Preliminary Grade

Preliminary Grade Introduction video here

What's in the Preliminary Grade

The use of open strings is permitted at this grade.

Scales

• C Major scale – 1 octave.
• G Pentatonic Major scale – 1 octave.
• A Natural Minor scale – 1 octave.
• E Blues scale – 1 octave.

Chords

Non-barré (open position) chords are expected at this grade.

• Major chords – C, D, E, G.
• Minor chords – Am, Dm, Em.
• Dominant 7th chords – A7, B7, E7.

Section 5: Spoken Tests

Spoken Tests Candidates may be asked questions relating to any of the topics listed below. Knowledge of notes on the fi ngerboard (taken from the scales and arpeggios listed in the relevant grade of Section 1) is a core requirement – particularly at earlier grades.

Preliminary Grade

• Notes on the fingerboard (selected from the scales set in Section 1).
• Basic anatomy of the guitar.

Grade 1

• Notes on the fingerboard (selected from the scales set in Section 1).
• Anatomy, mechanism and basic techniques of the instrument.

Grade 2 As for the previous grade, but in greater range and detail.

Grade 3

• Notes on the fingerboard up to the 12th fret, including knowledge of all major and minor arpeggios.
• Knowledge of the instrument, including anatomy, tone production, methods of achieving clarity and fluency.

Grade 4

• Notes on the fingerboard up to the 15th fret, including knowledge of all the scales and arpeggios set in Section 1.
• Knowledge of the instrument as for the previous grade, but in greater detail and extended to include methods of guitar tuning and string replacement.

Grade 5

• Naming intervals from major scales.
• Identifying any note on the fingerboard.
• Application of scales and arpeggios, including knowledge of which chords occur in each key.
• Knowledge of the instrument as for the previous grade, but in greater depth and detail.

Grade 6 As for the previous grade, but in greater range and depth and extended to include: application of extended chords.

Grade 7 As for the previous grade, but in greater depth and detail and extended to include: an in-depth knowledge of chord relationships and keys; application of altered chords; chromatic intervals.

Grade 8 As for the previous grade, but in greater depth and range and extended to include: chord construction; transposition; application of extended chords. Candidates should consult the relevant grade examination handbook, which gives full details and examples of the spoken tests.