Welcome to the Electric Rock Guitar syllabus. It has been created by a team of dedicated guitarists and teachers and has been produced completely free for users.

Students and teachers can download the complete course, course materials and have free access to backing tracks, sight-reading and aural tests from orangeamps.com/learn. Once you have completed the course you will be able to take the unique experience of performing your exam online, made possible by our partner Online Music Exams: www.onlinemusicexams.org

We have created the syllabuses with the intention of reducing costs to everyone without compromising on the quality and integrity of the materials learnt.

Why take the Online Music Exams?

Our online music exams were created to give the student more control over their exams. There is no need to purchase any books from us - the course content and audio tracks are free.

Students do not have to wait anymore to take their exam, they can now take it any day and anywhere with the internet.

Students can get their results much quicker than the traditional method.

We are recognised around the world for our quality.

Students will play a piece which they have selected themselves, which gives the student freedom to perform a piece from a genre or particular band or musician that inspires them.

No need to travel to a venue. Reduces stage fright performances.

Graded exams are grouped into packages to reduce costs. The Foundation level exam is for beginner to Grade 2. The Intermediate level exam is for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The Advanced level exam is for Grade 6 to Grade 8.

Re-marking is now possible.

If students do not get the mark they need they can take the exam again as early as the next day after they have received their results.

Officially recognised qualifications

Our Music exams are officially recognised on the National Qualifications Framework and the European Qualifications Framework and are registered with OFQUAL.

*   Regulated Qualifications Framework in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

** European Qualifications Framework

About this syllabus

This syllabus has been designed to give the student freedom to explore and to give teachers the freedom to apply their own successful methods of teaching. We have considered carefully what needs to be added in order for a student to know that they are on the correct path and that our learning materials are relevant to the modern-day world. We really hope that you

enjoy your new course and exam experience.

About the exam

Our exams approach performing music for critique in a slightly different way to other examination boards. Whereas other examination boards will ask the student to play only part of what they have learnt for the exam, the Orange Rock Guitar approach is to ask the student to perform everything they have learnt so that our examiners are satisfied nothing has been missed.

As the exam is recorded online in the student’s own time there is also a noticeable reduction in exam nerves and stage fright.

To take the exam go to orangeamps.com/learn and follow the instructions.

boundaries for each certification of Foundation,

Intermediate and Advanced exams

Below is the table that identifies the marking boundaries for the Foundation level exam. The course material performed in the exam is at a Grade 2 level. How you perform this material distinguishes whether you receive a Distinction, Merit or Pass. If you receive a Distinction it means you have played to a Distinction level at Grade 2. If you receive a Merit, it means you have played the Grade 2 material to a Grade 1 standard. If you receive a Pass, it means you have played the Grade 2 material to

Foundation level and passed.

Intermediate level certificate marks

Below is the table that identifies the marking boundaries for the Intermediate level exam. All course material performed in the exam is at a Grade 5 level. How you perform this material distinguishes whether you receive a Distinction, Merit or Pass. If you receive a Distinction it means you have played to a Distinction level at Grade 5. If you receive a Merit, it means you have played the Grade 5 material to a Grade 4 standard. If you receive a Pass, it means you have played the Grade 5 material to a Grade 3 standard.

Advanced level certificate marks

The following table identifies the marking boundaries for the Advanced level exam. All course material performed in the exam is at a Grade 8 level. How you perform this material distinguishes whether you receive a Distinction, Merit or Pass. If you receive a Distinction it means you have played to a Distinction level at Grade 8. If you receive a Merit, it means you have played the Grade 8 material to a Grade 7 standard. If you receive a Pass, it means you have played the Grade 8 material to a Grade 6 standard.

Components:

Tempo

Rhythm Note accuracy Touch Technicality

The structure of your exam is based upon the exam requirements set out in the syllabus.

The order of each discipline is up to the student.

Technical

Exercises/workouts

give the following details of the piece during the exam - the name of the piece, the writer(s) and the publisher. Online Music Examinations expects from the student that the piece has been obtained legally and has not infringed any copyright laws in obtaining the music. The piece can

be accompanied (by backing track) or unaccompanied. With the accompanied pieces the student will need to start the backing track and perform over the top with both the guitar and backing track

clearly audible.

Sight-reading

The student will have to sight-read a melody and a chord progression of either 4 or 8 bars long (for Foundation and Intermediate/ Advanced respectively). A sight-reading score will appear on your screen in the sight-reading part of the exam, and a countdown will begin.

It will give you between 30 and 90 seconds (depending on the course level) to look over the score, and then another countdown will appear in which you must play. You will only have one attempt. Examples of these scores can be found in the syllabus for each level.

The technical elements of the exam are short pieces that showcase the technical abilities the student has learnt from the course. Students will gradually learn technical pieces as they progress through each lesson. Some of these technical pieces will be played over backing tracks, and others to a metronome at a specified tempo. You will not need to prepare backing tracks or a metronome for your exam, as they will become available to you in the exam arena. Please note that you will be expected to play these from memory in the Intermediate and Advanced course exams, but in the Foundation exam, you will have access to the Course Materials/ sheet music for each piece.

Aural tests

The aural exam is split into sections (which differ with each course level)

- harmonic recognition, interval recognition, melodic recall,

harmonic recall, and rhythmic recall. The details of each of these can be found in this syllabus’ ‘Learning requirements’ section, or in the

‘Aural development’ pages of each course. For each section, the student will hear a musical element and must respond with either a spoken answer or by playing, usually mimicking what they have just heard.

Technical exercises are found in the syllabus under each level and represent the student’s technical ability. In the online exam arena, you will find a metronome that will be set to the speed required. The student must play to this metronome. Please note that you will be expected to play these from memory in the Advanced exam, but in the Foundation exam, you will have access to the notation/tablature for each exercise.

Improvisation

The student must improvise over a 16-bar backing track. (Note: improvisation is part of the Intermediate and Advanced exams only.) In the exam, the student will hear a backing track using chord progressions introduced in the corresponding course, and they must play over the track. There are no requirements for improvisation, but we do expect that the student demonstrates basic chord-tone soloing knowledge.

Theory

Students must also take a multiple-choice theory quiz. All questions that arise are based on the theory introduced throughout each course. Please note that exams from the later courses will also feature theory questions from earlier courses (e.g. the Advanced exam will feature theory questions based on the Foundation and Intermediate courses). A summary of the theory in each course can be found in this syllabus’ ‘Learning requirements’ section and in the ‘Exam specification’ lesson of each course.

Beginner - Grade 2: Orange Foundation Level Electric Rock Guitar

Technical

Scales

All scales must be played using alternate picking at the indicated tempo, and using the indicated note values. Scales must be played ascending followed by descending. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

1 octave scales - 100BPM, quavers (2-notes-per-click)

C Major, A minor, G Major, E minor, A minor Pentatonic, C Major Pentatonic, G Chromatic.

Example:

Chords

All chords must be played as part of the chord progressions included in the course materials. All chords are in the root position. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

Open chords - 60BPM

Progressions 1 - 4. These progressions must be played with their corresponding backing tracks.

Example:

Power chords - 60 BPM

Progression 1 – 2. These progressions must be played with their corresponding backing tracks.

Example:

Arpeggios

All arpeggios must be played individually, using either sweep picking or alternate picking, and as part of the progressions included in the course materials, at the indicated tempo and using the indicated note values. Arpeggios must be played ascending followed by descending. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

1-octave arpeggios – 126 BPM E minor, D Major, C Major Progression 1 – 2

Example:

Exercises/workouts

All exercises/workouts must be played as notated in the course materials of the corresponding lesson. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted. Please refer to the Foundation course materials for the exercises specified below.

Chromatic alternate picking

Exercises 1 – 2

Performance piece

You must perform 1 piece of music for your exam, using a backing track or unaccompanied. You may perform any piece of electric guitar music from any artist, as long as it adheres to the parameters outlined below. Performance pieces may be played using an alternative tuning. Students may read from notation/tablature during the exam.

Performance pieces MUST:

1. Be between approximately 2 and 5 minutes long.

2. Contain 4 different open or power chords learned from the beginner’s section.

3. Contain a melody solo element that consists of at least 3 notes.

4. Show any articulation learnt in the Foundation course.

Sight-reading means that you have to play a piece of written music straight away without learning it, without TAB. During your practical exam, you will be required to sight-read a 4-bar chord progression and a 4-bar melody, both at 60 BPM. You will be given 30 seconds to look at the melody/chord progression before you are expected to play it. During the 30-second countdown, you can use your guitar to help you figure out how to play melody/progression. After the 30-second countdown, you must attempt to play the melody/progression on-screen in time to the metronome. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the melody back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Note that you will only be expected to sight-read from scales and chords within the Orange Rock Guitar Foundation course. Rhythms will consist of combinations of crotchets, quavers, minims, semibreves, dotted minims, and their corresponding rests.

Any of the following chords may appear:

Open chords: G Major, D Major, C Major, A Major, E Major, A minor, E minor, D minor

Power chords: A5, G5, F5, C5

Any of the following scales may appear:

1-octave scales: C Major, A Minor, G Major, E minor, A minor Pentatonic, C Major Pentatonic

Any of the following time signatures may appear:

3/4

4/4

Any of the following key signatures may appear: No sharps/flat = C Major

1 sharp = G Major

Any of the following dynamics may appear:

forte (f), mezzo-forte (mf), mezzo-piano (mp), piano (p

Aural

Harmonic recognition

This part of the exam tests your ability to differentiate between types of chords.

NB You are NOT permitted to use your guitar at any point during this part of the exam. If you attempt to use your guitar or any other instrument to figure out the chords, you will be disqualified!

In your exam, you will be played 3 chords, and for each one, you must specify the chord quality, i.e. whether it is a major chord or a minor chord. You will hear the first chord 3 times. There will then be a 10-second gap in which you must give the name of the chord you heard. You will then hear the second chord 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord, and finally, the third chord 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord.

You will be given the root note of each chord, and in your answer, you must specify both the root note and the chord quality

(e.g. Major or minor). You must say your answer, NOT play it.

Melodic recognition

In this part of the exam, you will be tested on your ability to memorise and reproduce melodies. You will be played a 2-bar melody, and you must play this melody back. The melody will be in the key of C Major, using the C Major 1 octave scale position that you learned in the ‘1-octave scales’ lesson, and it will be played using crotchets at 60 BPM. The time signature will be 4/4. The first note of the melody will always be C.

So without further ado, let’s try it! Listen to the following melody. In your exam, you will hear the melody 3 times. There will be a 10-second gap between each repetition, and after the final repetition, you will have 15 seconds before you have to play the melody back. During this part of the exam, you may use your guitar to help you figure out the melody. When you are asked to give your answer, you must play the melody back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Example:

Rhythmic recall

In this part of the exam, you will be tested on your ability to memorise and reproduce rhythms. You will be played a 2-bar rhythm, and you must play this rhythm back during your exam. The rhythm will be played on an open A string using minims, crotchets, quavers, and their respective rests, at 60 BPM. The time signature will be 4/4.

Here we go! Listen to the following rhythm. In your exam, you will hear the rhythm 3 times. There will be a 10-second gap between each repetition, and after the final repetition, you will have 15 seconds before you have to play the rhythm back. During this part of the exam, you may use your guitar to help you figure out the rhythm. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the rhythm back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Theory

You will take a multiple-choice theory quiz. The contents of the exam will consist of all of the theory introduced in the lessons of the Foundation course.

Any of the following theory subjects may appear:

•      Notation & tablature - staves, clefs, note names, enharmonic notes

•      Note names and note values - semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, dotted notes

•     Rest names and rest values

•     Bars and barlines

•      Accidentals - sharps, flats, and naturals

•     Time signatures - 4/4, 3/4

•     Up and down picking symbols

•     Tones and semitones

•      Scale formulae - Major, Natural Minor, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Blues Scale

•      Chord formulae - Major, minor, power chords

•     Arpeggio formulae - Major, minor

•     Key signatures - C Major, G Major

•     Repeat lines

•     Legato symbols - slurs

•     Intervals of the Major Scale

Grade 3 - Grade 5:

Orange Intermediate Level

Electric Rock Guitar

Technical

Scales

All scales must be played using alternate picking at the indicated tempo, and using the indicated note values. Scales must be played from memory. Scales must be played ascending followed by descending. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

3-note-per-string Major and minor scales – 72 BPM, semiquavers

(4-notes-per-click)

G Major, E minor, A Major, F# minor

Example:

5 positions of the A minor Pentatonic Scale – 112 BPM, quavers (2-notes-per-click) Example:

Chords

All chords must be played as part of the chord progressions included in the course materials. Chord progressions must be played from memory. All chords are in the root position. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

Open chords - part II: Progressions 1 – 3

Example:

Power chords - part II: Progressions 1 – 2

Example:

Bar chords

Progressions 1 – 3

Example:

Arpeggios

All arpeggios must be played individually, using either sweep picking or alternate picking, and as part of the progressions included in the course materials, at the indicated tempo and using the indicated note values. Arpeggios must be played ascending followed by descending. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

2-octave arpeggios – 130 BPM, triplet quavers (3-notes-per-click) G Major, E minor, C Major, D Major, D#dim7

Progression 1

Example:

Exercises/workouts

All exercises/workouts must be played as notated in the course materials. Exercises/workouts must be played from memory. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted. Please refer to the Intermediate course materials for the exercises specified below.

Tapping study

Progressions 1 – 3

Bending

Exercises 1 – 2

Performance piece

You must perform 1 piece of music for your exam, using a backing track or unaccompanied. You may perform any piece of electric guitar music from any artist, as long as it adheres to the parameters outlined below. Performance pieces may be played using an alternative tuning. Students may read from notation/tablature during the exam.

Performance pieces MUST:

1. Be between approximately 2 and 5 minutes long.

2. Contain a variety of open, power, and bar chords learned from the intermediate section, including at least 1 chord extension.

3. Contain a solo element that consists of at least 1 technique learned in the intermediate course, such as tapping or bending.

During your exam, you will be required to sight-read a 4-bar chord progression and a 4-bar melody, both at 80 BPM. You will be given 60 seconds to look at the melody/chord progression before you are expected to play it. During the 60-second countdown,

you can use your guitar to help you figure out how to play melody/progression. After the 60 second countdown, you must attempt to play the melody/progression on-screen in time to the metronome. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the melody back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Note that you will only be expected to sight read from scales and chords within the Rock Guitar Foundation and Intermediate courses. You may also encounter any of the key signatures or time signatures that appear in the Foundation course. Rhythms will consist of combinations of crotchets, quavers, minims, semibreves, dotted minims, and their corresponding rests. Dynamics will range from piano through to forte. The following articulation may also appear: accents, staccato,

legato (hammer-ons and pull-offs), crescendos and diminuendos.

Any of the following chords may appear:

Open chords: G Major, D Major, C Major, A Major, E Major, A minor, E minor, D minor, Cadd9, A7, D Major 7, D7, Dsus4, F#half-diminished, Asus2

Power chords: A5, G5, F5, C5, E5, C#5(b5), D#5(b5)

Bar chords: G, Am, F, Dm, C, Bb

Any of the following scales may appear:

1-octave scales: C Major, A minor, G Major, E minor, A minor Pentatonic, C Major Pentatonic

3-note-per-string scales: G Major, A Major, E minor, F# minor

A minor Pentatonic Scales: any of the 5 positions

Any of the following time signatures may appear:

3/4

4/4

6/8

Any of the following key signatures may appear: No sharps/flat = C Major/A minor

1 sharp = G Major/E minor

2 sharps = D Major/B minor

3 sharps = A Major/F# minor

1 flat = F Major/D minor

Aural

Harmonic recognition

NB You are NOT permitted to use your guitar at any point during this part of the exam. If you attempt to use your guitar or any other instrument to figure out the chords, you will be disqualified!

In your exam, you will be played 3 chords, and for each one, you must specify the chord quality, i.e. whether it is a Major chord, minor chord, Major 7th chord, Dominant 7th chord, or a suspended 4th chord. You will hear the first chord 3 times.

There will then be a 10-second gap in which you must give the name of the chord you heard. You will then hear the second chord 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord, and finally, the third chord three-time followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord.

You will be given the root note of each chord, and in your answer, you must specify both the root note and the chord quality (e.g. Major or minor). You must say your answer, NOT play it.

Interval recognition

NB You are NOT permitted to use your guitar at any point during this part of the exam. If you attempt to use your guitar or any other instrument to figure out the chords, you will be disqualified!

In your exam, you will be played 3 chords, and for each one, you must specify the chord quality, i.e. whether it is a Major chord, minor chord, Major 7th chord, Dominant 7th chord, or a suspended 4th chord. You will hear the first chord 3 times.

There will then be a 10-second gap in which you must give the name of the chord you heard. You will then hear the second chord 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord, and finally, the third chord three-time followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord.

You will be given the root note of each chord, and in your answer, you must specify both the root note and the chord quality (e.g. Major or minor). You must say your answer, NOT play it.

You will be played a 4-bar melody, and you must play this melody back. The melody will be in the key of G Major, E minor, A Major, or F# minor (using 3-note-per-string scale positions introduced in the Intermediate course), and it will be played using minims, crotchets, quavers, dotted notes, tied notes, and their respective rests, at 80 BPM. The time signature will be 4/4 or 3/4. Dynamics will range from piano through to forte. The first note of the melody will always be the root note of the scale. The following melodic articulation may also appear and should be recalled: staccato, legato (hammer-ons/pull-offs).

In your exam, you will hear the melody 3 times. There will be a 20-second gap between each repetition, and after the final repetition, you will have 20 seconds before you have to play the melody back. During this part of the exam, you may use your guitar to help you figure out the melody. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the melody back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Example:

Harmonic recall

You will be played a 4-bar chord progression, and you must play this progression back. The progression will be in the key of C Major or A minor, using a combination of open chords and bar chords learned in the Foundation and Intermediate courses. It will be played using minims, crotchets, quavers, dotted notes, tied notes, and their respective rests, at 80 BPM. The time signature will be 4/4 or 3/4. Dynamics will range from piano through to forte. The first chord of the progression will always be the root chord of the key. The following articulation may also appear and should be recalled: staccato, left-hand muting.

In your exam, you will hear the chord progression 3 times. There will be a 20-second gap between each repetition, and after the final repetition, you will have 20 seconds before you have to play the progression back. During this part of the exam, you may use your guitar to help you figure out the progression. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the progression back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Example:

Improvisation

In your exam, you must improvise over a 16-bar backing track. You will be given the chord progression of the backing track in lead sheet format. You will hear the backing track 3 times before being expected to improvise.

The backing track will be in the key of A minor.

Any of the following time signatures may appear: 3/4, 4/4, 6/8

Example:

Theory

You will take a multiple-choice theory exam. The contents of the exam will consist of all of the theory introduced in the lessons of the Foundation and Intermediate courses.

Any of the following theory subjects may appear:

•     Notation & tablature - staves, clefs, note names, enharmonic notes

•     Note names and note values - semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, dotted notes, tied notes

•     Rest names and rest values

•     Bars and bar lines

•     Accidentals - sharps, flats, and naturals

•     Time signatures - 4/4, 3/4, 6/8•     Up and down picking symbols

•     Tones and semitones

•     Legato symbols - slurs, tapping

•      Scale formulae - Major, Natural minor, Harmonic minor, Melodic minor, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Blues Scale,

•      Chord formulae - Major, minor, added 9, Major 7th, Dominant 7th, suspended 2nd, suspended 4th, half-diminished/minor

7-b5, power chords, b5 power chords

•     Arpeggio formulae - Major, minor

•      Bar chord shiftable positions - Major, minor

•     Key signatures - C Major/A minor,

G Major/E minor, D Major/B minor, A Major/F# minor, F Major/D minor

•     Relative keys

•     Repeat lines and volta brackets

•     Palm muting symbols

•     Intervals of the Major and Natural minor

scales

•     Compound intervals

•      Keys and chords - Major key chords, Natural minor chords, Harmonic minor chords, Melodic minor chords

•     Modes - Ionian and Aeolian

Orange Advanced Level

Electric Rock Guitar

Technical

Scales

All scales must be played using alternate picking at the indicated Tempo, and using the indicated note values. Scales must be played from memory. Scales must be played ascending followed by descending. Any fingering that is economical

and sounds good will be accepted.

Other useful scales – 80 BPM, semiquavers (4-notes-per-click) E Harmonic minor, A Blues Scale, G 8-note diminished scale

Example:

Introduction to modes - 116 BPM, quavers (2-notes-per-click)

G Ionian, A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian, F# Locrian

Example:

Chords

All chords must be played as part of the chord progressions included in the course materials. Chord progressions must be played from memory. All chords are in the root position. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

Bar chords - part II Progressions 1 – 3

Example:

Drop D power chords

Progression 1

Example:

Arpeggios

All arpeggios must be played individually, using either sweep picking or alternate picking, and as part of the progressions included in the course materials, at the indicated tempo and using the indicated note values. Arpeggios must be played ascending followed by descending. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted.

3 Octave Arpeggios – 116 BPM, semiquavers (4-notes-per-click) G Major, A minor, F#dim7

Progression 1

Example:

Exercises/workouts

All exercises/workouts must be played as notated in the course materials. Exercises/workouts must be played from memory. Any fingering that is economical and sounds good will be accepted. Please refer to the Advanced course materials for the exercises specified below.

Legato study

Exercises 1 – 3

Modal workout - part I Exercises 2 and 3

Modal workout - part II Exercise 2

Performance piece

You must perform 1 piece of music for your exam, using a backing track or unaccompanied. You may perform any piece of electric guitar music from any artist, as long as it adheres to the parameters outlined below. Performance pieces may be played using an alternative tuning. Students may read from notation/tablature during the exam.

Performance pieces MUST:

1. Be between approximately 2 and 5 minutes long.

2. Contain a variety of open chords, power chords, barre chords, chord extensions, and at least one altered chord (Augmented or diminished).

3. Contain a solo element that consists of at least 1 technique learned in the advanced course.

During your exam, you will be required to sight-read an 8-bar chord progression and an 8-bar melody, both at 80 BPM. You will be given 90 seconds to look at the melody/chord progression before you are expected to play it. During the 90 second countdown, you can use your guitar to help you figure out how to play melody/progression. After the 90-second countdown, you must attempt to play the melody/progression on-screen in time to the metronome. When you are asked to give your answer, you must play the melody back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Note that you will be expected to sight-read from scales and chords from the Orange Rock Guitar Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced courses. You may also encounter any of the key signatures or time signatures that appear in the beginner and intermediate courses. Rhythms will consist of combinations of crotchets, quavers, semiquavers minims, semibreves, dotted notes, and their corresponding rests. Dynamics will range from pianissimo through to fortissimo.

The following articulation may also appear: accents, palm-muting, left-hand muting, staccato, legato (hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides), bending, crescendos and diminuendos.

Any of the following chords may appear:

Open Chords: G Major, D Major, C Major, A Major, E Major, A minor, E minor, D minor, Cadd9, A7, D Major 7, D7, Dsus4, F#half-diminished, Asus2

Power chords: any 5/b5 chords

Bar chords: any Major, minor, sus4, or minor 7th bar chords

Any of the following scales may appear:

1 Octave Scales: C Major, A minor, G Major, E minor, A minor Pentatonic, C Major Pentatonic

Any of the 5 positions of the A minor Pentatonic Scale

Any of the ‘3-note-per-string’ Positions of the G Major scale

Any of the 7 modes of the G Major scale – G Ionian, A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian, F# Locrian

Other useful scales: E Harmonic minor, A Blues Scale, G 8-note diminished Scale

Any of the following time signatures may appear:

3/4

4/4

6/8

Any of the following key signatures may appear: No sharps/flat = C Major/A minor

1 sharp = G Major/E minor

2 sharps = D Major/B minor

3 sharps = A Major/F# minor

1 flat = F Major/D minor

Harmonic recognition

NB You are NOT permitted to use your guitar at any point during this part of the exam. If you attempt to use your guitar or any other instrument to figure out the chords, you will be disqualified!

In your exam, you will be played 3 chords, and for each one, you must specify the chord quality, which may be any of the following:

Major chord, minor chord, augmented chord, diminished chord, 7th chord (Major, minor, Dominant), suspended 4th, suspended 2nd

In your exam, you will hear the first chord 3 times. There will then be a 10-second gap in which you must give the name of the chord you heard. You will then hear the second chord 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord, and finally, the third chord 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the chord.

You will be given the root note of each chord, and in your answer, you must specify both the root note and the chord quality (e.g. Major or minor).

You must say your answer, NOT play it.

Interval recognition

NB You are NOT permitted to use your guitar at any point during this part of the exam. If you attempt to use your guitar to figure out the intervals, you will be disqualified!

In your exam, you will be played 3 intervals, and you must name each one. Any chromatic intervals may appear.

Intervals may be ascending or descending from the root note.

You will hear the first interval 3 times. There will then be a 10-second gap in which you must give the name of the interval you heard. You will then hear the second interval 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the interval, and finally the third interval 3 times followed by a 10-second gap to give the name of the interval.

You must say your answer, NOT play it.

In this part of the exam, you will be tested on your ability to memorise and reproduce melodies. You will be played an 8-bar melody and you must play this melody back. The melody may use any of the following scales: G Ionian, A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian

The melody will be played using minims, crotchets, quavers, semiquavers, dotted notes, tied notes, and their respective rests, at 80 BPM. The time signature will be 4/4 or 3/4. Dynamics will range from piano through to forte. The first note of the melody will always be the root note of the scale. The following melodic articulation may also appear and should be recalled: staccato, legato (hammer-ons/pull-offs, slides), crescendos and diminuendos.

In your exam, you will hear the melody 3 times. There will be a 30-second gap between each repetition, and after the final repetition, you will have 30 seconds before you have to play the melody back. During this part of the exam, you may use your guitar to help you figure out the melody. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the melody back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Harmonic recall

In this part of the exam, you will be tested on your ability to memorise and reproduce chord progressions. You will be played an 8 bar chord progression, and you must play this progression back. The progression will be in the key of C Major, A minor, G Major, or E minor, and may include some modal harmony, using a combination of open chords, power chords, and bar chords learned in the Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced courses. It will be played using minims, crotchets, quavers, semiquavers, dotted notes, tied notes, and their respective rests, at 80 BPM. The time signature will be 4/4 or 3/4. The first chord of the progression will always be the root chord of the key. Dynamics will range from pianissimo through to fortissimo. The first chord of the progression will always be the root chord of the key. The following articulation may also appear and should be recalled: staccato, left-hand muting, crescendos and diminuendos.

In your exam, you will hear the chord progression 3 times. There will be a 30-second gap between each repetition, and after the final repetition, you will have 30 seconds before you have to play the progression back. During this part of the exam, you may use your guitar to help you figure out the progression. When you are asked to give your answer,

you must play the progression back on your guitar, NOT sing it.

Improvisation

In your exam, you must improvise over a 16-bar backing track. You will be given the chord progression of the backing track in lead sheet format. You will hear the backing track 3 times before being expected to improvise.

The backing track will use any of the following keys/modes: G Major

A Dorian

B Phrygian

C Lydian

D Mixolydian

A minor

Any of the following time signatures may appear: 3/4, 4/4, 6/8

Theory

You will take a multiple-choice theory exam. The contents of the exam will consist of all of the theory introduced in the lessons of the Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced courses.

Any of the following theory subjects may appear:

•    Notation & tablature - staves, clefs, note names, enharmonic notes

•    Note names and note values - semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, dotted notes, tied notes

•    Rest names and rest values

•    Bars and bar lines

•    Accidentals - sharps, flats, and naturals

•    Time signatures - 4/4, 3/4, 5/4, 6/8

•     Up and down picking symbols

•     Tones and semitones

•     Legato symbols - slurs, tapping, sliding

•      Scale formulae - Major, Natural minor, Harmonic minor, Melodic minor, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Blues Scale, Diminished Scale

•      Mode formulae - Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian

•      Chord formulae - Major, minor, added 9, Major 7th, Dominant 7th, suspended 2nd, suspended 4th, half-diminished/minor

7-b5, power chords, b5 power chords

•     Arpeggio formulae - Major, minor

•     2-octave arpeggio shiftable positions - Major and minor

•      Bar chord shiftable positions - Major, minor, suspended 4th, minor 7th

•     Key signatures - C Major/A minor,

G Major/E minor, D Major/B minor, A Major/F# minor, F Major/D minor

•     Relative keys

•     Repeat lines and volta brackets

•     Palm muting symbols

•     Intervals of the Major and Natural minor

scales

•      Chromatic intervals (Augmented and diminished)

•     Compound intervals

•     Triplets

•      Keys and chords - Major key chords, Natural minor chords, Harmonic minor chords, Melodic minor chords

•     Modal chord progressions