Section 1 - Scales and Arpeggios
The candidate will be expected to play from memory any selection from the list below. All should be played
ascending and descending using the left hand fingerings indicated.
Preliminary Level
Scales:
C major - 1 octave
G pentatonic major - 1 octave
A natural minor - 1 octave
E pentatonic minor - 1 octave
Arpeggios:
C major root position - 1 octave
A minor root position - 1 octave
G major root position - 1 octave
E minor root position - 1 octave
Grade 1 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Scales:
E natural minor - 1 octave
E blues - 2 octaves
G pentatonic major - 2 octaves
F major - 2 octaves
D major - 1octave
Arpeggios:
F major root position - 2 octaves
G major root position - 2 octaves
D major root position - 1 octave
E minor root position - 2 octaves
Grade 2 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Scales:
C major - 2 octaves
G major - 2 octaves
A major - 1 octave
E flat major - 1 octave
A pentatonic minor - 2 octaves
E pentatonic minor - 2 octaves
D pentatonic major - 1 octave
A melodic, harmonic minor - 2 octaves
E melodic, harmonic minor - 2 octaves
D melodic, harmonic minor - 1 octave
B melodic, harmonic minor - 1 octave
Arpeggios:
C major root position – 2 octaves.
D major root position – 2 octaves.
A major root position – 2 octaves.
A minor root position – 2 octaves.
D minor root position – 2 octaves.
B minor root position – 2 octaves.
Grade 3 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Scales:
B flat major – 2 octaves
E flat major – 2 octaves
D major – 2 octaves
A major – 2 octaves
G melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
C melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
B melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
F# melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
Arpeggios:
B flat major root position – 2 octaves
E flat major root position – 2 octaves
D major root position – 2 octaves
A major root position – 2 octaves
G minor root position – 2 octaves
C minor root position – 2 octaves
B minor root position – 2 octaves
F# minor root position – 2 octaves
Grade 4
Coming soon
Grade 5
Coming soon
Grade 6
Coming soon
Grade 7
Coming soon
Grade 8
Coming soon
Affiliate Teachers Diploma
Coming soon
Section 2 - Chords
The candidate will be expected to play from memory any selection from the list below.
Preliminary Level
Major triads – C, G, D.
Minor triads – Am, Em.
Dominant 7th chords – G7, D7.
Grade 1 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Major triads – A, E.
Minor triads – Dm, Bm.
Dominant 7th chords – A7, E7.
Major 7th chords – CMaj7, GMaj7, DMaj7
Grade 2 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Major triads – F, Bflat, Eflat.
Minor triads – F#min, Gmin, Cmin.
Dominant 7th chords - C7, B7, F7
Major 7th chords – Fmaj7, Bflat maj7, Eflat maj7
Minor 7th chords – Amin7, Emin7, Dmin7.
Grade 3 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Major triads – Aflat, Dflat, B
Minor triads – Fmin, Bflat min, G#min
Dominant 7th chords – Bflat7, Eflat7, F#7
Major 7th chords – Aflat maj7, Dflat maj7, Bmaj7
Minor 7th chords – Fmin7, Bflat min7, G#min7
Grade 4
Coming soon
Grade 5
Coming soon
Grade 6
Coming soon
Grade 7
Coming soon
Grade 8
Coming soon
Affiliate Teachers Diploma
Coming soon
Section 3 - Ear Tests
Preliminary Level
Ear tests are not required in the preliminary level.
Grade 1
Rhythm Tests:
The candidate will be asked to clap, tap, or pick on one string the rhythm of a short melody after it has been played
twice by the examiner.
Time signatures: 3/4 or 4/4
Melody Playback:
The candidate will be asked to play back a four note melody based on the first three notes of a major scale. The
melody may contain melodic leaps. The examiner will name the key, play the tonic triad once, and play the melody
twice.
Keys: C, F or G major.
Grade 2
Coming soon
Grade 3
Coming soon
Grade 4
Coming soon
Grade 5
Coming soon
Grade 6
Coming soon
Grade 7
Coming soon
Grade 8
Coming soon
Affiliate Teachers Diploma
Coming soon
Section 4 - Sight Reading
Preliminary Level
Sight reading is not required at the preliminary level.
Grades 1 through Affiliate Teachers certificate
Reading chord progressions:
Candidates will be given a chord progression to play based on the chords selected from Section 2 above for their
chosen grade level. The progression may also contain chords from any previous grade.
Section 5 - Theory
All Levels:
Candidates will be given ten multiple choice questions specific to their chosen grade level.
Questions asked could be scale tone names, chord tone names, key signatures, time signatures, etc.
All questions will be directly related to the scales, chords, arpeggios and other material from sections 1 through 4
above.
The candidate will be expected to play from memory any selection from the list below. All should be played
ascending and descending using the left hand fingerings indicated.
Preliminary Level
Scales:
C major - 1 octave
G pentatonic major - 1 octave
A natural minor - 1 octave
E pentatonic minor - 1 octave
Arpeggios:
C major root position - 1 octave
A minor root position - 1 octave
G major root position - 1 octave
E minor root position - 1 octave
Grade 1 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Scales:
E natural minor - 1 octave
E blues - 2 octaves
G pentatonic major - 2 octaves
F major - 2 octaves
D major - 1octave
Arpeggios:
F major root position - 2 octaves
G major root position - 2 octaves
D major root position - 1 octave
E minor root position - 2 octaves
Grade 2 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Scales:
C major - 2 octaves
G major - 2 octaves
A major - 1 octave
E flat major - 1 octave
A pentatonic minor - 2 octaves
E pentatonic minor - 2 octaves
D pentatonic major - 1 octave
A melodic, harmonic minor - 2 octaves
E melodic, harmonic minor - 2 octaves
D melodic, harmonic minor - 1 octave
B melodic, harmonic minor - 1 octave
Arpeggios:
C major root position – 2 octaves.
D major root position – 2 octaves.
A major root position – 2 octaves.
A minor root position – 2 octaves.
D minor root position – 2 octaves.
B minor root position – 2 octaves.
Grade 3 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Scales:
B flat major – 2 octaves
E flat major – 2 octaves
D major – 2 octaves
A major – 2 octaves
G melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
C melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
B melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
F# melodic, harmonic minor – 2 octaves
Arpeggios:
B flat major root position – 2 octaves
E flat major root position – 2 octaves
D major root position – 2 octaves
A major root position – 2 octaves
G minor root position – 2 octaves
C minor root position – 2 octaves
B minor root position – 2 octaves
F# minor root position – 2 octaves
Grade 4
Coming soon
Grade 5
Coming soon
Grade 6
Coming soon
Grade 7
Coming soon
Grade 8
Coming soon
Affiliate Teachers Diploma
Coming soon
Section 2 - Chords
The candidate will be expected to play from memory any selection from the list below.
Preliminary Level
Major triads – C, G, D.
Minor triads – Am, Em.
Dominant 7th chords – G7, D7.
Grade 1 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Major triads – A, E.
Minor triads – Dm, Bm.
Dominant 7th chords – A7, E7.
Major 7th chords – CMaj7, GMaj7, DMaj7
Grade 2 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Major triads – F, Bflat, Eflat.
Minor triads – F#min, Gmin, Cmin.
Dominant 7th chords - C7, B7, F7
Major 7th chords – Fmaj7, Bflat maj7, Eflat maj7
Minor 7th chords – Amin7, Emin7, Dmin7.
Grade 3 - All requirements from the previous grade.
Major triads – Aflat, Dflat, B
Minor triads – Fmin, Bflat min, G#min
Dominant 7th chords – Bflat7, Eflat7, F#7
Major 7th chords – Aflat maj7, Dflat maj7, Bmaj7
Minor 7th chords – Fmin7, Bflat min7, G#min7
Grade 4
Coming soon
Grade 5
Coming soon
Grade 6
Coming soon
Grade 7
Coming soon
Grade 8
Coming soon
Affiliate Teachers Diploma
Coming soon
Section 3 - Ear Tests
Preliminary Level
Ear tests are not required in the preliminary level.
Grade 1
Rhythm Tests:
The candidate will be asked to clap, tap, or pick on one string the rhythm of a short melody after it has been played
twice by the examiner.
Time signatures: 3/4 or 4/4
Melody Playback:
The candidate will be asked to play back a four note melody based on the first three notes of a major scale. The
melody may contain melodic leaps. The examiner will name the key, play the tonic triad once, and play the melody
twice.
Keys: C, F or G major.
Grade 2
Coming soon
Grade 3
Coming soon
Grade 4
Coming soon
Grade 5
Coming soon
Grade 6
Coming soon
Grade 7
Coming soon
Grade 8
Coming soon
Affiliate Teachers Diploma
Coming soon
Section 4 - Sight Reading
Preliminary Level
Sight reading is not required at the preliminary level.
Grades 1 through Affiliate Teachers certificate
Reading chord progressions:
Candidates will be given a chord progression to play based on the chords selected from Section 2 above for their
chosen grade level. The progression may also contain chords from any previous grade.
Section 5 - Theory
All Levels:
Candidates will be given ten multiple choice questions specific to their chosen grade level.
Questions asked could be scale tone names, chord tone names, key signatures, time signatures, etc.
All questions will be directly related to the scales, chords, arpeggios and other material from sections 1 through 4
above.
| Guitar Technique Syllabus 2011 Edition |
The Guitarists Reference Center examinations were created to offer a formal recognition of the specific skills as
they pertain to acoustic and electric plectrum style guitar players.
Designed for individuals who are serious about progressing on their instruments in a timely manner,
students working through each exam level are challenged to set reasonably attainable goals for themselves.
Focus on completing at least one level of exams per year. This will ensure you are committing to memory
all the required elements necessary for being a complete and well rounded guitarist/musician;
ie: scales, chords, improvising, sight reading, applied fret board knowledge, and ear development.
they pertain to acoustic and electric plectrum style guitar players.
Designed for individuals who are serious about progressing on their instruments in a timely manner,
students working through each exam level are challenged to set reasonably attainable goals for themselves.
Focus on completing at least one level of exams per year. This will ensure you are committing to memory
all the required elements necessary for being a complete and well rounded guitarist/musician;
ie: scales, chords, improvising, sight reading, applied fret board knowledge, and ear development.
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