2

3
4
5
6

a 's Your Game?

Paisley On My Mind
Buddy
Detroit Spinna
Ruby

Tuning Notes

8
10
II
12
13

Bean Scent
What's Your Game?
Paisley On My Mind
Buddy
Detroit Spinna
Ruby

Tech Exercises

14

Riff

Ear Tests

15
16

Test I
Test 2

Backing Tracks

tar

e e

Rockschool
Welcome to Debut Guitar
Guitar Notation Explained
Pieces:
Bean Scent
What~ Your Game?
Paisley On My Mind
Buddy
Detroit Spinna
Ruby

2
3

6
7

8
9

Technical Exercises
Sight Reading
Ear Tests
General Musicianship Questions
The Guru's Guide
Entering Rockschool Exams

rockschool
www. rockschool. co. uk

10
11
12
13
14
16

ay rar in this grade.

e accompan)ing CD has full stereo
- ,.;-::: rrac- to play alonu' jth "or pra - e,
g notes and o.r;:en n-o bar count-ins to each piece.
~::: ~., ie es and the marking chemes can be found in the Guru' Guide on page 14. If you have any
- - o:: - an:- other Rockschool exam, please call us on 0845 460 4747, email us at injo@rockschool.co. uk or visit
. -' - woLco.uk. Good luck!
the exams offered at Debut are newly accredited entry level exams. This book now supersedes all
containing performance pieces only. These books remain valid however, and users may download
auc.rt1m1al tests from www.rockschool.co.uk. Please also note that these newly accredited exams have a different
erne to other exams in this series. Please refer to the tables on page 15.

Lelel Techniques In Debut

- --e.::_..=c.

-- hool grades are divided into four levels. These levels correspond to the levels of the National Qualifications
_'QF). Further details about the NQF can be found at www.qca.org.uk!NQF. Details of all Rockschool's
~ ,.~cations can be found at www.qca. org.uk/openquals.

G-.:-..ar part of the Entry Level. This Level is for players who are just starting out and who are looking to acquire the
- :. ~ o- erforming and musicianship.
2. _ .ayer of Debut standard should be able to play up to 20 bars of music in 4/4 time, using simple first position
.::,.- -ompo ed of whole, half and quarter notes and associated rests, as well as a range of basic first position chords.
2= ?:eces ,-ery often use open strings and melodies move mainly between adjacent strings.

e Debut Guitar Exam

2;::--" <!fe two types of exam that can be taken using this pack: a Grade Exam and a Performance Certificate.
rut Guitar Grade Exam: this is for players who want to develop performance and technical skills
- zc:-s ''ishing to enter for a Debut Guitar grade exam need to prepare three pieces. In addition you must prepare the

-;.----cal exercises in the book, undertake a sight reading test, take an ear test and answer general musicianship questions.
- ---=-?:es of these tests are printed in the book along with audio examples on the CD.
ut Guitar Performance Certificate: this is for players who want to focus on performing in a range of styles

e ter for your Debut Guitar Performance Certificate you play pieces only. You can choose any five of the six tunes
ted in this book.

G
..,

THE :\{{;SIGAL SIAYE

shm,-s pitches and rhythms
and is di"ided by lines into
bars. Pitches are named after
the first seven letters of the
alphabet.

D
.,...

Am

If

'

Strings:

TABLATURE graphically
represents the guitar
fingerboard. Each horizontal
line represents a string, and
each number represents a fret.

2
3
2

E
B
G

0
1

2
2
0

"'

4th string, 2nd fret

Ad lib. and cont. sim_sea':

are shown in slash no -

Rhythm notation with

suggested fingering

Open D chord

Definitions For Special Guitar Notation

HAMMER ON: Pick the lower note,
then sound the higher note by
fretting it without picking.

~~

PULL OFF: Pick the higher note then

sound the lower note by lifting the
finger without picking.
~fl

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-----

.,.

.,.
I

5- - -7

"

"

SLIDE: Pick the first note, then slide

to the next with the same finger.
~fl

-----

.,.
A
....
u
I

1- - -5-

GLISSANDO: A small slide off of a note VIBRATO: Vibrate the note by bending
toward the end of its rhythmic duration. and releasing the string smoothly
Do not slide 'into' the following note and continuously.
subsequent notes should be repicked.
I

BU
2-=---=4-

TRILL: Rapidly alternate between the

two bracketed notes by hammering
on and pulling off.
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A

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II

II

NATURAL HARMONICS: Lightly tl:lll6 =

string above the indicated fret then
pick to sound a harmonic.

fr,.,..,..,..,...,

f-i--<s -7~ 5

-"

1,;,1

PINCHED HARMONICS: Bring the

thumb of the picking hand into
contact with the string immediately
after the pick.

BD

s }---{ 5 >------

....,

f--1.,.
1- -5--{

"""

"""

~~~

@,)

"""

STRING BENDS: Pick the firsr note-'bend (or release the bend) to the pi:-"indicated in brackets.

1,;,1

"""
PICK HAND TAP: Strike the indicated
note with a finger from the picking
hand. Usually followed by a pull off.

FRET HAND TAP: As pick hand tap,

but use fretting hand. Usually
followed by a pull off or hammer on.

#~

QUARTER TONE BEND: Pick the note

indicated and bend the string up
by a quarter tone.
1/4

~'

'''

@,)

.,.
I

-..
PRE-BENDS: Before picking the note,
bend the string from the fret indicated
between the staves, to the equivalent
pitch indicated in brackets in the TAB

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@,)

..--.-..
PB 7

BD
~9)--(7
A

-..

-"
~

WHAMMY BAR BEND: Use the

whammy bar to bend notes to the
pitches indicated in brackets in the TAB

-"

1 ~4

D.KalCoda

Go back to the sign (%) , then play until

the bar marked To Coda ~ then skip to
the section marked ~Coda .

D.C. al Fine

Go back to the beginning of the song and

play until the bar marked Fine (end).

II:

:II
~~

I :II I

Repeat bars between signs.

When a repeated section has different
endings, play the first ending only the first
time and the second ending only the
second time.

Hussein Boon

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he
the examiner '\ill ask you to play a selection of exercises drawn from each of the three groups shown below.
B ontain examples of the kinds of scales and chords you can use when playing the pieces. In Group C you
-:...__ e asked to prepare the exercise and play it to the CD backing track. You do not need to memorise the exercises (and
e the book in the exam) but the examiner will be looking for the speed of your response. The examiner will also
~ credit for the level of your musicality.
Gro p A and B should be prepared in the keys directed.
G!O ps A and B should be played at .J = 80. The examiner will give you this tempo in the exam.

Group A: Scales
- E minor & A minor pentatonic. E minor pentatonic example shown

~:

9
0

g
3

g
3

9
0

II

II

Group B: Chords
1. Open position chords. The chords shown below should be played as a continuous exercise
G

i ~t!i

Am

Em

llj~

'I!

lljj

II

Ill!

Ill

1111

II

Group C: Riff
In the exam you will be asked to play the following riff to the backing track on the CD. The riff shown in bar 1 should

be played in the same shape in bars 2- 4. The root note of the pattern to be played is shown in the music in each of the
subsequent three bars. The tempo is .J = 70.
Em

Am

Em

Am

Printed below is the type of sight reading test you are likely to encounter in the exam. The ieee-. ~ e - o'""""? =style of either rock or blues. The examiner will allow you 90 seconds to prepare it and "ill set the em~ o w:metronome. The tempo is J=60.

1\

Blues

.......

2- o - -2

_f
I

~ -~ ~:;} ~the

grade. The examiner will play each test to you on CD. One example of each type of test you
exam is printed below.

Test 1: Rhythmic Recall

:o_

ill be asked to play back the given two bar rhythm on the open bottom E string of your guitar. You will hear the
played twice with a drum backing. There will then be a short break for you to practise the test and then the test will
:c...ommence and you will play the rhythm to the drum backing. This test is continuous. The tempo is J= 90.
:-::::~ -

=II

S II:,

o---L...()1 -o~-o---o~-----'-':1 1
0

Test 2: Melodic Recall

You will be asked to play back on your guitar a simple melody of not more than two bars composed from the first three
notes of the E minor pentatonic scale (E, G and A). This will be in the same rhythm as Test 1 above. You will be given the
wnic note and told the starting note and you will hear the test twice with a drum backing. There will then be a short break
for you to practise the test and then the test will recommence. You will play the melody with the drum backing. This test is
continuous. The tempo is J= 90.

: @~ill=

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0

lg
3

g
3

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Ge
o 'L e as_~ - e Genera:
pie es ou haT"e played in

~ ~~- ~.

opi

can e ~o

Topics:
i)
ii)

Music theory
Knowledge of your instrument

The music theory questions will cover recognition of the following at this grade:
Note Pitches
Note Values
Time Signatures

Knowledge of parts of the guitar:

Fretboard, neck, body, tuning pegs, nut, pickups, bridge, pickup selectors, scratchplate and jack socket

Questions on all these topics will be based on pieces played by you in the exam. Tips on how to approach this part
exam can be found on the Rockschool website: www.rockschool.co.uk.

o: -- ;:-

.- Ro - hoo 's Guitar G

o h elp you aet the most out of the
es o ui your pla}ing style. Remember, these tunes are your chance to

-. --5e:tg- ares aae tions onl -. Feel free to use different neck positions as they suit you. Please also note that any
mixes are not meant to be indicative of the standard required for the grade.

Guitar I unes
- __.._oo

=-- ---or =

es help you play the hit tunes you enjoy. The pieces have been written by top pop and rock composers and
a to style specifications drawn up by Rockschool.

-:: -~::5 ?:inted here fall into two categories. The first category can be called the 'contemporary mainstream' and features
__-:-::::: ~es in today's charts. The second category of pieces consists of 'roots styles', those classic grooves and genres
;:... _.._ -==:.::e e eyery generation of performers.

mix: track 1, backing track 8: Bean Scent

__

-~-

.:.._ - e tyle of Acid Jazz, a form offunk music that had its heyday in the early 1990s with bands such as Freak Power
amiroquai. The main theme is played in quarter notes for the most part with some half and whole notes. Watch
-: :- _.._e rests at the start of bars 3, 9, 11 and 15 and make sure that you give the quarter and whole notes their full value.

-=:: .,...,___

- r: Hussein Boon.
mix: track 2, backing track 9: What's Your Game?

__ s r - piece after the manner of Black Sabbath. The part consists of half and quarter notes and again watch for the
..._.z-=er aote rests at the beginning of bars 3, 11 and 15. The tempo is quite brisk so make sure that you don'~ rush the half
- -;os md to give them their full value.

CD full mix track 3, backing track 10: Paisley On My Mind

-==-:s

ountry tune has a three note lead in to the main theme and is deceptively simple in appearance. The use of whole
i"ollowed by rests in the following bars make this song an exercise in counting, particularly as the rests in bars 5, 7 and
::.: ere half note rests and not quarter notes as in bars 3, 9, 11 and 17, so make sure you giye the whole notes their correct
_' _ce_

~-

oser: Joe Bennett.

CD full mix track 4, backing track 11: Buddy

--- risk rock 'n' roll song evoking the style of Buddy Holly. The part consists of quarter and half notes and mixes up whole
- -es and rests which again make this piece a valuable exercise in counting. Watch out for the ending as this is quite tricky
.:..:::;.c "ill require plenty of practice.
Composer: Deirdre Cartwright

Composer: Adrian York.

CD full mix track 6, backing track 13: Ruby
This laid back guitar pop piece consists wholly of chords played for the first eight bars in an even, four-to-the-bar!"
The second half of the song sees this rhythm mixed up with a rest on the third beat of the next three bars. The c_::: : ::.::::
to watch out for are those bars which have two chords in them, particularly in the first half of the piece, so make su.:::: :..::_:
the movement between chords is fluent and that each note is clearly picked where indicated. You will notice a- ~::: G
chord is notated for the top four strings only.
Composer: Deirdre Cartwright.
CD Musicians:
Guitars: Deirdre Cartwright
Bass: Henry Thomas
Drums: George Gavin
Keyboards and programming: Alastair Gavin

Debut Guitar Marking Scheme

The table below shows the marking scheme for the Debut Guitar grade exam. Please note that all successful candidates' iL
be certificated as achieving a pass only.
ELEMENT

PASS

Piece 1

13 out of20

Piece 2

13 out of20

Piece 3

13 out of20

Technical Exercises

11 out of 15

Sight Reading

6 out of 10

Ear Tests

.6 out of 10

General Musicianship Questions

3 out of5

Total Marks

Pass:65%+

The table below shows the marking scheme for the Debut Guitar Performance Certificate. Please note that all successfu:
candidates will be certificated as achieving a pass only.
ELEMENT

PASS

Piece 1

14 out of20

Piece 2

14 out of20

Piece 3

14 out of20

Piece 4

14 out of20

Piece 5

14 out of20

Total Marks

Pass:70%+

'?:e2.-~

rec.i -

~o~~ -,..,ese
t.rll
ons care
before gin the exam entry form.
; ed. from Ro hool by ringing 0845 460 4747 or by logging on to our

er or your exam when you feel ready.

~

en-er ~or any one of three examination periods. These are shown below with their closing dates.
PERIOD

DURATION

CLOSING DATE

Period A

l't February to 15th March

1st December

PeriodB

l't May to 3l't July

1st April

Period C

23rd October to 151h December

1st October

These dates will apply from 1st September 2006 until further notice

_ -~eSc complete the form giving the information required. Please fill in the type and level of exam, the instrument, along
--- e _ eriod and year. Finally, fill in the fee box with the appropriate amount. You can obtain up to date information on
.:___? .:._---hool exam fees from the website: www.rockschool.co.uk. You should send this form with a cheque or postal order
:e o Rockschool) to the address shown on the order form. Please also indicate on the form whether or not you
d like to receive notification via email.
. -7

:'...:.cations received after the expiry of the closing date may be accepted subject to the payment of an additional fee.

- --en you enter an exam you will receive from Rockschool an acknowledgement letter or email containing a copy of our
"T --:--r regulations.

-~--chool

will allocate your entry to a centre and you will receive notification of the exam, showing a date, location and
well as advice of what to bring to the centre. We endeavour to give you four weeks' notice of your exam.

o should inform Rockschool of any cancellations or alterations to the schedule as soon as you can as it is usually not
-; --ible to transfer entries from one centre, or one period, to another without the payment of an additional fee.
?lease bring your music book and CD to the exam. You may not use photocopied music, nor the music used by someone
:n another exam. The examiner will sign each book during each examination. You may be barred from taking an exam
--- . o use someone else's music.
~e

o hould aim to arrive for your Debut exam fifteen minutes before the time stated on the schedule. You should use this
-2=e to tune your guitar and get everything ready to take your exam.
-h Debut grade exam is scheduled to last for 12 minutes. Each Debut performance certificate is scheduled to last 10
tes.
T . o to three weeks after the exam you will receive a copy of the examiner's mark sheet. Every successful player will receive
z. ~ ockschool certificate of achievement.

=--

Published by:

Kocksc oo _::::
-:-

::.:::J:::

a~ s ~60! -~-

--

- -- - __,_
-

::::-:.:::- -& ::_- - -

::. c= :::~a!"OC<G::~x :::.:. _

www.rockschool.co.uk
Printed by:

Caligraving Lt d, United Kingdom

COs manufactured by:

brandedmedia Ltd, United Kingdom

Compiled &edited by:

Jeremy Ward, Simon Pitt & Simon Troup

Syllabus consultants:

Deirdre Cartwr ight, Darryl Golding, Noam Lederman,

Andrew Moore, Henry Thomas & Jason Woolley

Audio executive producers:

Jeremy Ward & Alastair Gavin

Audio producer:

Alastair Gavin

Audio engineer:

Matt Gendreau

Additional mixing:

Kevin Paul & Dave Greenep

Recorded at:

University of Westminster & Mute Studios London

Guitars:

Keith Airey, Deirdre Cartwright, Kit Morgan, John Parri celli,

Jimi Savage, & Simon Troup

Bass:

Henry Thomas & Jason Woo lley

Drums:

George Gavin, Peter Hunt ington & Noam Lederman

Keyboards &programming:

Alastair Gavin

Mastered by:

Phil Scragg

Music processing & book layout: Simon Troup & jennie Troup of www.digitalmusicart.com
Cover design:

Gillian H arding of www.fuelcreativity.com

Cover photography:

Max Hamilton & Gillian H arding

Your Guarantee of Quality

As publishers we strive to produce every book to the highest commercial
standards. The music has been fresh ly engraved and the book has been carefully
designed to minimise awkward page t urns and to make playing from it a real
pleasure . Particular care has been given to specifYing acid free, neutral-sized paper
made from pulps which have not been elemental chlorine bleached. T he pulp is
from farmed sustainable forests and produced with special regard fo r the
environment. T hroughout the printing and bi nding have been planned to ensure a
sturdy, attractive pu bl ication which should give you years of enjoyment. If your
copy fails to meet our high standards, please inform us and we w il l gladly rep lace it.

Warning
Unauthorised reproduction of any part of this publication by any means, including
photocopying, is an infringement of copyright.