Fellow Guitarists In Here ...

[MaidenScotland]

Well, I went to a college open day today and was really interested in this music course I saw. I spoke to the guy who runs the course and he told me that there is no formal entry requirements and that you could apply for the course by audition on your chosen instrument. I chose guitar and he told me to learn a piece equivelent to 'grade 3' and he could set me up for an audition.

I have no idea what grade I am because i've never been graded before, so could someone recommend me a grade 3 piece to learn for my audition?

It's a rock music course btw, so it can I can play a rock piece for my audition.

[even13flow]

That sounds more like a question that would be better directed at the teacher of course. Grades and difficulty level are different from preson to person. I honestly don't have any recommendations because I don't know what the grades are.

[MaidenScotland]

I'm not sure what the grades are either, but I don't think they are looking for anything advanced or like that. I think grade 3 and 4 are just intermidiate grades.

Grade 1 and 2: Beginner
Grade 3 and 4: Intermediate
Grade 5 and 6: Advanced

I think that's how they work here.

Thanks for your reply anyway though.

[wolfway]

i play a little bit guitar, and i'dd say sandman isn't too hard... it's (like metallica says) based on just one riff and it's quite easy... solo not included ofcourse.

nothing else matters is also quite easy, just a few days of practice and i could play it (and it's soooooo cool to play that one)

i found master of puppets not to hard either, and the middle part is cool. solo not included aswel. puppets is perhaps fast, but i'm not downpicking like metallica, i can't do that but i learned that one myself on a day or 2 aswel

i don't know how long you play guitar already. sandman is a good choice. soo easy

i don't know about other bands though, iron maiden has main riffs that consist of the same notes many times, but they're very fast most of the times, and many songs include more difficult interludes i think... but you should see, im sure there's some easy stuff inthere. haven't learned much of them. but "afraid to shoot strangers" is BEAUTIFUL and the melodic parts are easy to learn. the fast solo's not... but you can just play the main riff there if ya want (like i do)


*edit* if i understand correct you havent played guitar yet? than i would go with sandman. puppets will be too hard for just beginning.

[FBM]

Master of Puppets isn't too hard if you are not downpicking, but ever tried the intro downpicking?IMHo that's really hard if the most of the songs you played before wasn't downpicking, but im getting better though..
Well some easy ones imo:

For whom the bell tolls
Memory Remains
Seek n Destroy
Welcome Home
Harvester of Sorrow

but grade 3-4...hmmm (my thoughts)
Eye of the Beholder
One
Disposable Heroes
Thorugh the Never

This is a list of my experience

But if you never played before, go with
FWTBT or Sandman , Seek would work too
Yeah like wolfway suggested
enjoy

[Pete-Rock]

but grade 3-4...hmmm (my thoughts)
Eye of the Beholder
One
Disposable Heroes
Thorugh the Never

Naaa, come on, those arent quite difficult. For INTERMEDIATE I would say play Orion including all its Guitarsolos (remember that some solos which are often thought of as guitar solos are actually bass solos).

[FBM]

but grade 3-4...hmmm (my thoughts)
Eye of the Beholder
One
Disposable Heroes
Thorugh the Never

Naaa, come on, those arent quite difficult. For INTERMEDIATE I would say play Orion including all its Guitarsolos (remember that some solos which are often thought of as guitar solos are actually bass solos).

Yeah but difficult for those who never played guitar before i'd say..
Eventhough if you think so, you could add most of Metallica songs, they aren't that difficult, you just have to be fast and be good at downpicking, imo

[LeperMessiah26]

Seeing as you say you have never been graded before.....that means you do play a bit right?

I havent a clue on Grading...but do you happen to buy Total Guitar magazine? they had a few issues that helped with Grades...i will dig them out and have a look at the requirements

Also,whats the hardest song you can play? or,whats the song you can play the best,with no mistakes?
Id go for the one you can play the best....or like Even13Flow said...just ask the tutor what kinda songs grade 3 would be

Puppets i wouldnt class as easy at all...if played correct...all down picking,better have good right and left hand co-ordination...

Sandman is probably the easiest.....easier than NEM id say...

Will go dig out the magazines!!

[LeperMessiah26]

Just looked at the magazines..and it only covers Grade 1 exams..and what you need to know....grade 3 starts in the next issue...which is out Aug15th...

[MaidenScotland]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I should have made it a bit clearer though, I have been playing guitar for about a year and a half. Some of the Metallica songs I can already play are

Enter Sandman
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Seek & Destroy
Some Kind Of Monster
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Wherever I May Roam

I am a pretty competent guitar player, it's just choosing the right thing to play at auditions and stuff that I have difficulty with. I try to pick songs that have a bit of everything in it.

Dunno about playing Enter Sandman for the audition though because it's basically writen around the same riff and there's not much variation. I was thinking about maybe playing Seek & Destroy or Sanitarium.