Level 0
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: A, D, C, G
- Chords – min: Am, Em
- Power/Barre Chords: Not introduced
- 7ths/9ths etc: Not introduced
- Arpeggios: Not introduced
- Major Scale: C
- Nat. Minor: Not introduced
- Minor Pentatonic: A, E (1 octave)
- Major Pentatonic: Not introduced
- Modes: Ionian
- Other Scales: Not introduced
- Technique: Walking fingers, picking, fretting
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Strings, bridge, etc.
- Stagecraft: Teamwork, preparing your first solo performance.
- Stylistic Awareness: Name some artists
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Simple clapped rhythm
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Phrasing: Not introduced
Sight Reading
- Notation: Whole notes, half notes, quarter notes
- Keys: Open
- Notation Legend: Treble clef
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Clap a simple rhythm
- Melodic: Recognize pitch direction
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Harmonic Pattern: Not introduced
Level 1
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: A, D, C, G (full chords)
- Chords – min: Am, Em
- Power/Barre Chords: Power chords
- 7ths/9ths etc: Suspensions D
- Arpeggios: Not introduced
- Major Scale: C (1 octave)
- Nat. Minor: A (1 octave)
- Minor Pentatonic: A, E (1 octave)
- Major Pentatonic: G
- Modes: Pent 1 & 2
- Other Scales: Not introduced
- Technique: Legato, alternate picking
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Care and handling
- Stagecraft: How to set up an amp
- Stylistic Awareness: Types of music
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Open string rhythm
- Harmonic: Expressive chord pattern (strum or pick)
- Phrasing: Not introduced
Sight Reading
- Notation: Eighth notes
- Keys: C
- Notation Legend: Time signature, dynamics, tie marks, repeats
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Melodic: Recognize unison and octave, and another simple major interval
- Harmonic: Major/minor chord recognition
- Harmonic Pattern: Not introduced
Level 2
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: A, D, C, G, E
- Chords – min: Am, Dm, Em
- Power/Barre Chords: Maj/min Barre E shape
- 7ths/9ths etc: Suspensions A
- Arpeggios: Introduction to melodic arpeggio (D)
- Major Scale: C, G (1 octave)
- Nat. Minor: A, E (1 octave)
- Minor Pentatonic: A, E
- Major Pentatonic: G, A, B
- Modes: Pent 1, 2 & 5
- Other Scales: Add b5 to pentatonics
- Technique: Glissando, bends, palm muting
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Tuning
- Stagecraft: How to not break equipment
- Stylistic Awareness: Awareness of stylistic technique variations
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Simple fretted notes improv
- Harmonic: Improvised chord progression
- Phrasing: Begin development of expression
Sight Reading
- Notation: Sixteenth notes
- Keys: G
- Notation Legend: Phrasing legato
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Melodic: Repeat/transcribe 2-bar melody in Major scale/minor pentatonic
- Harmonic: Recognize diminished chord
- Harmonic Pattern: Recognize V – I cadence
Level 3
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: A, D, C, G, E, F
- Chords – min: Am, Dm, Em, Bm
- Power/Barre Chords: Maj/min Barre A shape
- 7ths/9ths etc: Inversions/Slash chords, Dim. triad A shape
- Arpeggios: 1 Oct Maj triad (e.g., D Maj shape (A-A))
- Major Scale: Closed position major scale 1 octave (Root A, key C & D; Root E, key G & A)
- Nat. Minor: G, A, B (1 octave)
- Minor Pentatonic: G, A, B
- Major Pentatonic: G, A, B
- Modes: Pent all
- Other Scales: Include b5
- Technique: Octave slides, natural harmonics, vibrato
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Brands, pickups, hardware, guitar types, etc.
- Stagecraft: Achieving desired tones from amp/guitar
- Stylistic Awareness: Name artists within genres
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Simple scalar improvisation
- Harmonic: Stylistic interpretation of improvised chord progression
- Phrasing: Establish expression
Sight Reading
- Notation: Simple voice leading
- Keys: D & related minors, F
- Notation Legend: ¾ time signature, endings
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Melodic: Recognize all simple major intervals
- Harmonic: Recognize Maj/min/dom chords with extensions
- Harmonic Pattern: Recognize I – IV – V
Level 4
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: A, D, C, G, E, F, B
- Chords – min: Am, Dm, Em, Bm, Gm, Cm
- Power/Barre Chords: Maj 7, min7, Dom 7
- 7ths/9ths etc: Introduce open chords extensions (7ths)
- Arpeggios: 1 Oct Maj/min triad (e.g., Dmin shape)
- Major Scale: Closed position major scale 2 octave (Root A, key C & D; Root E, key G & A)
- Nat. Minor: As Major scale
- Minor Pentatonic: A, B, C, D, E
- Major Pentatonic: A, B, C, D, E
- Modes: Aeolian
- Other Scales: Include b5
- Technique: Double stops (3rd, 4ths), wide stretch, triplet picking
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Use of FX
- Stagecraft: Performing to an audience
- Stylistic Awareness: Gear variation for genre (Strat vs. Les Paul, etc.)
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Harmonic: Appropriate use of extensions, inversions, and rhythms
- Phrasing: Consolidate expression
Sight Reading
- Notation: Solo guitar arrangements
- Keys: A, F, Bb
- Notation Legend: Dotted notes, accents, 6/8 time signature, chart navigation
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Repeat/transcribe syncopated rhythm
- Melodic: Recognize modes
- Harmonic: Recognize diminished chord
- Harmonic Pattern: Recognize I – VI – IV – V
Level 5
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: CAGED system
- Chords – min: CAGED system
- Power/Barre Chords: Maj 7, min7, Dom 7
- 7ths/9ths etc: As above
- Arpeggios: 2 octave maj/minor (any root)
- Major Scale: Closed position major scale 2 octave (Root A, key C to E chromatically; Root E, key G to B chromatically)
- Nat. Minor: As Major scale
- Minor Pentatonic: All 5
- Major Pentatonic: All 5
- Modes: Dorian, Mixolydian
- Other Scales: Harmonic minor
- Technique: Hybrid picking, artificial harmonics, right-hand tapping
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Basic instrument setup
- Stagecraft: Hazard awareness (volume, electricity, trips, etc.)
- Stylistic Awareness: Stylistic variation within genre
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Modulating improvisation
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Phrasing: Not introduced
Sight Reading
- Notation: Simple voice leading
- Keys: 5 sharps, 3 flats
- Notation Legend: Grace notes, 8th and 16th combinations, chord symbols, expression, syncopations
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Melodic: Repeat/transcribe 2-bar melody in major/minor pentatonic or natural minor scale
- Harmonic: Recognize Maj/min/dom chords with extensions
- Harmonic Pattern: Recognize II – V – I
Level 6
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: As above
- Chords – min: As above
- Power/Barre Chords: Min 7 b5, diminished, augmented
- 7ths/9ths etc: As above
- Arpeggios: 2 octave maj/minor, Maj 7, min 7, Dom 7
- Major Scale: Closed position major scale 2 octave (Root A, all keys; Root E, all keys)
- Nat. Minor: As Major scale
- Minor Pentatonic: All 5
- Major Pentatonic: All 5
- Modes: Lydian, Phrygian
- Other Scales: Jazz Melodic minor
- Technique: Sweep picking, walking basslines
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Appropriate use of FX
- Stagecraft: Audience awareness and a professional approach to performance
- Stylistic Awareness: Have an informed discussion about a chosen genre and relevant equipment
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Phrasing: Not introduced
Sight Reading
- Notation: Not introduced
- Keys: 5 sharps, 5 flats
- Notation Legend: 16th note triplets, harmonics, compound time
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Melodic: Not introduced
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Harmonic Pattern: Not introduced
Level 7
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: As above
- Chords – min: As above
- Power/Barre Chords: 9s, 11s, 13s
- 7ths/9ths etc: As above
- Arpeggios: Major 9th, Minor 9th, Dominant 9th
- Major Scale: Closed position major scale 2 octave (Root A, all keys; Root E, all keys)
- Nat. Minor: As Major scale
- Minor Pentatonic: All 5
- Major Pentatonic: All 5
- Modes: Locrian
- Other Scales: Diminished, Altered, Whole tone
- Technique: Compound & irregular time picking accents, chord melody
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Specialist exploration (slides, Ebow, tone bar)
- Stagecraft: Showmanship and entertainment value
- Stylistic Awareness: In-depth knowledge of seminal artists and their equipment
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: Use of all known scales, in all keys, over the fretboard in different time signatures
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Phrasing: Not introduced
Sight Reading
- Notation: Not introduced
- Keys: Pivot Key
- Notation Legend: 16th note combinations, irregular time signatures
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Not introduced
- Melodic: Not introduced
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Harmonic Pattern: Not introduced
Level 8
Technical Knowledge
- Chords – MAJ: As above
- Chords – min: As above
- Power/Barre Chords: Dominant (7#5, 7b5, 7#9, 7b9), Min/maj7
- 7ths/9ths etc: As above
- Arpeggios: Dominant (7#5, 7b5, 7#9, 7b9), Minor 7b5, Diminished 7
- Major Scale: Closed position major scale 2 octave (Root A, all keys; Root E, all keys)
- Nat. Minor: As Major scale
- Minor Pentatonic: All 5
- Major Pentatonic: All 5
- Modes: As above
- Other Scales: As above
- Technique: Intervalic double stops (3rds, 4ths, 6ths, 10ths), solo guitar arrangement
General Knowledge
- Instrument: Outboard, recording, studio vs. live, appropriate choices of equipment
- Stagecraft: Business, logistics, managing members
- Stylistic Awareness: History and development of a genre and its sub-genres
Improvisation
- Melodic and Rhythmic: As above
- Harmonic: Not introduced
- Phrasing: Not introduced
Sight Reading
- Notation: Advanced combinations of 16ths, dotted notes, triplets, ties, syncopations
- Keys: All keys
- Notation Legend: Changing time signatures
Ear Training
- Rhythmic: Repeat/transcribe complex syncopated rhythm including 16ths
- Melodic: Not introduced
- Harmonic: Recognize Maj/min/dom chords with extensions
- Harmonic Pattern: Recognize II – V – I