Trinity College London Classical Guitar · Grade 1
Trinity Classical Grade 1 guitar
Simple melodies with an accompaniment, and a first look at rest stroke.
Trinity exams are taken digitally by default — recorded and submitted online — with in-person exams arranged for students who prefer them.
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 Trinity Classical Grade 1 books(23)
- Waltz in G (duet)— Carulli, arr. CracknellClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Oasis— CracknellClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Pirate's Delight— FogelClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Joy to the World— Handel, adpt. Mason, arr. Longworth & WalkerClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Lil' Bit Blue (duet)— KenyonABC Guitar — Jacaranda JM02-003 Play
- Cachucha— Lindsey-ClarkRaise the Bar Guitar: Initial-Grade 2 — Trinity TCL016553 Play
- Havana Good Time— Longworth & WalkerGuitar Basics Repertoire — Faber 0571536875 Play
- Lágrimas de las ondas (duet)— MárquezClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Chanson d'antan— MouratFacilissimo — Transatlantiques EMT1676 Play
- Rocky Road— NuttallOn the Way — Countryside Play
- It's Just a Matter of Time— PowleslandRaise the Bar Guitar: Initial-Grade 2 — Trinity TCL016553 Play
- The Forest Wakes— PowleslandClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Chansonnette— RakClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Spider— RichterClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- The Grand Entrance— RobertsNew Beginnings — Trinity TCL019134 Play
- Snake in a Basket— RyanScenes for Guitar book 1 — Camden CM260 Play
- Lotus Flower— SandersonClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Die Forelle (The Trout)— Schubert, arr. HegelClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Melodie (from Album for the Young, op. 68) (duet)— Schumann, arr. PowleslandClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Carnival of Venice— Trad., arr. HvartchilkovThe Golden Collection — Hvartchilkov Play
- Romance de amor— Trad., arr. HvartchilkovClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Metamorphosis— TrompClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 1 — Trinity TCL019288 Play
- Chicago Blues— WandersGo for Guitar! vol. 1 — Broekmans BP1646 Play
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
- C, G and A minor scales — one octave
- Rest stroke (apoyando) introduction
- p-i-m-a arpeggio patterns
- Basic damping and tone control
What's in the exam
- Three pieces from the syllabus
- Technical work
- One supporting test
- Musical knowledge
Trinity Classical Grade 1 technical work in full
Everything below is published in Trinity's book Guitar Scales, Arpeggios and Studies from 2016: Initial–Grade 5. You always play the technical exercise, then choose one of: scales & arpeggios set A, scales & arpeggios set B, or the studies. Tell the examiner your choice on the submission form.
1. Technical exercise
Technical exercise in G major (♩ = 56) — music may be used.
2. Scales & arpeggios — set A
From memory, mf.
- C major scale (one octave) and arpeggio (to the 5th) — im fingering. Minimum tempi: scale ♩ = 56, arpeggio ♩ = 112
- E natural minor scale (p fingering) and arpeggio (pim fingering) — tirando
3. Scales & arpeggios — set B
From memory, mf.
- F major scale (one octave) and arpeggio (to the 5th) — im fingering. Minimum tempi: scale ♩ = 56, arpeggio ♩ = 112
- E natural minor scale (p fingering) and arpeggio (pim fingering) — tirando
4. Studies
Choose and perform two studies, each from a different group. Music may be used.
Group 1 — for tone and phrasing
- Paper Tiger
- Highland Memories
Group 2 — for articulation
- Scary Monsters
- Rock Bottom
Group 3 — for idiomatic elements
- Poisson Rouge
- Firefly Sky