Rockschool (RSL Awards) Electric Guitar · Grade 3
Rockschool Electric Grade 3 guitar
Moveable shapes across the neck and more expressive lead playing.
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 3The current syllabus book — the default choice for exams today.See the 9 songs →
Previous book · 2018Rockschool Guitar Grade 3The previous edition. These pieces are still accepted in exams.See the 12 songs →
Rockschool ClassicsRockschool Classics Guitar Grade 3Rockschool 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 3 books(29)
- (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay— Otis Redding Play
- Fallout Play
- I Knew You Were Trouble— Taylor Swift Play
- Indecisive Play
- Maiden Voyage Play
- Old Bones Blues Play
- Overrated Play
- Proud Mary— Creedence Clearwater Revival Play
- Reggae Island Play
- Smells Like Teen Spirit— Nirvana Play
- Summer Of '69— Bryan Adams Play
- Thinking Out Loud— Ed Sheeran Play
- On Broadway— George Benson Play
- good 4 u— Olivia Rodrigo Play
- Is This Love— Bob Marley & The Wailers Play
- Born To Be Wild— Steppenwolf Play
- Getting Started— Sam Fender Play
- Knock On Wood— Eddie Floyd Play
- Camden Square Play
- Restless Play
- Longbeach Skyline Play
- Paranoid— Black Sabbath Play
- Hey Joe— Jimi Hendrix Experience Play
- Cigarettes And Alcohol— Oasis Play
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love— Van Halen Play
- Steady As She Goes— The Raconteurs Play
- Golden Touch— Razorlight Play
- Sex On Fire— Kings Of Leon Play
- Wherever I May Roam— Metallica Play
Books and exam booking
Everything you need for Grade 3 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 3
- Minor and major pentatonic in two positions
- Natural minor scale
- Barre chords on the fifth and sixth strings
- Slides, bends and controlled vibrato
What's in the exam
- Three performance pieces
- Technical exercises
- One supporting test
- Ear tests and general musicianship questions