Electric Guitar
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
Rockschool Electric Guitar Premiere is the ideal starting point if you've just picked up the electric guitar for the first time. Learn the fundamentals of electric guitar in our easy-to-use Guitar Method book, then perform five of them in a 10-minute exam to earn a Performance Certificate.
Key features at Premiere:
- The basics of music notation and your instrument
- Rock, pop, metal, country, indie and hip hop
- Simple chords, melodies and riffs
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Debut Guitar exam is for candidates who have been learning for a short time and have learnt the basic skills. There are two types of exam available at Debut, Grade Exam or Performance Certificate.
At Guitar Debut you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, and Ben E. King.
Key Features at Debut:
- Chords, power chords, string crossing and rests
- Major and Minor Pentatonic scales, chords and riff playing
- Playback and performance skills
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 1 Guitar exam is for candidates who have been learning between six months to one year and have mastered the key basic skills.
At Guitar Grade 1 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Green Day, The Temptations, and Adele.
Key Features at Grade 1:
- Double stops, staccato notes, accents and slides
- Major and Minor scales. Minor Pentatonic scales and chords
- Playback and performance skills
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 2 Guitar exam is for candidates who have been learning approximately one year to eighteen months and have established the key basic skills along with solid basic techniques. There are two types of exam available at Grade 2, Grade Exam or Performance Certificate.
At Guitar Grade 2 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as AC/DC, The Beatles, and One Direction.
Key Features at Grade 2:
- Arpeggiated chords, palm muting, alternate picking, pull-offs, shuffle feel
- Major and Natural Minor scales. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales. Major and Minor 7th chords
- Playback and performance skills
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 3 Guitar exam is for candidates who have been learning approximately eighteen months to two years and have established the basic skills, preliminary techniques and the beginnings of stylistic awareness through articulation and the introduction of solo and improvisation work.
At Guitar Grade 3 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Nirvana, Taylor Swift, and Otis Redding.
Key Features at Grade 3:
- Open-string pedal tones, bends, pre-bends, cross picking
- Major and Natural Minor scales. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales, Blues scales
- Major and minor arpeggios, barre chords
- Playback and performance skills
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 4 Guitar exam is for candidates who have been learning approximately two - two and half years and have mastered the basic skills, preliminary techniques and have acquired the beginnings of stylistic awareness. Grade 4 develops further stylistic conviction and understanding through developed solo and improvisation work and use of varied sounds.
At Guitar Grade 4 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Bruno Mars, James Brown, and B.B. King.
Key Features at Grade 4:
- Wide stretches, Double stop fills, string bends
- Major and Natural Minor. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales. Blues scales in two fingering positions, Major, Minor and Dominant 7th arpeggios and chords
- Playback and performance skills
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 5 Guitar exam is for candidates who have acquired the intermediate skills and techniques and have developed an increasing sense of stylistic conviction. This is demonstrated through instrumental techniques, increasing rhythmic complexity and convincing solo and improvisation work.
At Guitar Grade 5 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Eminem, Beyoncé, and AC/DC.
Key Features at Grade 5:
- Natural harmonics, playing over changes
- Major and Natural Minor, Major and Minor Pentatonic scales, Blues scales, all in two positions
- Major and Minor arpeggios over two octaves. Chords in three inversions
- Playback and performance skills
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 6 Guitar exam is for candidates who have begun to develop advanced technical control and a competent grasp of stylistic techniques. At Grade 6 this is shown through mature stylistic conviction, execution of rhythmic complexity, creative and stylistic solo and improvisation work as well as a secure sense of communication and performance.
At Guitar Grade 6 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Alicia Keys, Prince, and Cream.
Key Features at Grade 6:
- Natural and pinched harmonics, two-handed tapping
- All five shapes of the Minor Pentatonic scale. Dorian mode, Major 7th, Minor 7th and Dominant 7th arpeggios and chords
- Stylistic study
- Session work
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 7 Guitar exam is for candidates who have a developed and advanced technical control and a thorough grasp of extended stylistic techniques. At Grade 7 this is shown through mature stylistic conviction, execution of rhythmic complexity, mature and creative stylistic solo and improvisation work as well as a commanding sense of communication and performance.
At Guitar Grade 7, you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Jeff Beck, Rihanna, and Lenny Kravitz.
Key Features at Grade 7:
- Articulated chromatic runs, Natural harmonics melodies, hybrid picking
- Lydian, Phrygian mode, Jazz Melodic Minor, Major 9th, Minor 9th and Dominant 9th arpeggios and chords. Stylistic Study
- Session work
A syllabus for the contemporary guitarist
MASTER GUITAR WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Grade 8 Guitar exam is for candidates who have mastered advanced technical control and have a thorough grasp of extended stylistic techniques. At Grade 8 this is shown through mature stylistic conviction, consummate execution of rhythmic complexity, mature and creative stylistic solo and improvisation work as well as a commanding sense of communication and performance.
At Guitar Grade 8, you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Snarky Puppy, Steve Vai, and Justin Timberlake.
Key Features at Grade 8:
- Time signature changes, 16th-note triplets, fingerpicked chords
- Whole Tone, Diminished, Altered scales, Dominant 7♯5, Dominant 7♭5, Dominant 7♯9, Dominant 7♭9 arpeggios and chords, Diminished arpeggios and Stylistic Study
- Session work
A syllabus for creative industry professionals in music and performing arts.
SUPPORTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS
Whether you're an aspiring teacher, musician or performing artist, we recognise your ambition to succeed. You live to create, perform or teach - and the Rockschool Professional Diploma will help get you there!
what to expect
The Professional Diplomas recognise expertise in people who are already working in the creative arts industries. They provide acknowledgement for high level achievement in either performance, teaching, or creative enterprise. Level 4 is generally for new professionals looking for recognition in their practice as they enter the creative industries.
This qualification can be completed at your own pace and no specific form of training is required. However, it is recommended that you contact a suitable trainer or mentor who will be able to provide you with opportunities for learning and the practical application of skills.
Designed to allow opportunities for flexible progression routes through the choice of optional units, the pathways can be tailored to meet your own specific needs. Whether that's working within the creative industries or for progression to further training or education.
A syllabus for creative industry professionals in music and performing arts.
SUPPORTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS
Whether you're an aspiring teacher, musician or performing artist, we recognise your ambition to succeed. You live to create, perform or teach - and the Rockschool Professional Diploma will help get you there!
what to expect
The Professional Diplomas recognise expertise in people who are already working in the creative arts industries. They provide acknowledgement for high level achievement in either performance, teaching, or creative enterprise. Level 6 is typically for experienced professionals looking to enhance their career through the recognition of their current professional practice.
This qualification can be completed at your own pace and no specific form of training is required. However, it is recommended that you contact a suitable trainer or mentor who will be able to provide you with opportunities for learning and the practical application of skills.
Designed to allow opportunities for flexible progression routes through the choice of optional units, the pathways can be tailored to meet your own specific needs. Whether that's working within the creative industries or for progression to further training or education.