TOPICS COVERED
Please review the summary listing below which show what’s taught at each grade on the guitar and the objective criteria’s that will be completed whilst having classes with us.
Please note that here at Multiply Music we will prepare you for your graded guitar exams, however the official exams will need to be conducted off site with Rockschool themselves (governing body).
When you commence classes with Multiply Music you can start at any grade / level ability.
GRADE 1
- Name and Understand Parts of the guitar (head, neck, body, fretboard etc)
- Learn the names of the open strings (E,A,D,G,B,E)
- Learn what an Upstroke and Downstroke is
- Learn how to hold a pick
- Learn about RH Finger placement
- A natural minor (one octave) (70 bpm) (Quarter notes)
- G major pentatonic (one octave) (70 bpm) (Quarter notes)
- Can play a basic looping riff to a song continuously with minimal stops or mistakes
- Play a basic bassline to a song
- Learn names for LH Fingers (Index, Middle, Ring, Pinky) (1,2,3,4)
- Name Notes (Low E string)
- Name Notes (A String)
- Understand how TAB works
- Play a one string A Major Scale (A String)
- C major (one octave) (70 bpm)
- E minor pentatonic (one octave) (70 bpm) (Quarter notes)
- A minor pentatonic (one octave) (70 bpm) (Quarter notes
- Be able to sing back a basic melodic phrase played by you / the examiner
- Complete grade 1 book
- Can clap to simple 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures
- Understand what BPM is
- Understand difference between 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 notes.
- Understand what dynamics are
- Play a one string E Major Scale (On Low E String)
- Power Chords: B5, A5, D5 (70 Bpm) (Quarter notes)
- Learn Basic Chord Shapes (C, D, G, A)
- Learn Basic Chord Shapes (Dm, Am, Em)
- Be able to find one note when played by teacher
GRADE 2
- Can clap to simple 6/8 and 12/8 time signatures
- Name notes (D string)
- Name notes (G string)
- Can sightread basic TAB melody with basic rhythms
- Learn basic intervals (5th, octave, 2nd,)
- Play a slide
- Play a Hammer on/Pull off
- Play 1/2 Bend
- Play a note using vibrato
- Play an arpeggiated open chord
- Play a looping riff (with 2 notes a once) for a whole song with minimal stops or mistakes
- Learn and play these scales : (one octave) (80 bpm) (Quarter notes)
- C major
- G major
- E natural minor
- A natural minor
- G minor pentatonic
- G major pentatonic
- C minor pentatonic
- C major pentatonic
- Power Chords: E5, G5, A5, C5 (at 70bpm, quarter notes)
- Complete grade 2 book
- Open chords: F, Fm, B, Bm
- Learn Open 7th Chords:
Major 7: A maj7, C maj7, D maj7 - Learn Open 7th chords
Minor 7: A min7, D min7, E min7 - Play back a simple interval (5th, Octave, 2nd etc) when played by teacher
- Play back a 4 note melody when played by teacher
- Understand Difference in quality between major and minor chord
- Strum chords once per bar for a whole song
GRADE 3
- Name notes (B string)
- Name notes (e string)
- Learn and play basic intervals (minor 2nd, Major 2nd, minor 3rd, Major 3rd)
- Understand that chords are made of 3 or more notes
- Learn that notes repeat themselves across strings (eg note E)
- Begin basic strumming patterns: (D D DU D)
- Play a full bend
- Play these scales starting on G, A & B: (2 octaves) (90 bpm) (Quarter notes)
- Major
- Natural minor
- Minor pentatonic
- Major pentatonic
- Blues
- Play Major Arpeggios starting from G, A & B
- Play Minor Arpeggio starting from G,A & B
- Learn and play Partial Barre Chord: Major & minor: G, Am, Bm, C
- Learn and play Open Dominant 7 Chords: A7, E7, D7
- Learn and play 3 note Dominant 7th Chords G7, C7
- Make a riff/melody using a slide, hammer on/pull off and vibrato
- Play back a simple 2 bar melody
- Recognise and identify open chords when played by teacher
- Play basic strumming patterns to a song continuously
- Change chords 2 times per bar
- Complete grade 3 book
For further information on grading past level 3, please contact us for more information via our contact page.
