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An invaluable aid in preparing for the Registry

of Cuitar Tutors electric guitar exams.

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An innovative and helpful book for all modern guitar players who want to improve their rhythm guitar playing.

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A CIP record for this publication is available from the British Library

ISBN: 1-898466-{4-9 Published in Great Britain by Registry Publications Ltd. Registry House, Churchill Mews, Dennett Rd, Croydon, Surrey CRO3JH

Printed and bound in Great Britain by Gemini press.

WARNING PHOTOCOPYING OF ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IS ILLEGAL Breach of copyright, by photocopying or any other means, rnay esult in botr a claim for civil damages and criminal prosecution.

@opyright 2002 by Registry Publications Ltd. ALL WORLDWIDE RIGHTS RESERVED

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Ttre negistry Of Guitar Tutors, in association with the London College Of Music, first began to offer grade examinations in electric guitar playing in 1993. Since that time the examinations have proved to be highly popular with students and teachers alike. However, the RGT has repeatedly had requests for additional course materiat to accompany the Rhythm Guitar Playing section of the examinations. This series of three books by Chaz Hart, one of the RGT's senior electric guitar examiners, has been especially designed to fulfil that need. Each book provides a wide range of musical examples that clearly demonstrate the type of chord progressions that will appear in each grade of the examinations. In addition, Chaz has thoughtfully provided Playing Tips with each piece. These give advice on the most common problematic areas and offer suggestions on how to gain those extra elusive marks. Because of Chaz's wide experience as a teacher and examiner, these comments are always insightful and poignant.

0\erall the series provides a structured rhythm guitar playing and

and progressive way

of approaching the study of

will undoubtedly provide a valuable

study method for atl students of guitar whether intending to take the examination or not. In addition, the series serves as an excellent teaching resource which guitar teachers can use to compliment their teaching progranrme.

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4^\{t"*u Tony Skinner Director - Registry Of Guitar Tutors

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my experience as a teacher and electric guitar examiner, I've found that one of the main difticulties that guitar players have is not having enough chord charts to practise in a full range of keys. This book aims to alleviate that difficulty. All of the chord charts have been officially approved by The Registry of Guinr Tutors for use in their electric guitar examinations, which are organised in association with the London College of Music.

Wi,rr each piece I have tried to include a few tips that may help head off potential difficulties. Please look back over these as you progress further through the grades, because the tips will help with more than one piece.

You can never have too much material to read, so I suggest that

to further supplement this book you obtain any of the 'busker-style' books n.hich have a song on one or two pages maximum. This enables you to plal'" the chords without having to flick pages. Don't worry if some of the chords are outside your brief for the grade. If you don't know the chord, play one that is as near as you can to it: if it reads GmajT - play G, until you learn the full chord and carry on. The important thing is: DON'T STOP!

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Introduction Note values To play any rhythm, it's useful to know the different musical signs and symbols that are universally used. This will help you to play through any time signature, and more importantly, to eventually make up your own rhythms. The following notes and their rhythmic equivalent are shown together with the direction of the strum that you need:

CROTCHET (QUARTER NOTE) In a X time bar you would normally find four of these, with one beat on each. All the stums would be down. These are shown: D, D, D, D.

Crotchet

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MINIM (HALF NOTE) In a X time bar you would play two of these. The strums would both be down, but with a gap of one beat between each strum.

QUAVER (EIGHTH NOTE) In a X bar you could play eight of these. The strums would be down

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and up strokes, and are usually

shown as: Down/up,down/up down/up down/ up or:D/U, DN ,DN,DN

SEMTBREVE (WHOLE NOTE) In a X bar you would only find one of these lasting the whole bar. Try to let the chord ring on for the whole four beats.

Quaver

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StrumDlU D/U DIU

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Strum Patterns The following strum patterns are probably the most commonly used rhythms. Start by practicing chords that you know over these pattems. Try to keep a strong beat, and accent (play louder) the first beat in every bar.

Pattern (a)

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1" 2 3 (4) sim....... Strum D, D, D, (let ring) sim.... Count

Pattern (b)

Count 1 2and

3 4 Strum D, D lU D, D.

Pa,ttern (c)

L Z 3and 4 Strum D, D, D lU D. Count

Pattem (d)

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Strum

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Zand 3and 4

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Note: In the Registry of Guitar Tutors examinations the rhythm pattern that you play will not be notated.It is up to you to have practised a repertoire of useful rhythmic pattems from whir you can select an appropriate one for the style of the piece.

Preliminary Grade As outlined in the Registry of Guitar Tutors examination handbook, all the pieces for this grade are in X time, so to begin with play four beats to the bar (four down strums) whilst you pr*ti.. slowly through this first piece. Try to keep going at the chord changes. As soon as you can, look at the tempo and style markings at the beginning of each piece.

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Note that the double dots at the end of the 6th bar mean: "Repeat from the beginning", if there are no previous double dots.

Moderate tempo

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