London College of Music

Popular Music Theory Worksheets

Grade 1

Section One: Scales and Keys

Test 1 – Identifying scales from letter names

Which scales contain the following notes?

a) C D E G A C

b) A C D E G A

c) E G A B D E

d) G A B D E G

Test 2 – Naming notes within scales

Write out the notes of the following scales using letter names:

a) A pentatonic minor

b) E pentatonic minor

c) C pentatonic major

d) G pentatonic major

Test 3 – Identifying key signatures

Name the major and minor pentatonic scales which have the following key signatures:

a) Major: Minor:

b) Major: Minor:

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets
Grade 1 - Section One: Scales and Keys - continued

Test 4 – Identifying scales from music notation

Name the following scales:

a)

b)

c)

d)

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets
Grade 1 - Section One: Scales and Keys - continued

Test 5 – Writing out scales using music notation

Using the correct key signature, write out one octave (ascending) of the following scales in either
the treble or bass clef:

a) C pentatonic major

b) E pentatonic minor

c) A pentatonic minor

d) G pentatonic major

Test 6 – Knowledge of scale degrees

Name the notes which fall on the following degrees of the E natural minor scale:

3rd 7th

Name the notes which fall on the following degrees of the G pentatonic major scale:

2nd 3rd

Name the notes which fall on the following degrees of the C major scale:

3rd 6th

Which degrees of the major scale are omitted in the pentatonic major scale?

Which degrees of the natural minor scale are omitted in the pentatonic minor scale?

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets

Grade 1
Section Two: Chords
Test 1 – Identifying chords from note letters

Name the chords which contain the following notes:

a) A C E G

b) G B D F#

c) E G B D

d) C E G B

Test 2 – Writing out letter names of notes in chords

Write out the letter names of the notes of the following chords:

a) Cmaj7

b) Gmaj7

c) Am7

d) Em7

Test 3 – Identifying chords from music notation

Identify the following chords:

a)

b)

c)

d)

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets
Grade 1 - Section Two: Chords - continued

Test 4 – Writing out chords in music notation

Write out the following chords in either the treble or bass clef:

a) Em7

b) Cmaj7

c) Gmaj7

d) Am7

Test 5 – Identifying notes of chords using degrees of the scale

Circle the correct answer in each case:

a) The 3rd of Cmaj7 is: E F A

b) The 5th of Am7 is: C E F

c) The 5th of Em7 is: F# B E

d) The 7th of Gmaj7 is: C E F#

e) The 7th of Cmaj7 is: C G B

f) The 3rd of Gmaj7 is: B C E

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets

Grade 1

Section Three: Rhythm Notation

Test 1 – Identifying note and rest values

Name the following types of note:

a)

b)

c)

Name the following types of rest:

a)

b)

c)

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets
Grade 1 - Section Three: Rhythm Notation - continued

Test 2 – Writing note and rest values

Write the symbols for the following note types at a pitch of your choice. Use either the bass or
treble clef:

Eighth note Quarter note Half note

(quaver) (crotchet) (minim)

Write the symbols for the following rest types. Use either the bass or treble clef:

Eighth rest Quarter rest Half rest

(quaver rest) (crotchet rest) (minim rest)

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets
Grade 1 - Section Three: Rhythm Notation - continued

Test 3 – Composing rhythms

Using a clef and a note of your choice, write out two different bars of rhythm in 44 time, using only
quarter notes (crotchets) and eighth notes (quavers):

Using a clef and a note of your choice, write out two different bars of rhythm in 44 time, using only
half notes (minims), quarter notes (crotchets), eighth notes (quavers), and some of their equivalent
rests:

Test 4 – Grouping notes and rests

Complete the following bars by inserting the appropriate rest or rests in the spaces marked * :

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 London College of Music - Popular Music Theory Examination Worksheets

Grade 1
Section Four: Popular Music Knowledge
Test 1 – The Beatles

Name the drummer of The Beatles:

Name one of The Beatles’ hit records:

During which decade did The Beatles perform and record?

Test 2 – Elvis Presley

Name one of Elvis Presley’s hit records:

In which decade did Elvis Presley’s have his first hit record?

Test 3 – The Rolling Stones

Name the vocalist of The Rolling Stones:

Name one of The Rolling Stones’ hit singles:

During which decade did The Rolling Stones have their first chart success?

Name one of the main songwriters within the group:

Test 4 – Jimi Hendrix

Which instrument did Jimi Hendrix play?

Name one of Jimi Hendrix’s hit singles:

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