Guitar certification
Level 3 — Advanced 1 (Musical Expansion)
To build musical expression, technical strength and harmonic understanding.
Practical syllabus (guitar)
Technique
- Palm muting
- Slides, bends and vibrato
- Fingerstyle independence
- Scale sequencing
Scales
- A Major
- E Minor (Harmonic)
- D Major
- F♯ Minor (Natural)
- G Minor
- E♭ Major
Chords
- Extended chords (maj7, min7, dom7)
- Movable chord voicings
- Arpeggiated chords
Rhythm
- Triplets
- 6/8 and other compound time signatures
Repertoire
- Three contrasting pieces in tabs and chords (one self-arranged or self-composed)
- Assessment of stylistic interpretation
Theory syllabus
Scales and functions
- Harmonic minor scales
- Scale degrees and functional roles
Chords and harmony
- Seventh-chord construction
- Diatonic harmony in major and minor keys
Rhythm and form
- Compound meters
- Awareness of simple polyrhythms
- Binary, ternary and verse–chorus forms
Sample theory question bank – Level 3
Section A
- What is a harmonic minor scale?
- Define compound time.
Section B
- Build a dominant 7th chord.
- Explain chord function.
Section C
- Analyze a simple chord progression.
- Identify the form of a given piece.