Playing Songs
Guitar tutor David Jones provides some useful information on choosing songs for early grade players…
It has been mentioned by some guitar tutors in previous issues of Guitar Tutor magazine, and also by some that I have spoken to, that although they are very impressed with the content of the RGT electric guitar syllabus, they feel that some guidance about suitable songs for students to learn at each grade level would be helpful for teaching.
Flexible Syllabus
Of
course, in classical examinations set pieces form the core of the syllabus
and I am not suggesting that such a system should be introduced into the
RGT electric exams as in doing so much of the flexibility of the syllabus
would be lost. Nevertheless when a student begins to study the guitar, it
is imperative that they are taught songs. After all, that is why they have
chosen this instrument in the first place. Fortunately, the design of the
RGT electric guitar syllabus enables students to learn in a progressive
and structured way, with more difficult chords, scales and techniques being
introduced at each new level. The flexibility of the syllabus means that
it deliberately does not lean towards a particular genre or musical style,
therefore appealing and being useful to all students whatever their musical
background.
It is helpful for students to play along to recordings of songs: this motivates them, helps timing and enhances chord changes - the band won’t wait for them as it doesn’t know that they are playing along! Once students attain Grade 3 standard they can play along with many songs in the original key (sometimes with slight simplifications) due to the introduction of barre chords. They can also improvise some lead guitar over their songs due to the extent of the scales required at this grade.
Earlier Grades
The earlier grades can, however, be a problem as the keys to choose from have to be limited. Bearing this in mind, I have compiled a list of songs, all in the original key, for each of the three early grades. The songs contain the chords required for each grade and can be improvised over using the scales required at each grade. They cover a wide range of styles and some useful progressive techniques. They are by no means the only songs available but, hopefully, will be useful to other tutors.
I have also found that using songs that contain the scales and chords required for particular RGT grades can help when teaching in a group situation. This works particularly well when some students wish to enter examinations whilst others may not. It enables the tutor to keep the whole class attentive and engaged whilst fulfilling all of their particular requirements.
I would like to stress that although learning songs is both useful and motivational for students, introducing creativity in their rhythm and lead playing is also very important. One of the best ways I have found is to use the rhythm playing and improvising lead guitar books available from the RGT.
Grading Songs
See the table on the following page for my list of recommended songs in which the basic chords happen to coincide with those set for the grade. Do remember that the grade level of any song is decided primarily by the musicality of the performance, and not purely by the technical requirements. The grade I have given to each song relates solely to the appearance of the basic chords in the relevant grade and not of course to the grade level of the original recording.
