blues, baroque and basically anything that takes my fancy. Other than music, I'm a graphic designer and typographer as well as a former theatrical critic for a specialist musical theatre magazine.

Recently, one potential customer asked me a slightly unusual question, which left me at a loss for a suitable answer. "How good exactly are your Chord Bible chord dictionaries?".  I could have used a series of superlatives such as 'superb' 'unbeatable' or 'out of this world' etc. but modesty and the threat of my wife throwing a bucket of cold water over me, decided this was inadvisable!  So all I can say is I can guarantee you'll find the content extremely comprehensive, accurate and clear.  These guides are NOT theoretical works based on knowledge alone, but hands on experience. Every chord in every guide has been tried and tested on an actual instrument, so you won't come across fingering positions that need a contortionist with hands like ET!  Some will be harder than others, as with any other instrument, but equally there are many chords in the books suitable for complete beginners. To précis the Chord Bible Series, the salient points are:

• At least 1,728 chords in each Chord Bible (some with more)
• 62 to 68 different chord types
• Slash Chords
• Moveable Chord Shapes (except in the Irish Bouzouki GDAD Bible)
• Fretboard and tuning diagrams
• Factfiles
• Chord theory guide
• FAQs

CURRENT CHORD BIBLES
FF01  Irish Bouzouki GDAD Chord Bible 2,447 Chords
FF02  Charango Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF03  Tenor Mandola Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF04  Mandocello Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF05  Tenor Banjo (Jazz) CGDA Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF06  Octave Mandolin Chord Bible 2,160 Chords
FF07  Irish Tenor Banjo GDAE Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF08  Ukulele GCEA Chord Bible 2,160 Chords
FF09  Greek Bouzouki CFAD Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF10  Baritone Ukulele DGBE Chord Bible 2,160 Chords
FF11  Venezuelan Cuatro ADF#B Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF12  Mandolin GDAE Chord Bible 2,736 Chords
FF13  Irish Bouzouki GDAE Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF16  Tenor Guitar Chord Bible 2,880 Chords
FF17  Puerto Rican Cuatro Chord Bible 1,728 Chords
FF18  Plectrum Banjo CGBD Chord Bible 1,728 Chords

CURRENT CHORD DICTIONARIES
FF14 Tres Cubano C Major (GCE) Chord Dictionary 648 Chords 
FF15  Tres Cubano D Major (ADF#) Chord Dictionary 648 Chords

Contact information
Fretted Friends Music
30 Henley Grove
Henleaze
Bristol
BS9 4EG
United Kingdom

Typical page from one of our Chord Bible music publications

What Customers are Saying....

"Excellent book!!! Amazing shipping service, thanks!!!" (Barbara C. CA, United States)
"Superb bouzouki chord book - clearly laid out and promptly delivered. Thanks!" (Andy D. Kent, UK)
"Many thanks. Wonderful book. Well packed. Superfast delivery. Nice one". (David R. Northumberland, UK)
"Perfect, serious and recommended". (Massimiliano.A Italy)
"Great Chord Book, Fast shipping, Thanks, A+++++" (Skip D. WA, United States)
"Great com, Great Book, Great Seller. Just trust and buy :)"  (Stephane R. France)
"The best bouzouki chord book I have seen, many thanks".  (James H. Lincolnshire, UK)
"Fantastic very accurate and exactly what I wanted, Polite communicative seller:)"  (Maria M.  London, UK)
"Top!"  (Andy R.  Germany)
"Super fast delivery, excellent product, vendor rated AAAAA+++++" (Rosemont Records, GA, United States)
"Excellent book. Great sale service. Received Promptly. Many thanks". (Stuart F. Tyneside, UK)
"Super fast shipping!! A+++++ Irish Bouzouki Chord Bible! Highly Recommended!!!!!" (Kevin H. PA, United States) 
"The book arrived in the mail today and I'm very pleased with it!Apart from the fantastic content, it is also great in design and print quality; super!" (Rob V. Netherlands)
"The book arrived this morning and damned fine it is to; a great layout and extremely comprehensive".  (Jeremy C. Oxfordshire, UK)
"Outstanding.  thank you."  (Greg G. AL, United States)
"On first glance it looks very complete and very well done".  (Graham H. Kentucky, United States)
"Thanks for doing such important charango work!"  (Victor B. Switzerland)
"Brilliant item. Never experienced better comms."  (Alan W. France)
Great book, Arrived fast and in mint condition!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Markus M. London, UK)
Very fast service; delighted with the book, excellent value. Highly recommended. A1+  (Peter D.  East Lothian, UK)