Trinity College London Classical Guitar · Grade 3
Trinity Classical Grade 3 guitar
Position shifts and genuine independence between melody and bass.
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 3 books(29)
- Barcaruola— AndersonGuitar Travels — Anderson AGP505 Play
- French Dance (Tourdion)— AttaignantClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Gavotte— Bach, J S, arr. WrightThe Baroque Book — Chanterelle ECH2111 Play
- Étude no. 5— BrouwerÉtudes simples vol. 1 — Eschig ME00799700 Play
- Allegretto in D major— CarcassiClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Estudio Primario no. 1— CarlevaroModern Times — Chanterelle ECH0750 Play
- Valse (no. 21 from École de guitare, op. 241)— CarulliClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Grasshopper Guiro— CottamClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Marshmallow Cocoa— FogelClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Andantino (from Le papillon, op. 50)— GiulianiClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Album Leaf (duet)— Grieg, arr. PowleslandClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Choral— KirschbaumMelodie und gegriffener Bass vol. 2 — Hubertus Nogatz KN1016 Play
- The Paper Dragon— KoshkinMascarades vol. 1 — Lemoine HL24886 Play
- Marchinha de Carnaval (duet)— MachadoModinha brasileira — Lemoine HL24821 Play
- Adagio— MertzRaise the Bar Guitar: Grades 3-5 — Trinity TCL016560 Play
- On the Prairie— NuttallMoving On — Countryside Play
- Cinq-huit— OurkouzounovMise en scène — Lemoine HL26826 Play
- Allegretto con moto, no. 5— PonceSeis preludios cortos — Peermusic PM1472 Play
- Funky Juan— PowleslandClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Russian Bear— RyanRaise the Bar Guitar: Grades 3-5 — Trinity TCL016560 Play
- The Firth of Lorn— RyanClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Lost Horizons— SmithAtmospheres & Adventures — Trinity TCL019127 Play
- Study in C (no. 6 from Introduction à l' é tude de la guitare, op. 60)— SorClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Kurpie Étude— StachakClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Scarborough Fair— Trad., arr. GerritsLearn & Conquer Guitar Repertoire with Xuefei Yang, beginner book 1 — Doberman DO962 Play
- Chorinho (duet)— Trad., arr. RivoalClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- The Coasts of High Barbary (duet)— Trad., arr. SandersonClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 3 — Trinity TCL019301 Play
- Salsa— WandersGuitarra tirando — Broekmans BP1714 Play
- Escalando— ZenamonModern Times — Chanterelle ECH0750 Play
Books and exam booking
The Trinity Grade 3 book and the exam booking both come from Trinity College London directly.
Technical work at Grade 3
- Scales in third and fifth position
- Full barre chords
- Melody projection over an accompaniment
- Controlled dynamics and rubato
What's in the exam
- Three pieces from the syllabus
- Technical work
- One supporting test
- Musical knowledge
Trinity Classical Grade 3 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 and arpeggio — two octaves, scale im. Minimum tempi: scale ♩ = 70, arpeggio ♩. = 38
- B natural minor scale and arpeggio — two octaves, scale ma
- C major scale in thirds — one octave, im, tirando
3. Scales & arpeggios — set B
From memory, mf.
- A major scale and arpeggio — two octaves, scale im. Minimum tempi: scale ♩ = 70, arpeggio ♩. = 38
- E harmonic minor scale and arpeggio — two octaves, scale ma
- C major scale in thirds — one octave, im, tirando
4. Studies
Choose and perform two studies, each from a different group. Music may be used.
Group 1 — for tone and phrasing
- It Could be Sweet
- The Tone Zone
Group 2 — for articulation
- Sunflower
- Finger Pickin’ Good
Group 3 — for idiomatic elements
- On Brooklyn Bridge
- Half Way There