Grade

Guitar Exam Pieces from 2019

1
Guitar
Exam Pieces
ABRSM Grade 1
Selected from the syllabus
from 2019
ABRSM Guitar Exams
. h are for your Grade J exam. All requirements are valid from I January 2019 until
Here are some key pomts to e Ip you prep .
. .1 d . , t' n the syllabus requirements and syllabus overlap details can be found online at
further nouce. More deta1 e m,orma ton o . .
. h t' e of planned changes to the guitar requirements will also be posted m advance. In the
www.abrsm.org/gu1tar, w ere no 1c
exam, the requirements can be taken in any order.

Pieces (3x30 marks)

This book contains nine pieces from ABRSM's Grade 1 Guitar syllabus from 2019. In the exam,
you will need to play three pieces, one from each of the three syllabus lists (A, Band C). At Grade 1,
up to two of your choices can be accompanied pieces (duets).
You can choose from the pieces in this book and/or the other pieces set for the grade: a full list is
on page 3. You will need to observe all da capo (D.C.) and dal segno (D.S.) indications but omit all
other repeats (including first-time bars) unless they are very brief (i.e. of a few bars) or unless the
syllabus specifies otherwise.

Scales and arpeggios (21 marks)

Learning scales and arpeggios helps you to build strong technical skills by developing reliable finger
movement, hand positions, co-ordination and fingerboard fluency. It also helps you to develop your
musical understanding through familiarity with keys and their related patterns.
You can find a complete list of scales and arpeggios required for Grade l in the back of this book. In the exam
they should be played from memory, legato and in even notes (except where indicated).

Sight-reading (21 marks)

Learning to sight-read helps you to develop quick recognition of keys and tonality, rhythm and common
patterns of beats. It also helps you to learn to keep going even when you make mistakes, and work music
out for yourself - which makes learning new pieces quicker and easier.
In the exam, you will be asked to play a short piece of music that you have not previously seen. You will be
given half a minute in which to look through and, if you wish, try out all or any part of the test before you are
asked to play it to the examiner for assessment. For the full sight-reading parameters, please see the syllabus.

Aural tests (18 marks)

Aural skills enable you to assess the sound and balance of your playing, keep in time and play with a sense
of rhythm and pulse. These skills also help you to develop your sense of pitch, your musical memory and
to spot any mistakes.
In the exam, the tests will be administered by the examiner from the piano, and you will be asked:
a To clap the pulse of a piece played by the examiner, and to identify whether it is in two time or three time.
b To sing as 'echoes' three phrases played by the examiner.
c To identify where a change in pitch occurs during a phrase played by the examiner.
d To answer questions about two features of a piece played by the examiner.
For more detailed information on the tests, please see the syllabus.
(Total available: 150 marks)

Editorial guidance
We have taken the pieces in this book from a variety of sources. Where appropriate, we have edited the pieces and added
fingering to help you prepare for your performance. Details of other changes or suggestions are given in the footnotes.
Fingering and other editorial additions are for guidance only: you do not have to follow them in the exam. Open ties
indicate that notes should be left to vibrate.
 Y:Jk,
ABRSM

Guitar
Exam Pieces
ABRSM Grade 1
Selected from the syllabus
from 2019

Gary Ryan
Guitar consultant

Anthony Burton
Footnotes

Name
ffi~rn~n
Z-01~
Date of exam
013 ihS IJ~t

First published in 2018 by ABRSM (Publishing) Ltd,

a wholly owned subsidiary of ABRSM, 4 London Wall Place, London EC2Y SAU, United Kingdom
©2018 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Distributed worldwide by Oxford University Press
Unauthorized photocopying is illegal
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, recorded or transmitted in
any form or by any means without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
Music origination by Moira Roach
Cover by Kate Benjamin & Andy Potts, with thanks to Brighton College
Printed in England by Caligraving Ltd, Thetford, Norfolk, on materials from sustainable sources.
 Contents

LIST A page
I Trad. Chinese Jasmine Flower, arr. Peter Batchelar 5
2 Trad. French Sur le pant d'Avignon, arr. Richard Wright 6

... 3 Claude Gervalse Gaillarde Passemaize, arr. Helen Sanderson 7

LIST B
I Ferdinando Carulll Ecossaise: No. 5 from 24 pieces, Op. 121, arr. Richard Wright 8
2 Fernando Sor March: No. 19 from Introduction a l'etude de la guitare, Op. 60, arr. Richard Wright 9
... 3 Gustav Holst I vow to thee, my country, arr. Bridget Mermikides 10

LIST C
I James Longworth & Nick Walker Spanish Knights 12
2 Gary Ryan Underground Sound 13

-- 3 C. Carson Parks Somethin' Stupid, arr. Richard Wright 14

Other pieces for Grade 1

LIST A
-- 4 Le Roy J'ay bien mal choisi, arr. Wright. One+ One, Vol. I: pupil's part and teacher's score (Chanterelle)
-- 5 attrlb. Purcell Riggadoon (from Musick's Handmaid), arr. Wright. One+ One, Vol. I: pupil's part and teacher's score
(Chanterelle)
6 Longworth & Walker Tudor Dance. Guitar Basics Repertoire (Faber)
7 Malnerlo Italian Dance, arr. Ansorge & Szordikowski. My First Concert for Guitar (Schott)
8 J. Playford Country Dance No. 2 (from The Dancing Master), arr. Ansorge & Szordikowski. No. 4 from My First Concert for
Guitar (Schott)
9 Trad. Canadian V'la l'bon vent, arr. Lemay. Repertoire progressif, Vol. I (Les Productions d'Oz)
10 Trad. French Les Bouffons, arr. Burden. The Young Guitarist's Progress, Repertoire Series Part I (Garden Music)

LIST B
4 Aguado Andantino. Romantic Guitar Anthology, Vol. I (Schott) or Easy Concert Pieces for Guitar, Vol. I (Schott)
5 Musorgsky The Old Castle (from Pictures at an Exhibition), arr. Hegel. Easy Concert Pieces for Guitar, Vol. I (Schott) or
Classical Music for Children for Guitar (Schott)
6 Carulll Waltz in G, arr. Burden. P. 11 from The Young Guitarist's Progress, Repertoire Series Part I (Garden Music)
A. E. Mliller Allegretto, arr. Kenyon. ABC Guitar (Jacaranda Music)
-- 7 Schubert Theme (from Rosamunde, D. 797), arr. Wright. One+ One, Vol. I: pupil's part and teacher's score (Chanterelle)
-- 8 Sor Le~on in C (No. I from Introduction al'etude de laguitare, Op. 60). Sor: Introductory Studies, Op. 60 (Schott) or No. 16 from
9
Repertoire progress if, Vol. I (Les Productions d'Oz) or Sor: The Complete Studies (Chanterelle) or Sor: The Complete Studies,
Lessons, and Exercises (Teel a Editions)
1o Trad. Spiritual Poor Wayfaring Stranger, arr. Batchelar & Wright. Time Pieces for Guitar, Vol. I (ABRSM)

LIST C
-- 4 L. Bernstein One Hand, One Heart (observing repeat) (from West Side Story), arr. Batchelar & Wright. Time Pieces for Guitar,
Vol. 1 (ABRSM)
5 Colin Downs A Little Russian Tale. Solo Now! Preparatory Book (Chanterelle)
6 Stephen Kenyon Free-wheeling. ABC Guitar (Jacaranda Music)
-- 7 Satle A Tiresome Prank, arr. Kenyon. ABC Guitar (Jacaranda Music)
8 Longworth & Walker Havana Good Time. Guitar Basics Repertoire (Faber)
9 ~tepan Rak Chanson ancienne: from Jeux sur six cordes (Lemoine)
lO Colin Tommls The Night the Star Lost its Twinkle: No. I from Crossing the Divide (Les Productions d'Oz)
ill!L It is 5
Ci' illegal ~fij:ffi Mo Li Hua
to make
unauthori zed
copies of th is
copyrigh t
music.
Jasmine Flower
Arranged by Peter Batchelar Trad. Chinese

Gently J= c. 80

&t F a r ff rIr u r J 1r arr rr1r ur

f p
J

D J 1JJjJJ

(7\,
p poco rit. d
_r:J aJ
10

&j 1J tJ=JWJJ IJ J J 1.J. II

'Jasmine Flower' is a popular Chinese folk song, often performed on major public occasions such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The words
praise the fragile beauty of the flower. The melody, in the typically Chinese pentato nic (five-note) scale, was first printed in a Western book in
1804. It was reproduced on a mechanical musical box brought back from China around 1900 by the Italian aristocrat Baron Fassini. Having heard
the tune played on this musical box, Giacomo Puccini used it extensively in his last opera, Turandot (1926), which is set in Beijing.
© 2018 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

AB 391 8
6 ,!!IL II IS
On the bridge of Avignon CJ Illegal
to make
unauthorized

Sur le pont d'Avignon copi es ol th is

copy nghl
music.

Arranged by Richard Wright Trad. French

Allegretto J= c.80

J J
ef

1[3
6

r8 J fl 1EJ J I;
p

'
/I

t 1p J
f
j

J
J j

1?@
IJ t

g
' J j J j IJ 1rf2r
p
ef

1p
16

a fl J J
1Rf fl 1EJ J

' 1rF7 11

'Sur le pant d'Avignon' is a well-known traditional dance-song from France, with the chorus:
Sur le pant d'Avignon On the bridge of Avignon
On y danse, on y danse. people dance, people dance.
Sur le pant d'Avignon On the bridge of Avignon
On y danse taus en rand. people dance in a circle.

The famous Saint Benezet bridge in the southern French town of Avignon, built in the late 12th century, no longer crosses the river Rhone: only
four arches at one end ofit have survived.
© 2018 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

AB 3918
rtllL It is 7
Ci' illegal
lo make
unauthorized
cop ies of this
copy right
music.
Gaillarde Passemaize
Arranged by Helen Sanderson Claude Gervaise
(fl Paris, 1540-60)

Dancing J= c.112

rrr r r r r
II

"!I
r
6 sul pont.

mp
sul pont.

p
r- r r
11 nat.

nat.

r r r r r r r r r r
"!I

Claude Gervaise was a French musician of the mid-16th century who edited, arranged and composed four of a series of six volumes of dance
music for instrumental ensemble, entitled Danceries. The sixth volume, published in 1555, which Gervaise composed himself, includes a
'Pavanne passemaize et Gaillarde'. The title indicates a pairing, typical of the period, of a duple-time pavane and a livelier triple-time galliard,
both of them with harmonies resembling the chord scheme known in the Renaissance as the 'passamezzo'. This is an arrangement for two guitars
of the Gaillarde. In the exam, the candidate should play part I.
© 2018 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

AB 3918
8 ifill. It is
C7 illegal
to make
unauthorized

CID Ecossaise copies of this

copyright
music.

No. 5 from 24 pieces, Op. 121

Arra nged by Richard Wright

Ferdinando Carulli
(1770-1 841 )

Allegretto J= c. I 00

'tti f j 3J J j 4J J
Ill Ill
i

J J J J J
f
I Itf 12
r
J J I~
6

J
'tt
j JJ
J
ltf ii f -111· f
p
ir r
,j J J 1J n I J f J I~ J
Ill

:
II

J j JJ
'tt f - ltf I~ -II
3r f

Ferdinando Carulli, born in Naples in southern Italy but for many years based in Paris, was a famous guitarist, a pioneer of the six-string guitar
and its use in a solo role. He also composed much music for his instrument. His Opus 121, which was published in Germany around 1825, or
perhaps earlier, consists of24 short pieces, mostly in dance rhythms. This one, presented here in a simplified version, is an Ecossaise, or Scottish
da nce, a popular genre in the early 19th century.
© 2018 by The Associa ted Board of the Royal Schools of Music

AB 3918
 ~ lt is 9
illegal
to mak~

March
unauthorized
copies of this
copyrigh t
music.
(filJ
No. 19 from Introduction al'etude de la guitare, Op. 60
Arranged by Richard Wright Fernando Sor
(1778-1839)
Alla marcia .J = c.112

,-14
m

J dr"J It J J J J J
I~ #? lhf
ef

,- g
5

J J~ I;J J J
IF
J
tt?
J IJ
i F

,-
9

p
j
-
___j

I~
J
i~
J
I~
J J
I~
j j

,- g
13

mf
J J~ I ti J J
I~
f
J
rt?
J IJ
i F
>

>
>

>
>

r
>
11

Fernando Sor was one of the most celebrated concert guitarists of his time. He was born in Barcelona, and later lived and worked in Madrid, Paris
and London. Having received an all-round musical education, he composed operas, ballets, orchestral works and songs as well as a great deal
of guitar music. His Introduction to the Study of the Guitar, published in Paris shortly before his death, is a collection of 25 pieces arranged in
ascending order of difficulty. No. 19, given here in a simplified adaptation, is in quick march time.
© 2018 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

AB 3918
10 rfllL 11 is
Villega!
to make
unau thorized

([I) I vow to thee, my country co pies of this

copyright
music.

Arranged by Bridget Mermikides Gustav Holst

(1874-1934)

Moderato .J = c.63

II

r r r r r
mp legato

r r r r
9

pp r i r i

This well-known melody was originally a theme in 'Jupiter, the bringer ofJollity', from the orchestral suite The Planets, written between 1914 and
1916 by the British composer Gustav Holst. In 1921, Holst was asked to make a song setting of'J vow to thee, my country', a patriotic poem by the
late diplomat Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice. He fitted the poem to a slightly adapted version of his 'Jupiter' tune. Later, in 1926, Holst arranged the
song as a hymn for the hymn book Songs of Praise, and it became widely known in this form. Since 1991, it has reached a different audience as
'The world in union', the theme song of international rugby union. In the exam, the candidate should play part I.
© 2018 by The Associated Board olthe Royal Schools of Music

AB 391B
 11

13

-==========f

-
mp
r r r r
17

mp

r r r r
p

rit.
21

ur

AB 3918
12 ~ ltis
illegal
to make
unauthorized

(IT) Spanish Knights copies of th is

copyrigh t
music.

James Longworth (born 1961)

and Nick Walker (born 1964)
Bullishly = c. 126

J J J J
I' 1;' I*
t
r r·
Ir 1r
r r
,~ I
r r r-
6

l J J J J Il J J J J
I* I~- I* If· ]
r- r
,~
r· r r r- r r
12

J J J J Il J J J J IJ
Fine

* I~- Ir-* I* II
r· r r r r-
,, . 11= r i i r· Ir·
r r r-
IJ J

,~
mp
D.S. al Fine
23
Ii. I 2.
,J j IJ -II I
r r r- r
I
r r

This piece comes from the Guitar Basics series for beginners, written by two London-based composers and teachers, James Longworth and Nick
Walker. It hints at the Spanish idiom of much music written for the guitar. The composers say about it: 'We were inspired to compose this piece by
read ing the famous story of the old and proud Spanish kn ight Don Quixote. Wearing a battered suit of armour, he sets out in search of advent ure
across the plains of La Mancha on his plodding and faithful horse Rociname: The metronome marking, dynamics and note on beat I of bar 25b
(the second-time bar) have been added by the composers for this edition.
© 2012 Faber Music Ltd, WCIB 3DA
Reproduced from Guitar Basics Repertoire by permission of Faber Music Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB 3918
nlll. It is 13
C7 illegal
to ma ke
unaut horized
copies of this
copyright
music.
Underground Sound
Gary Ryan
(born 1969)
Boldly J= c.120 m
i

-
lru)
1 I I
urr r 3r r
~- p 1

i i i

i
I' Hd
FFr
p

r r r J dd33 1

r.',
p rit.

1£] J J
>
I 1 I; 11

Gary Ryan is a well-known British guitar soloist and teacher; he is assistant head of strings and guitar professor at the Royal College of Music in
London. The title of this specially written piece, he says, refers to the fact that much of the melodic interest is given to the thumb in the bass, 'with
many of the notes on ledger lines "underground" below the stave', He also notes that the piece uses the pentatonic (five-note) scale, requiring
the use ofonly the second and third fingers of the left hand. Occasional syncopations give it 'a slight rock feel' (though the quavers should not
be swung).
© 2018 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

AB 3918
 11IIL It is
14 l7 illegal
to make
unauthorized

Somethin' Stupid
copies of this
copyright
mu sic .

C. Carson Parks

With a relaxed feel J c. l 00

mf

II

r r r r
p

4
ll

t_ l I I ..
11
II

,,_;
r r F· 4r• P ·r r· p
r
7
)

t.
- - - I I ----
I

/J
,,. II

't_ l
r· p -
r
-
r· p
r 4r r r-

'Somethin' Stupid' is a song in which the singer regrets spoiling a date 'by saying something stupid like "I love you"'. It was written by the
American singer Clarence Carson Parks, and recorded by him as a duet with his wife Gaile Foote - as Carson and Gaile _ in 1966. The following
year, a recording by Frank Sinatra with his daughter Nancy went to the top of the American charts. There have been other versions since then,
including one by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman in 2001, a No. l hit in the UK. This arrangement presents the melody line with a guitar
accompaniment in a repeated rhythm. In the exam, the candidate should play part I.
© Copyright 1967 Greenwood Music Company, USA
Chester Music Limited trading as Montclare Music. All rights reserved, International copyright secured.

AB 3918
 15

JO

r =i r
13

r
rr
=
rr
= 4 •

16
,~ .
- - - - -

, I
t .l
f
ll I l I I

- '

r ~r - r
-
'" r· p
r
- -
r 4r"". - r r r- r- I" - =' 4

19

- -
mf r r

AB 3918
Scales and arpeggios
You will be asked for at least one of each type of scale and arpeggio, which should be played from memory,
legato and in even notes (except where indicated).

RANGE REQUIREMENTS

SCALES
G, Fmajors fingers only; tirando or apoyando, at candidate's choice;
both starting an octave above lowest tonic long tonic
1 oct.
A, Eminors thumb only; tirando
(natural or harmonic, at candidate's choice)
ARPEGGIOS
G major starting an octave above lowest tonic
1 oct. tirando
E minor starting an octave above lowest tonic