Rockschool (RSL Awards) Electric Guitar · Grade 1
Rockschool Electric Grade 1 guitar
Full power chords, simple open chord changes and a first taste of soloing.
Books for this grade
You can pick your exam pieces from any of these books — the current one, the previous edition or the Rockschool Classics series. Tap a book to see its full song list.
Current book · 2024Rockschool Guitar Grade 1The current syllabus book — the default choice for exams today.See the 9 songs →
Previous book · 2018Rockschool Guitar Grade 1The previous edition. These pieces are still accepted in exams.See the 12 songs →
Rockschool ClassicsRockschool Classics Guitar Grade 1Rockschool Classics (previously Hot Rock). Benchmarked repertoire — usable in your exam at this grade.See the 8 songs →
I run these as digital exams by default — recorded in the lesson and submitted to RSL — unless a student would rather sit an in-person exam, which I'm happy to arrange.
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.
Every piece across all Rockschool Electric Grade 1 books(29)
- As Night Falls Play
- Born Under A Bad Sign— Albert King Play
- Come As You Are— Nirvana Play
- Downtown Detroit Play
- Ignite Play
- More Than A Feeling— Boston Play
- The Tracks Of My Tears— Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Play
- Where Is My Mind?— Pixies Play
- Who Knew— P!nk Play
- Basket Case— Green Day Play
- Dakota— Stereophonics Play
- Fab Stomp Play
- Get Off Play
- Green Onions— Booker T & The MGs Play
- ICAUFO Play
- Just Don't Know Play
- Krauss Country Play
- My Girl— The Temptations Play
- Rolling In The Deep— Adele Play
- The Man Who Can't Be Moved— The Script Play
- Umbra Bella Play
- Chasing Cars— Snow Patrol Play
- Jailbreak— Thin Lizzy Play
- Livin' On A Prayer— Bon Jovi Play
- Run To You— Bryan Adams Play
- Sunshine Of Your Love— Cream Play
- Wishing Well— Free Play
- Wonderful Tonight— Eric Clapton Play
- The Zephyr Song— Red Hot Chili Peppers Play
Books and exam booking
Everything you need for Grade 1 comes from RSL directly — the grade book with notation and backing tracks, and the exam booking itself. Most of my students book the Performance Certificate first.
Technical work at Grade 1
- A minor pentatonic (one octave)
- Three-string power chords
- Open chords: E, A, D, G, C majors and their minors
- Alternate picking at slow tempos
What's in the exam
- Three performance pieces
- Technical exercises
- One supporting test
- Ear tests and general musicianship questions