RSL Classical

Learn Classical Guitar

Striking a balance between radical redesign and recognisable structure, RSL Classical Guitar adheres to four key principles: championing composers from the global majority, true representation of gender, acknowledging the history and tradition of guitar pedagogy, and enabling students to feel comfortable studying music in a popular and classical environment. With works from a diverse selection of composers across classical, contemporary classical, jazz and pop, the syllabus provides an engaging stimulus for learning guitar from beginner to advanced level.

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Guitar Mastery

The pieces at each grade expose students to an array of styles and instrument-specific techniques, contributing to improved musicianship. Technical exercises and rudiments will reinforce the fundamentals of guitar playing, with sight-reading and improvisation training contributing to increased musical know-how.

Diverse Repertoire

At each grade, there is a selection of benchmarked classical tracks and popular music arrangements. Diverse and engaging, including a greater representation of female composers and composers from the global majority, our repertoire will challenge and inspire students as they develop their guitar technique.

Outstanding Composers & Artists

RSL Classical Guitar includes repertoire from the likes of Laura Snowden, Debbie Cracknell, Ignatius Sancho, Florence Price, Naoko Ikeda, Leo Brouwer, Francisco Tárrega, Fernando Sor, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Gary Ryan, Nick Powlesland, Peter Nutall, Taylor Swift, Helen Sanderson, Andrew York, Tatiana Stachak, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Frantz Casseus… to name but a few!

Audio Excellence

Exemplar performances are included for all performance pieces, including backing tracks for duets and pop tracks. Each backing track has been professionally recorded at commercial quality to give your students the feeling of doing a fully-fledged performance wherever they might be practising. Slick count-ins and fresh arrangements mean every practise session can feel like a concert performance!

UCAS Points

Grades 6 to 8 are UCAS recognised aiding Higher Education applications. Candidates can gain up to 30 UCAS points for completion of these Level 3 qualifications.

Academically Rigorous

RSL Classical Guitar has been designed with industry relevance, student engagement, and academic rigour in mind. Upon completion of an RSL Graded Music Exam, every candidate will have earned a globally recognised qualification, which has been designed to support progression routes towards higher education and the creative industries.

Classical Guitar Grades for the 21st Century

Striking a balance between radical redesign and recognisable structure, RSL Classical Guitar adheres to four fundamental principles: championing composers from the global majority, accurate representation of gender, acknowledging the history and tradition of guitar pedagogy, and enabling students to feel comfortable studying music in a popular and classical environment.

How it works

Whether you’re learning classical guitar independently or with a music teacher, it’s easy to get started learning with RSL Classical.

Download the syllabus and buy your grade book

Our publications provide you with everything you need: professionally arranged and produced repertoire alongside innovative technical exercises and supporting tests.

Start practicing with our innovative resources

From our physical publications to our interactive e-books and Learning Platform app, our teaching and learning resources are here to support you become a better musician.

Sit the exam and reap your rewards

If you’re ready and want to take a Graded Music Exam, achieve your very own RSL Classical qualification after putting in the hours of dedication towards mastering your instrument.

Classical Guitar
Debut

The Debut Classical Guitar exam is for candidates who have been learning a short time and have developed elementary skills, techniques, coordination and musical understanding.

There are two main types of exams available at Debut, either a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate, which can be booked as a face-to-face or live-streamed exam or submitted as a recorded digital exam.

Estimated Examination Time:

Grade Exam: 15 minutes (approx.)
Performance Certificate: 12 minutes (approx.)

Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry

Classical grades for the modern musician. RSL Classical Guitar Debut will provide you with everything you need for your Debut exam, including a diverse range of repertoire, a truly innovative range of supporting tests and a vast array of professionally arranged and recorded backing tracks.

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Classical Guitar Debut

The essential syllabus for the aspiring classical guitarist. RSL Classical Guitar Debut will prov...

Option

Graded Music Exam: Debut

Option

Performance Pieces

The performance pieces in the grade book can be used for both the Grade Exam and Performance Certificate and are designed so candidates can demonstrate the required assessment criteria.

Featured Repertoire:

Andean Folk Song, arr. Yvon Rivoal – Ojos Azules
Laura Snowden – The Secret City
Mauro Giuliani (arr. Debbie Cracknell) – Andante in C
Beyoncé – If I Were a Boy
The Lumineers – Ho Hey
Bill Withers – Lean on Me
Fernando Sor – Study in C, No. 1
Ludwig van Beethoven – Ode To Joy
From Disney’s ‘Frozen 2’ – All Is Found
Gustav Holst – ‘Jupiter’ from The Planets

Technical Exercises

There are two groups of technical exercises at this grade: Scales and Technical Studies. All are to be played unaccompanied. The tempo given for the scales is the recommended minimum tempo for this grade.

GROUP A – Scales

Scale: C major
Range: Perfect 5th
Tempo: Crotchet = 70
Requirements: Tirando or apoyando (candidate choice), fingers only

Scale: A minor
Range: Perfect 5th
Tempo: Crotchet = 70
Requirements: Tirando or apoyando (candidate choice), fingers only

Scale: G Major Pentatonic
Range: 1 Octave
Tempo: Crotchet = 70
Requirements: Tirando or apoyando (candidate choice), fingers only

GROUP B – Technical Studies

Candidates are to perform one of the three technical studies given in the grade book. The examiner will ask which study the candidate has prepared.

Supporting Tests

Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation

In the exam, candidates have a choice between either a Sight Reading test or a Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation test. The examiner will ask the candidate which they wish to choose before commencing. Once candidates have decided they cannot change their mind.

Sight Reading

Requirements
Candidates will be given one of the following:

Either:

A four-bar melody on the 1st string (high E), on the notes E, F and G, played in minims;

Or:

A four-bar single-note rhythm on the 6th string (low E), containing semibreves (whole notes), minims (half notes) and crotchets (quarter notes).

Process
All Sight Reading tests at Debut should be played at a recommended minimum tempo of crotchet = 60 bpm.

While the test is not played to a metronome click, candidates may ask to hear the minimum tempo on a metronome at the start of, or throughout their practice time. Additionally, candidates may ask to hear a few seconds of the tempo on a metronome before the assessed part of the test begins.

Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation

Requirements
Candidates will be given a five-bar chord progression in the key of C major. The tempo is crotchet=65. At Debut, candidates only need to improvise single-note melodies in the key of C major. The chord symbols show the chord progression of the backing track only. The test will start and end on the tonic chord, and will only contain chords I, IV and V.

Process
Candidates will first be given 90 seconds to practise, and will be given the choice of a metronome click throughout or a one-bar count-in at the beginning of the practise time. Following the initial practice time, the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is for candidates to practise and the second time is to perform the final version for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing track will begin with a one-bar count-in.

The backing track is continuous, so once the first playthrough has finished, the count-in of the second playing will start immediately.

Ear Tests

There are two Ear Tests in this grade. The examiner will play each test twice.

Melodic Recall

The examiner will play two minims (half notes) one after the other. Candidates are required to tell the examiner whether the second note is higher or lower in pitch than the first note. The test will be played twice.

Each time the test is played it is preceded by a one-bar vocal count-in. The tempo is crotchet = 85.

Rhythmic Recall

The examiner will play a two-bar rhythm played to a drum backing on the lowest-sounding E string. The test will be played twice. Candidates will be asked to play the rhythm back, and will then be asked to identify the rhythm from two examples shown to them.

Each time the test is played it is preceded by a one-bar count-in. There will be a short gap to practise. Next, there will be a vocal count-in after which candidates must play the rhythm to the drum backing. The tempo is crotchet = 85.

General Musicianship Questions

In this part of the exam, candidates will be asked five questions, divided between two topics as detailed below.

Music Knowledge

The examiner will ask the candidate four questions based on a piece of music that they have played in the exam. The candidate will nominate the piece of music about which the questions will be asked.

At Debut the candidate may be asked to identify:

the music stave
the treble clef
semibreve (whole notes), minims (half notes) and crotchets (quarter notes).

Instrument Knowledge

The examiner will also ask the candidate one question regarding the candidate’s instrument.

In Debut, the candidate will be asked to identify:

one of the following parts of their guitar: neck, body, tuning-pegs or bridge

Exam Structure

There are two types of exam available, a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate.

Grade Exam

3 Performance Pieces (two of which may be Free Choice Pieces)	Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first	These account for 60% of the exam mark
Technical Exercises (Section A, B, C and D for Level 3 qualifications)	Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first	These account for 15% of the exam mark
Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation (Debut to Grade 5); Quick Study Pieces (Grade 6 to Grade 8)	Candidates are given an unseen test to prepare and perform	This accounts for 10% of the exam marks
2 Ear Tests	Candidates respond to 2 aural tests.	These account for 10% of the exam marks
5 General Musicianship Questions	Candidates answer 5 questions based on one of the pieces performed	These account for 5% of the exam marks

Performance Certificate

5 Performance Pieces only (three of these can be Free Choice Pieces)

These account for 20% of the exam mark each.

Assessment Criteria

Performance Pieces

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	18-20	15-17	12-14	6-11	0-5
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Style & Expression	Consistently convincing projection of the music.	Mostly convincing projection of the music.	Some convincing projection of the music.	Music not convincingly projected.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Technical Exercises

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	13–15	11–12	9–10	4–8	0–3
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Ear Tests

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	9-10	7-8	6	3-5	0-2
Accuracy & Understanding	All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Supporting Tests

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	9-10	7-8	6	3-5	0-2
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

General Musicianship Questions

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	5 correct responses	4 correct responses	3 correct responses	2 correct responses	0-1 correct responses

Performance Certificate

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	18-20	15-17	12-14	6-11	0-5
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Style & Expression	Consistently convincing projection of the music.	Mostly convincing projection of the music.	Some convincing projection of the music.	Music not convincingly projected.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Classical Guitar
Grade 1

The Grade 1 Classical Guitar exam is for candidates who have mastered the key Debut level skills and have since acquired greater use of technique, rhythms, coordination and musical understanding. There is also an opportunity to build on basic improvisation.

There are two main types of exams available at Grade 1, either a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate, which can be booked as a face-to-face or live-streamed exam or submitted as a recorded digital exam.