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Learning guitar should be fun whichever path is taken, academic or otherwise. There are many advantages in the graded approach, but becoming a good musician and guitarist can be achieved with, or without an academic structure. Guitar grades provide a framework for learning that enforces the '3 learning pillars' (below) and guarantees that students learn to listen, understand, perform and read music.
guitar Grade options
guitar Grade options
Guitar grades in Classical Guitar and/or Pop/Rock Guitar. These are separate exams through Trinity College and ABRSM and develop different techniques on the guitar.
The basic difference between them, is that while modern rock/pop grades focus on ensemble performance - that is; playing guitar as part of a band in a modern context - Classical grades focus on solo performance. In both cases learning to read standard music notation to some degree, is mandatory.
Classical Grades
Classical Grades
The repertoire and exercises are played with traditional finger-style techniques necessary for solo interpretation of orchestral music. The repertoire is extensive and the learning methods are well established. In my opinion this is the most complete guitar music education available today. My prepared students will progress by taking exams either through ABRSM (Royal School of Music) or Trinity College.
Electric Guitar Grades
Electric Guitar Grades
This repertoire and exercises are played with a pick (plectrum) and develops the skills to play guitar in a modern pop or rock band so the focus is on building techniques for Lead, Rhythm and Improvisation.
3 learning pillars
3 learning pillars
Performance - rewarding all the practise and hard work
Milestones - targets to set your sights on
Consolidation - using what you've learned in different contexts helps you to remember it
electric guitar exams
electric guitar exams
Electric guitar exams are designed to develop the skills an electric guitarist needs to play in a rock band or pop group. Topics covered in the grade exams include: scales, improvisation and lead playing; chords and rhythm playing; specialist techniques; popular music theory and aural abilities. There is no requirement to read standard notation for these grades but a foundation level understanding of standard notation rhythms and articulations is very useful.
mature students
mature students
Taking guitar grades isn't limited to young beginners. Anyone can work toward guitar grades in Classical or pop/rock styles - finger-style or plectrum (pick) respectively.
The biggest challenge for mature students who didn't get the opportunity to learn to read music early on, is understanding course materials used in all grades.
Today it is more common for guitarists to read Guitar TAB (tablature) rather than standard music notation. You can become a good musician without learning to read music, but it is much more difficult unless you learn to interpret at least some of the information contained in a staff of guitar music (rhythms, phrasing, dynamics etc).
guitar TAB and chord boxes
guitar TAB and chord boxes
The decision whether or not to take grades comes down to what you aspire to achieve. If all you really want to do is to sit around a camp fire and strum songs with friends, then you won't really need to learn to read music - especially if you have a musical ear that understands rhythms.
Most guitar tutorial books and online lessons use Guitar Tablature and Chord Boxes that show you exactly where to put your fingers on the neck. You don't have to learn the names of the notes you are playing in each chord either.
So you can certainly teach yourself if you don't find it too frustrating. Bear in mind that if you decide later on that you want more from the guitar, you'll probably wish you had learned to read music earlier. That's what happened to me.
why i teach using methods
why i teach using methods
for the serious student, the most comprehensive way to learn guitar, is to follow a learning method. Methods are designed to make sure you learn all the things you need. They guide you through progressively more challenging material with context changes and consolidation practices that reinforce what you learn to make sure you remember it all.
Learning how to remember everything isn't as straight forward as you might think. If you pay for expensive private guitar lessons and don't practice or consolidate what you've been taught, you may have just forgotten it completely a year later. Now that is a waste of money!
Modern guitar methods for pop/rock do exist, but they are not all equal. Modern 'pick' style guitar or 'electric guitar' hasn't had enough time to spawn solid learning methods. On the other hand, Classical guitar methods have been produced over the last 200 years by individuals who have dedicated their entire lives to writing, are comprehensive.
taking grade exams
taking grade exams
There are a few institutions that provide the testing framework for guitarists in all styles.
Classic Guitar exams generally feature , 3 performance pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests. Finger-style technique is used throughout.
Electric (plectrum) Rock, Jazz and Acoustic Grades generally focus on developing modern techniques like Lead Guitar, Rhythm and Improvisation, and of course, scales.
For more information I've linked below to external sites where you can find out more. If you'd like to talk over your options, please feel free to contact me on Facebook.
Examining bodies in the UK are:
Trinity College Classic Guitar Grades
Trinity College Rock & Pop (electric guitar) Grades
RockSchool Electric Guitar Grades
London College of Music (LCM) University of West London
Royal School of Music (ABRSM) Classic Guitar
Exam test centres locally in Reigate, Leatherhead & Guildford
what to do next
what to do next
If you aren't sure whether guitar grades are for you, or even what kind of grades you should do, then find an experienced teacher who can assess your ability and skill set and perhaps help point you in the right direction.
I do free local assessments where possible and for a fast response you can contact me on my facebook page.
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