Rockschool (RSL Awards) Acoustic Guitar · Grade 1

Rockschool Acoustic Grade 1 guitar

Smoother chord changes, first fingerpicking and songs you actually know.

Rockschool Acoustic Grade 1 guitar exam book cover
The book you'll needRockschool Acoustic Grade 1 — buy the printed book or the digital edition from the official shop.Buy the book

Run as digital exams by default, recorded in the lesson and submitted to RSL, with in-person exams available on request.

Set pieces

Tap any piece to open its own page with a play-along video, amp settings and practice tips. You'll still need the official grade book for the notation.

Books and exam booking

The Trinity Grade 1 book and the exam booking both come from Trinity College London directly.

Technical work at Grade 1

  • Full set of open major and minor chords
  • Simple fingerstyle patterns with p, i, m
  • Down and up strumming with eighth notes
  • Basic bass-note picking

What's in the exam

  • Three performance pieces (or five for the Performance Certificate)
  • Technical exercises
  • One supporting test
  • Ear tests and general musicianship questions
Read the 8-week exam prep plan