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Technical Exercises Track 14
In this section, the examiner will ask you to play a selection of exercises drawn from each of the three groups shown below.
Groups A and B contain examples of the kinds of scales and chords you can use when playing the pieces. In Group C you
will be asked to prepare the exercise and play it to the CD backing track. You do not need to memorise the exercises (and
you can use the book in the exam) but the examiner will be looking for the speed of your response. The examiner will also
give credit for the level of your musicality.
Groups A and B should be prepared in the keys directed.
Groups A and B should be played at q = 80. The examiner will give you this tempo in the exam.
Group A: Scales
1. E minor pentatonic. One octave in the open position.
2. A minor pentatonic. One octave in the open position.
Group B: Chords
1. Open position chords. The chords shown below should be played as a continuous exercise
Group C: Riff
In the exam you will be asked to play the following riff to the backing track on the CD. The riff shown in bar 1 should
be played in the same shape in bars 24. The root note of the pattern to be played is shown in the music in each of the
subsequent three bars. The tempo is q =70.
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Sight Reading
Printed below is the type of sight reading test you are likely to encounter in the exam. The piece will be composed in the
style of either rock or blues. The examiner will allow you 90 seconds to prepare it and will set the tempo for you on a
metronome. The tempo is q =60.
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Ear Tests Tracks 15 & 16
There are two ear tests in this grade. The examiner will play each test to you on CD. One example of each type of test you
will be given in the exam is printed below.
Test 1: Rhythmic Recall
You will be asked to play back the given two bar rhythm on the open bottom E string of your guitar. You will hear the
rhythm played twice with a drum backing. There will then be a short break for you to practise the test and then the test will
recommence and you will play the rhythm to the drum backing. This test is continuous. The tempo is q =90.
Test 2: Melodic Recall
You will be asked to play back on your guitar a simple melody of not more than two bars composed from the first three
notes of the E minor pentatonic scale (E, G and A). This will be in the same rhythm as Test 1 above. You will be given the
tonic note and told the starting note and you will hear the test twice with a drum backing. There will then be a short break
for you to practise the test and then the test will recommence. You will play the melody with the drum backing. This test is
continuous. The tempo is q =90.
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General Musicianship Questions
You will be asked five General Musicianship Questions at the end of the exam. The examiner will ask questions based on
pieces you have played in the exam. Some of the theoretical topics can be found in the Technical Exercises.
Topics:
i) Music theory
ii) Knowledge of your instrument
The music theory questions will cover recognition of the following at this grade:
Note Pitches
Note Values
Time Signatures
Knowledge of parts of the guitar:
Fretboard, neck, body, tuning pegs, nut, pickups, bridge, pickup selectors, scratchplate and jack socket
Questions on all these topics will be based on pieces played by you in the exam. Tips on how to approach this part of the
exam can be found on the Rockschool website: www.rockschool.co.uk.
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Te Gurus Guide To Debut Guitar
This section contains some handy hints compiled by Rockschools Guitar Guru to help you get the most out of the
performance pieces. Do feel free to adapt the tunes to suit your playing style. Remember, these tunes are your chance to
show your musical imagination and personality.
The TAB fingerings are suggestions only. Feel free to use different neck positions as they suit you. Please also note that any
solos featured in the full mixes are not meant to be indicative of the standard required for the grade.
Debut Guitar Tunes
Rockschool tunes help you play the hit tunes you enjoy. The pieces have been written by top pop and rock composers and
players according to style specifications drawn up by Rockschool.
The tunes printed here fall into two categories. The first category can be called the contemporary mainstream and features
current styles in todays charts. The second category of pieces consists of roots styles, those classic grooves and genres
which influence every generation of performers.
CD full mix track 1, backing track 8: Bean Scent
A track in the style of Acid Jazz, a form of funk music that had its heyday in the early 1990s with bands such as Freak Power
and early Jamiroquai. The main theme is played in quarter notes for the most part with some half and whole notes. Watch
out for the rests at the start of bars 3, 9, 11 and 15 and make sure that you give the quarter and whole notes their full value.
Composer: Hussein Boon.

CD full mix track 2, backing track 9: Whats Your Game?
A 70s rock piece after the manner of Black Sabbath. The part consists of half and quarter notes and again watch for the
quarter note rests at the beginning of bars 3, 11 and 15. The tempo is quite brisk so make sure that you dont rush the half
notes and to give them their full value.
Composer: Alison Rayner.
CD full mix track 3, backing track 10: Paisley On My Mind
This country tune has a three note lead in to the main theme and is deceptively simple in appearance. The use of whole
notes followed by rests in the following bars make this song an exercise in counting, particularly as the rests in bars 5, 7 and
13 are half note rests and not quarter notes as in bars 3, 9, 11 and 17, so make sure you give the whole notes their correct
value.
Composer: Joe Bennett.
CD full mix track 4, backing track 11: Buddy
A brisk rock n roll song evoking the style of Buddy Holly. The part consists of quarter and half notes and mixes up whole
notes and rests which again make this piece a valuable exercise in counting. Watch out for the ending as this is quite tricky
and will require plenty of practice.
Composer: Deirdre Cartwright
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CD full mix track 5, backing track 12: Detroit Spinna
A techno/electro piece again taken at a brisk pace. The part mixes up quarter and half notes; make sure you observe the
rests which come in different places in the bar. The three chords in bars 9-11 should be played crisply and evenly, as should
the final A minor chord at the end.
Composer: Adrian York.
CD full mix track 6, backing track 13: Ruby
This laid back guitar pop piece consists wholly of chords played for the first eight bars in an even, four-to-the-bar rhythm.
The second half of the song sees this rhythm mixed up with a rest on the third beat of the next three bars. The main points
to watch out for are those bars which have two chords in them, particularly in the first half of the piece, so make sure that
the movement between chords is fluent and that each note is clearly picked where indicated. You will notice that the G
chord is notated for the top four strings only.
Composer: Deirdre Cartwright.
CD Musicians:

Guitars: Deirdre Cartwright
Bass: Henry Thomas
Drums: George Gavin
Keyboards and programming: Alastair Gavin
Debut Guitar Marking Scheme
The table below shows the marking scheme for the Debut Guitar grade exam. Please note that all successful candidates will
be certificated as achieving a pass only.
The table below shows the marking scheme for the Debut Guitar Performance Certificate. Please note that all successful
candidates will be certificated as achieving a pass only.
ELEMENT PASS
Piece 1 14 out of 20
Piece 2 14 out of 20
Piece 3 14 out of 20
Piece 4 14 out of 20
Piece 5 14 out of 20
Total Marks Pass: 70%+
ELEMENT PASS
Piece 1 13 out of 20
Piece 2 13 out of 20
Piece 3 13 out of 20
Technical Exercises 11 out of 15
Sight Reading 6 out of 10
Ear Tests 6 out of 10
General Musicianship Questions 3 out of 5
Total Marks Pass: 65%+
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Entering Rockschool Exams
Entering a Rockschool exam is easy. Please read through these instructions carefully before filling in the exam entry form.
Information on current exam fees can be obtained from Rockschool by ringing 0845 460 4747 or by logging on to our
website www.rockschool.co.uk.
You should enter for your exam when you feel ready.
You can enter for any one of three examination periods. These are shown below with their closing dates.
PERIOD DURATION CLOSING DATE
Period A 1
st
February to 15
th
March 1
st
December
Period B 1
st
May to 31
st
July 1
st
April
Period C 23rd October to 15
th
December 1
st
October
These dates will apply from 1st September 2006 until further notice
Please complete the form giving the information required. Please fill in the type and level of exam, the instrument, along
with the period and year. Finally, fill in the fee box with the appropriate amount. You can obtain up to date information on
all Rockschool exam fees from the website: www.rockschool.co.uk. You should send this form with a cheque or postal order
(payable to Rockschool) to the address shown on the order form. Please also indicate on the form whether or not you
would like to receive notification via email.
Applications received after the expiry of the closing date may be accepted subject to the payment of an additional fee.
When you enter an exam you will receive from Rockschool an acknowledgement letter or email containing a copy of our
exam regulations.
Rockschool will allocate your entry to a centre and you will receive notification of the exam, showing a date, location and
time as well as advice of what to bring to the centre. We endeavour to give you four weeks notice of your exam.
You should inform Rockschool of any cancellations or alterations to the schedule as soon as you can as it is usually not
possible to transfer entries from one centre, or one period, to another without the payment of an additional fee.
Please bring your music book and CD to the exam. You may not use photocopied music, nor the music used by someone
else in another exam. The examiner will sign each book during each examination. You may be barred from taking an exam
if you use someone elses music.
You should aim to arrive for your Debut exam fifteen minutes before the time stated on the schedule. You should use this
time to tune your guitar and get everything ready to take your exam.
Each Debut grade exam is scheduled to last for 12 minutes. Each Debut performance certificate is scheduled to last 10
minutes.
Two to three weeks after the exam you will receive a copy of the examiners mark sheet. Every successful player will receive
a Rockschool certificate of achievement.