Are you looking to complete your skills section for the DofE? You can achieve a new skill within 21 months, by learning the guitar either online, face to face or a mix.
Join the many that already have.
Developing consistency
Practice, time, effort, dedication.
Learning guitar requires regular practice, goal-setting, and perseverance to improve over time. This demonstrates self-discipline, consistency, and the ability to commit to building long-term confidence. You’ll develop that ‘independent learning style’, too.
Building Resilience
And a growth mindset
Mastering new techniques and challenging pieces involves overcoming mistakes and setbacks. This shows resilience, patience, and a willingness to learn from feedback, qualities that are highly valued in both higher education and the workplace.
Enhancing creativity
And the ability to solve problems.
Playing guitar encourages creative expression while also requiring analytical thinking to understand rhythm, technique, and musical structure. This reflects adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving abilities that can be applied in a wide range of academic and professional settings.
About DofE.
Learn guitar, complete your skills section.
3 months
You’ve trained your mind-set
The Guitar takes a life-time to learn and there’s so much you could achieve. Start completing your skills award by aiming for Gold and achieve a new skill that lasts a life time. Learn rock, acoustic, classical, music theory online, in person or a mix. Whether 3, 6 or 12 months, the first stage is booking your intro.
6 months
Develop your style
Six months will fly by! You’ll move well beyond basic chords, develop smooth coordination between your fretting and strumming hands, and be able to play the rhythm parts of your favourite songs. Guitar or theory grades are available online or in person. Let’s book your intro and let’s start your guitar journey, today!
12 months
Don’t stop, keep learning.
After 12 months, you will have a clear understanding of the progress you have made, the strengths you have developed, and the opportunities that still lie ahead. At the end of the 12-month programme, you will be invited to Buckingham Palace’s DofE Award Celebrations, to celebrate your achievements.
Learn for Grades
Acoustic • Electric • Classical • Bass • Music theory
Acoustic guitar
Finger-style
Electric Guitar
Grades • confidence
Music Theory
Grades 1-5 (ABRSM)
Bass guitar
Grades
Classical Guitar
Grades or for confidence
What you can achieve
Grades • In person • video submission
| Grades | Trinity Acoustic / RSL | Trinity Acoustic |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Beginner. Common open chords, basic chord changes, simple fingerpicking patterns, easy pop/folk songs. | Purchase link |
| Grade 2 | Early beginner/intermediate. Better rhythm control, more chord shapes, basic accompaniment skills, simple lead lines. | Purchase link |
| Grade 3 | Solid beginner. Confident strumming and fingerstyle, simple scales and arpeggios, can perform complete songs musically. | Purchase link |
| Grade 4 | Lower intermediate. Barre chords begin to feel comfortable, more complex rhythms, stronger finger independence. | Purchase link |
| Grade 5 | Intermediate. Good command of open and barre chords, fingerstyle arrangements, blues and pop techniques, reliable performance skills. | Purchase link |
| Grade 6 | Upper intermediate. Advanced fingerpicking, jazz/blues vocabulary, stylistic interpretation, stronger technical work. | Purchase link |
| Grade 7 | Advanced. Complex fingerstyle pieces, extended chord voicings, sophisticated accompaniment and solo playing. Example repertoire includes arrangements such as "Hole Hearted" by Extreme. | Purchase link |
| Grade 8 | Advanced/pre-professional. High-level fingerstyle and plectrum technique, wide stylistic range, expressive performance, advanced scales, arpeggios and improvisatory skills. Example repertoire includes arrangements such as "Night and Day". | Purchase link |
| What you'll achieve | Exam boards | What you'll recieve | Online • in person | Rock School Syllabus Books | Triniity Rock & Pop Books |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner. Basic riffs, simple rhythms, power chords, basic timing. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 1 Electric Gutar Pass • Merit • Distinction | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Early beginner/intermediate. More confident playing, simple stylistic awareness. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 2 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Solid beginner. Can perform complete songs with reasonable technique and timing. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 3 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Lower intermediate. More varied techniques, better musical control. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 4 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Intermediate. Comfortable with most common rock/pop techniques and styles. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 5 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Upper intermediate. Strong technical ability and musical interpretation. Eligible for UCAS points. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 6 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction UCAS Points Available | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Advanced. Can perform demanding repertoire with good stylistic understanding and consistency. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 7 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction UCAS Points Available | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Advanced/pre-professional. Strong technique, musicianship, and performance skills; often considered a suitable standard for music college auditions. | Trinity Rock & Pop, Rock School Syllabus | Grade 8 Electric Guitar Pass • Merit • Distinction UCAS Points Available | Online or in person |  Complete reference for guitar exams and music theory grades, suitable for ABRSM, Trinity Rock & Pop, and RSL students. |  Learn a new skill, learn guitar, learn grads, complete your bronze silver gold. |
| Grades/strong> | What you'll achieve | Exam boards | What you'll recieve | Online • in person | Books |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Beginner; simple scales, rhythms, and short pieces. | Trinity Classical | Grade 1 Electric Gutar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 2 | Early beginner; greater hand coordination and musical control. | Trinity Classical | Grade 2 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 3 | Developing player; can perform several contrasting pieces confidently. | Trinity Classical | Grade 3 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 4 | Lower intermediate; more advanced scales, dynamics, and expression. | Trinity Classical | Grade 4 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 5 | Intermediate; solid technical foundation and musical understanding. | Trinity Classical | Grade 5 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 6 | Upper intermediate; more sophisticated repertoire and interpretation. Eligible for UCAS points. | Trinity Classical | Grade 6 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 7 | Advanced; substantial technical and musical demands. | Trinity Classical | Grade 7 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| Grade 8 | Advanced/pre-professional; often considered a standard suitable for entry to many conservatoire and music college auditions. | Trinity Classical | Grade 8 Electric Guitar | Online or in person |  Complete your grades for DofE, Skills, bronze Silver Gold |
| ABRSM Grade | Typical Theory Standard | Online Exam | Books needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Beginner. Read treble and bass clefs, understand note values, rests, simple time signatures, basic major scales (C, G, D, F), and common musical terms. | ✅ |  |
| Grade 2 | Early beginner. Understand relative major/minor keys, more key signatures, triplets, wider note range, and basic harmonic minor scales. | ✅ |  |
| Grade 3 | Developing musician. Understand compound time, all keys up to 4 sharps/flats, harmonic and melodic minor scales, intervals by number and type, and octave transposition. | ✅ |  |
| Grade 4 | Lower intermediate. Comfortable with all common time signatures, keys up to 5 sharps/flats, double sharps/flats, alto clef, chromatic scales, triads, ornaments, and score-reading questions. | ✅ |  |
| Grade 5 | Intermediate. Understand all major and minor keys up to 6 sharps/flats, all intervals, inversions, cadences, transposition for transposing instruments, tenor clef, orchestral instruments, and practical analysis of musical extracts | ✅ |  |
Complete beginner?
PDF Intro pack
Are you a beginner or returning to playing after a break? If so, you will need the Intro Pack PDF, which should be used for practice following your introductory session. The pack contains three pages of essential chord shapes that you will need to learn and become familiar with, along with several 12-Bar Blues variations to help develop your rhythm and chord changes. It also includes scales and exercises designed to support your technique, improvisation skills, and overall musical development.
Assessor’s Report
Bronze Silver Gold
An Assessor’s Report should accurately reflect the achievements completed for the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. While the table above provides a comprehensive range of possible achievements, each award is based on an individual’s personal accomplishments, demonstrating their commitment, time, and effort. Consequently, every report is tailored to the participant’s unique journey and achievements and should be written as a bespoke account rather than using generic wording.
Backdate those hours
Sign off your bronze, silver, gold.
Whether you are completing your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, you have achieved something to be proud of, and you should be congratulated on your commitment and progress. If you are planning to continue on to the Silver or Gold Award, you may also wish to consider increasing your lesson length from 30 minutes to 45 or 60 minutes, as this can provide additional time to support your continued development and help you make further progress towards your musical goals.
Online, in person, a mix?
Local? Don’t forget to let me know.