Rockschool

Rockschool has always been committed to formal and high standards in mainstream music education. It is intended that these diplomas (developed in association with the Musicians’ Union) will swell the ranks of qualified teachers of popular music, and provide a quality benchmark amongst those educators.

Last time we looked at chords and rhythm playing. This time we’ll look at the jazzy melody based on the D natural minor scale, and piece it all together.

Night Bus is Rockschool’s answer to ska, a fuel driven rhythmically enhanced music originating in 1960’s Jamaica, later popularized by ‘Madness’ and their songs ‘Our House’ and ‘It must be Love’. It uses key elements such as accented off-beat rhythms, punchy guitar chords and smooth jazz-like riffs to create a fun and interesting piece.

In Rockschool’s Grade 1 most of the fingerings are kept to the first few frets, but in Grade 2 we explore a bit more; we move out of 1st position and start using the first 12 frets. Rhythms are more varied and melodies more complex. You’ll find yourself learning and using not only a greater variety of scales and chords, but also new techniques such as slides, vibrato, hammer-ons/pull-offs, palm muting and staccato.

There are a few markings on the Grade 2 music notation that may be new to you – let’s take a look at some.

As the nights draw in rapidly there is no sign of hibernation at Rockschool HQ. 2008 is shaping up to be a big year, with new qualifications, publications and projects being most feverishly developed...