ABRSM Classical Guitar

ABRSM Classical guitar grades

ABRSM classical guitar exams cover a wide-ranging syllabus of solo pieces, technical work, sight-reading and aural tests. They are ideal for students who want a thorough, internationally recognised classical foundation, and the Performance Grade option lets us record the recital digitally when that works better.

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ABRSM Practical Grades are taken in person, while Performance Grades are recorded and submitted as a video. I can help students prepare for either format and choose the one that suits them best.

ABRSM Guitar Performance Grades syllabus (PDF)The official ABRSM specification for Guitar Performance Grades from 2019, including the full repertoire lists for every grade.

ABRSM Classical

Initial

A friendly first exam — short pieces in first position with simple accompaniment textures.

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ABRSM Classical

Grade 1

Simple melodies and accompaniments with a first look at rest stroke and thumb control.

Set pieces(9)

Jasmine Flower, arr. Batchelar— Trad. Chinese · List A
Sur le pont d’Avignon, arr. Wright— Trad. French · List A
Gaillarde Passemaize, arr. Sanderson— Gervaise · List A
Ecossaise (No. 5 from 24 pièces, Op. 121), arr. Wright— Carulli · List B
March (No. 19 from Introduction à l’étude de la guitare, Op. 60), arr. Wright— Sor · List B
I vow to thee, my country, arr. Mermikides— Holst · List B
Spanish Knights— Longworth & Walker · List C
Underground Sound— Gary Ryan · List C
Somethin’ Stupid, arr. Wright— C. Carson Parks · List C

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ABRSM Classical

Grade 2

Two-part pieces, wider position work and a first half-barre shape.

Set pieces(9)

Mr Dowland’s Midnight, arr. Batchelar— Dowland · List A
The Meeting of the Waters, arr. Wright— Trad. Irish · List A
Inés, arr. Bonell— Trad. Spanish · List A
Allegretto grazioso (No. 25 from Méthode complète, Op. 241), arr. Wright— Carulli · List B
The Trout, arr. Batchelar— Schubert · List B
Andantino (No. 4 from Le nouveau papillon, Op. 5), arr. Wright— Carcassi · List B
Fly me to the moon, arr. James— Bart Howard · List C
Highland Spirit— Manus Noble · List C
Up and Over— Vincent Lindsey-Clark · List C

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ABRSM Classical

Grade 3

Position shifts and more independent lines between melody and bass.

Set pieces(9)

Saltarello del predetto ballo, arr. Wright— Molinaro · List A
Tri Martolod, arr. Snowden— Trad. Breton · List A
Air Italien (2nd movt from Partita in G minor), arr. Wright— Stölzel · List A
Andante (No. 6 from Schule für die Guitare)— Mertz · List B
Suo Gân, arr. Goss— Trad. Welsh · List B
Menuetto (from Divertimento No. 1, K. Anh. 229/439b), arr. Storry— Mozart · List B
Peppermint Rag— David Cottam · List C
Celtic Blue— Tim Pells · List C
Over the Rainbow, arr. Batchelar— Arlen & Harburg · List C

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ABRSM Classical

Grade 4

Repertoire spanning Renaissance to twentieth-century styles with real interpretive demands.

Set pieces(9)

Sonata for a Musical Clock, HWV 598, arr. Wright— Handel · List A
Down to the River to Pray, arr. Mermikides— Trad. Spiritual · List A
Cantiga (No. 166 from Cantigas de Santa Maria), arr. Goss— attrib. el Sabio · List A
Allegretto (from Sonata in F, M.S. 84 No. 6)— N. Paganini · List B
Vltava (from Má vlast), arr. Ryan— Smetana · List B
Rondeau (No. 6 from Récréation du guitariste, Op. 51), arr. Wright— N. Coste · List B
Nightfall— Panteleimon Michaeloudis · List C
Stomping the Blues (No. 6 from Nine Ladies Dancing)— Peter Wrieden · List C
Anything Goes, arr. James— C. Porter · List C