Thecnical Guitar

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Guitar Technical Handbook Every Technical Exercise you need for Rockschool examinations printed in full

x m . u d e . l l e t r a m g @ l s r / o c i x e M l l e t r a M G / 1 / 6 7 7 9 3 0 7 8 4 4 1 5 L S R

All accompanying and supporting audio can be downloaded from: www.rslawards.com/downloads































Acknowledgements Published by Rockschool Ltd. © 2012 Catalogue Number RSK111204 ISBN: 978-1-910975-81-7 978-1-910975-81-7 This edition published December 2017 | Errata details can be found at www.rslawards.com AUDIO

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Langlei Studios by Duncan Jordan Producer: James Uings MUSICIANS

Stuart Clayton, Fergus Gerrand, Noam Lederman, Kit Morgan, Stuart Ryan, Ross Stanley PUBLISHING

Music engraving and book layout by Simon Troup and Jennie Troup of Digital Music Art Proof and copy editing by Noam Lederman, Stephen Lawson, Simon Pitt and James Uings Cover design by Philip Millard Cover photography by Adam Gasson SYLLABUS

Syllabus director: Jeremy Ward Instrumental specialists: Stuart Clayton, Noam Lederman and James Uings SPONSORSHIP

Noam Lederman plays Mapex Drums, PAISTE cymbals and uses Vic Firth Sticks Rockschool would like to thank the following companies for donating donating instruments used in the cover artwork

PRINTING

Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by Caligraving Ltd DISTRIBUTION

Exclusive Distributors: Music Sales Ltd CONTACTING ROCKSCHOOL

www.rslawards.com Telephone: +44 (0)845 460 4747 Email: [email protected]

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able o Contents Introductions & Information Information 2 3 4 5 6

Acknowledgements Table of Contents Welcome to the Rockschool Rocksch ool Guitar Technical Handbook Frequently Asked Questions Guitar Notation Explained

Technical Exercises 7 11 15 21 31 49 59 79 101

Debut Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

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Welcome to the Rockschool Guitar Technical Handbook In this book you will find printed in full all the scales, arpeggios and chords needed to complete the Technical Exercises section of Rockschool’s Guitar grade exams. This book should be read in conjunction with the relevant grade books (Debut–Grade 8) published by Rockschool and the Syllabus Guide for Guitar. The Syllabus Guide can be downloaded for free from our website: www.rslawards.com In the Rockschool grade exam system, the Technical Exercises form the core of each grade. Mastering them gives players a valuable insight insight not only only into the types of scales scales and arpeggios needed for for any improvi improvisational sational work work they may be required required to do, but also into the other types of ‘unseen’ tests they will encounter in the exam, such as the Sight Reading, Improvisation & Interpretation and Ear Tests, and at Grade 6 or higher, the Quick Study Piece. This book is divided and ordered by grade, starting with Debut and then progressing from Grade 1 to Grade 8. Its many features include the following: ■ At the start of the book we have included some Frequently Asked Questions which we hope will cover the enquiry topics most commonly sent in to the Rockschool office by teachers and learners. ■ A grade-by-grade ordering of technical material showing all the keys, starting notes and fingering patterns for the scales and arpeggios needed to complete the exam. ■ Each section is introduced by a page which summarises the content found in each grade. These pages show what’s new grade-by-grade as well as showing, at a glance, the technical work required for each grade. ■ At Grades 6–8 the Technical Exercises conclude with a Stylistic Study. Candidates may choose one of the three Studies to perform in the exam. Please note that the choice of style in the Study will dictate the style of the Quick Study Piece. We hope you find this book useful and that it will inspire you to approach the Technical Exercises in our exams without fear. To make best use of it, you will need a guitar in standard tuning and either a physical or a virtual metronome which can be downloaded as a phone app for very little cost.

Audio In addition to this book, we have also provided audio examples where appropriate. The following symbol is used to indicated which exercises have accompanying audio:

P These audio examples can be downloaded from RSL directly at www.rslawards.com/downloads You will need to input this code when prompted: 98S2DJCHSR The audio files are supplied in MP3 format. Once downloaded you will be able to play them on any compatible device. k o o b
































Frequently Asked Questions What are the examiners looking for? The examiners are looking for fluency, accuracy and promptness of response. The assessment requirements for the Technical Exercises for each grade can be found in the Syllabus Guide for Guitar, available at www.rslawards.com Will I have to play all the exercises listed in the exam? At most grades, no. The examiner will usually ask you to perform a selection of the listed exercises at each grade. However, at Debut and Grade 1 there are fewer questions and, therefore, the examiner may ask you to play all of them. Will I be asked to perform any exercise from a grade lower than the one I am attempting? No. You will be asked to play only the exercises printed in the grade book. What does = 80 mean? This is the tempo (speed) that the exercise is to be played at. If the exercise does not have a backing track you can use a metronome to indicate the tempo at which the exercise is to be played. A metronome is a device that provides a steady pulse to help you ensure that you play at a consistent tempo. Teachers often recommend that students buy a metronome as they are also useful in helping to build speed towards the final required tempo. Do I have to use a metronome in the exam? No. However, before you start the section you will be asked if you would like to play the exercises along with the click or hear a single bar of click before you commence the test. What should I do if I make a mistake? Stay calm and do your best to recover and carry on. The examiner is there to award marks for what you can do, not penalise you for what you can’t. What does ‘prepared chromatically’ mean? You should be able to play any individual scale starting from any root note in the note range specified. Can I take this book into the exam? No. The only book a candidate is allowed to take into a Rockschool examination is the grade book appropriate for the examination examination being taken. Can I have my grade book open at the relevant page of Technical Exercises in the exam? Yes. Why are some of the chord exercises listed as ‘continuous exercises’ exercises’ while others are not? ‘Continuous exercises’ are to be played as a chord progression at the specified tempo. In all other chord exercises – easily recognisable by each bar being separated by a double barline – the examiner will ask for a selection of individual chords to be played. This is shown clearly in the following example: B5

T A

A5

G5

A5

B5

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Guitar Notation Notation Explained Explaine d Notes:

THE MUS ICAL STAVE STAVE

shows pitches and rhythms and is divided by lines into bars. Pitches are named aer the first seven letters of the alphabet.

E C A F

D

Am

2 3 2 0

0 1 2 2 0

F

F D B G E

Strings: E B

TABLATURE graphically

represents the guitar fingerboard. Each horizontal line represents a string and each number represents a fret.

G D A E

T A B

2

Fourth string, 2nd fr fret

Open D chord

Rhythm notation with suggested fingering

Solos and Cont. sim. sections are shown in slash notation

Definitions For Special Guitar Notation HAMMER-ON: Pick the lower note,

PULL-OFF: Pick the higher note then

then sound the higher note by fretting it without picking.

sound the lower note by liing the finger without picking.

T A B

5

7

T A B

7

5

STRING BENDS: Pick the first note then VIBRATO: Vibrate the note by bending

bend (or release the bend) to the pitch indicated in brackets.

and releasing the string smoothly and continuously.

SLIDE: Pick the first note and slide to the next. If the line connects (as below) the second note is not repicked. repicked.

T A B

2

4

TRILL: Rapidly alternate between the two bracketed notes by hammering on and pulling off.

GLISSANDO: Slide off of a note at the

end of its rhythmic value. e note that follows is repicked.

T A B

2

4

NATURAL HARMONICS: Lightly touch the

string above the indicated fret then pick to sound a harmonic.

NH

BU

T A B

5

BD

(6)

(5)

T A B

8

T A B

(5

7)

5

T A B

12 12 12

PINCHED HARMONICS: Bring the

PICK-HAND TAP: Strike the indicated

FRET-HAND TAP: As pick-hand tap,

QUARTER-TONE QUARTER-TONE BEND: Pick the note

thumb of the picking hand into contact with the string immediately aer the pick.

note with a finger from the picking hand. Usually followed by a pull-off.

but use fretting hand. Usually followed by a pull-off or hammer-on.

indicated and bend the string up by a quarter tone. 1/4

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Debut D

ebut ebut eatures two scale sca le types: ty pes: major major

Technical Work

scales and a nd minor pentatonic pentatonic scales.

empo

q = 70

Tere Tere are also a lso six chords. chords. Te chords and

Scales | Major

C

scales are a re all in i n open position, position, which is

Scales | Minor Pentatonic

E&A

the open strings and first our rets o

Chords | Major

A, D, C & G

the guitar. At the end o the echnical

Chords | Minor

Am & Em

Exercises you you will wil l play a riff to a backing back ing

Riff

Four bars @ q = 70

track. Te first bar ba r o the riff is notated notated in ull. You will be required to move the pattern pattern to the correct starting star ting note in the remaining, un-n u n-notate otated d bars.
































Debut echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Major scales 1. C major

T A B

0 0 0

2

1

0

2

2

0

3

3

2

0

3

3

Group A: Scales | Minor pentatonic scales 1. E minor pentatonic

T A B

0 0 0

2

0

2

2

0

3

3

0

2. A minor pentatonic

T A B

0 0 0

3

2

2

0 2

0 3

0
































Debut echnical Exercises Group B: Chords | Major chords 1. Open-position chords. Individual chords will be strummed once as directed by the examiner. A

D

C

G

0 2 2 2 0

2 3 2 0

0 1 0 2

3 0 0 0

T A B

Group B: Chords | Minor chords 1. Open-position chords. Individual chords will be strummed once as directed by the examiner.

T A B

Am

Em

0 1 2 2 0

0 0 0 2 2 0
































Debut echnical Exercises

P

Group C | Riff

In the exam you will be asked to play the following riff to a backing track. The riff shown in bar 1 should be played in the same shape in bars 2–4. The root note of the pattern to be played is shown in the music in each of the subsequent three bars. q = 70 Rock Am

T A B

Dm

0 0

3

3

Am

0 3

Dm

0 0


































Grade 1 G

rade 1 adds two new scale

Technical Work

types: natural minor and major

empo

q = 70

pentatonic. wo wo new open chords are

Scales | Major

C

added to those covered at Debut and the

Scales | Natural Minor

A

C and G chords are extended to their


E&A

five- and six-string versions. wo-note

Scales | Major Pentatonic

G

powerchords are introduced at this

Chords | Powerchords

B 5, A5 & G5

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Grade 1 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Major scales 1. C major

T A B

0 0 0

2

1

0

2

2

0

3

3

2

0

3

3

Group A: Scales | Natural minor scales 1. A natural minor

T A B

0 0 0

2

2

3

3

Group A: Scales | Minor pentatonic scales

2

0 3

2

0 3

2

0

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Grade 1 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Major pentatonic scales 1. G major pentatonic

T A B

0 0 0

2

2

0

2

2

3

0 3

Group B: Chords | Powerchords 1. Powerchords: two-note chords to be played in a continuous sequence. B

T A B

5

9 7

A

5

7 5

G

5

5 3

A

5

7 5

B

5

9 7

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Grade 1 echnical Exercises

P

Group C | Riff

In the exam you will be asked to play the following riff to a backing track. The riff shown in bar 1 should be played in the same shape in bars 2–4. The root note of the pattern to be played is shown in the music in each of the subsequent three bars. q =70 Rock Em

T A B

Am

0 2 0

2

0

Em

Am

2 0

0 0

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Grade 2 G

rade 2 eatures the same our scale sca le

Technical Work

types ty pes as those t hose covered covered in Grade 1.

empo

q = 80

Each scale sca le should be prepared prepared in two t wo

Scales | Major

C&G

keys. Te powerchords are extended to

Scales | Natural Minor

E&A

three-note versions o those ound in


C&G

Grade 1. Tere are two new chord types

Scales | Major Pentatonic

C&G

(minor 7 and major 7) and the technique

Chords | Powerchords

B 5, A5 & G5

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Grade 2 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Major scales 1. C major

T A B

0 0 0 3

2. G major

2

3

2

1

0 2

0 3

2

0 3

































Grade 2 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Minor pentatonic scales 1. C minor pentatonic

T A B

3 3 3

6

2. G minor pentatonic

5

5

3 5

3 6

3

































Grade 2 echnical Exercises Group B: Chords | Powerchords 1. Powerchords: three-note chords to be played in a continuous sequence. B

T A B

5

9 9 7

A

5

7 7 5

G

5

5 5 3

A

5

7 7 5

B

5

9 9 7

Group B: Chords | Major chords 1. Open-position chords. Individual chords will be strummed once as directed by the examiner.

































Grade 2 echnical Exercises Group B: Chords | Minor 7 chords 1. Open-position chords. Individual chords will be strummed once as directed by the examiner. Am

T A B

7

0 1 0 2 0

Dm

1 1 2 0

7

Em

7

0 0 0 0 2 0

Group B: Chords | Major 7 chords 1. Open-position chords. Individual chords will be strummed once as directed by the examiner.


































P

Group C: Riff

In the exam you will be asked to play the following riff to a backing track. The riff shown in bars 1 and 2 should be played in the same shape in bars 3–8. The root note of the pattern to be played is shown in the music in bars 3, 5 and 7. q = 80 Rock Gm

T A B

Cm

3 3

Gm

3

6

3

3

6

5

3 6

3

Cm



































Grade 3



































Grade 3 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Major scales 1. G major



































Grade 3 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Natural minor scales 1. G natural minor



































Grade 3 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Minor pentatonic scales 1. G minor pentatonic



































Grade 3 echnical Exercises Group A: Scales | Major pentatonic scales 1. G major pentatonic

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group C: Arpeggios | Major 7 arpeggios | root on E string 1. G major 7 Gmaj 7

T A B

2

3

4

5

5

2

3

4

3

2

3

4

5

4

5

2

3

2. A major 7 A maj 7

T A B

4

3

6

5

6

5

4

3

4

3

4

5

6

5

6

3

4

3. A major 7 Amaj 7

T A B

5

4. B major 7 B maj 7

4

7

6

7

6

5

4

5

4

5

6

7

6

7

4

5
































Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group C: Arpeggios | Major 7 arpeggios | root on A string 1. C major 7 Cmaj 7

T A B

2

3

4

5

5

5

7

8

8

7

8

5

5

4

5

2

3

2. D major 7 D maj 7

T A B

3

4

5

6

6

6

8

9

9

8

9

6

6

5

6

3

4

3. D major 7 Dmaj 7

T A B

5

4. E major 7 E maj 7

4

7

6

7

7

10

9

10

9

10

7

7

6

7

4

5
































Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group C: Arpeggios | Minor 7 arpeggios | root on E string 1. G minor 7 Gm 7

3

T A B

3

6

6

3

3 3

3

5

5

3

5 3

5

6

6

3

2. G minor 7 G m7

4

T A B

4

7

7

4

4 4

4

6

6

4

6 4

6

7

7

4

3. A minor 7 Am

T A B

7

5 5 5 5 7 5

8

4. B minor 7 7

B m

7

8

8

5 5 7

5 7 8

5
































Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group C: Arpeggios | Minor 7 arpeggios | root on A string 1. C minor 7 Cm

7

6

T A B

4 3

8

6

8

8

4

5

5

5 3

8

5

6

6

3

7

4

2. C minor 7 C m

7

7

T A B

5 4

9

7

9

9

5

6

6

6 4

9

6

7

3. D minor 7 Dm 7

T A B

8 6 5 7 5

8

4. E minor 7 7

E m

7

10

10

8 10

6 7 10

7 8

5
































Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group C: Arpeggios | Dominant 7 arpeggios | root on E string 1. G dominant 7 G

T A B

7

3 3

6

6

3

4 3 2

4

5

5

3

5

5

2

3

3

2. A dominant 7 A

7

4

T A B

4

7

7

4

5 4 3

5

6

6

4

6

6

3

4

4

3. A dominant 7 A

7

5

T A B

5 6 5 4 5

4. B dominant 7 B

7

7

7

8

8

5 6 7

5 7

4 5


































Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group C: Arpeggios | Dominant 7 arpeggios | root on A string 1. C dominant 7 C

T A B

7

6 5 3

8

6

8

8

5

5

5

3

5 3

5

7

7

3

2. D dominant 7 D

7

7

T A B

6 4 6 4

8

6

9

9

7 9

6 6

4 6 8

4

3. D dominant 7 D

7

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Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group D: Chords | Minor 7 5 chords | root on E string Chords will be strummed once and then picked (arpeggiated). 1. G minor 7 5 7 5

Gm

T A B

2 3 3

2 3 3

3

3

2. G minor 7 5 7 5

G m

T A B

3 4 4 4

3. A minor 7 5

3 4 4 4

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Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group D: Chords | Minor 7 5 chords | root on A string Chords will be strummed once and then picked (arpeggiated). 1. C minor 7 5 7 5

Cm

T A B

4 3 4 3

4 3 4 3

2. C minor 7 5 7 5

C m

T A B

5 4 5 4

3. D minor 7 5

5 4 5 4

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Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group D: Chords | Diminished 7 chords | root on E string Chords will be strummed once and then picked (arpeggiated). 1. G diminished 7 7

G dim

T A B

2 3 2

2 3 2

3

3

2. G diminished 7 G dim7

T A B

3 4 3 4

3. A diminished 7

3 4 3 4

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Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group D: Chords | Diminished 7 chords | root on A string Chords will be strummed once and then picked (arpeggiated). 1. C diminished 7 C dim7

T A B

4 2 4 3

4 2 4 3

2. C diminished 7 7 C dim

T A B

5 3 5 4

3. D diminished 7

5 3 5 4

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Grade 6 echnical Exercises Group E: Stylistic Studies You will prepare a technical study from one group of styles from the list below. Your choice of style will determine the style of the Quick Study Piece.

P

1. Rock/Metal: tapping and legato phrasing q = 100 E

T A B

Rock

5

12

C

8

5

8

12 12

8

5

8

12 12

8

5

8

12 12

8

5

8

5

13

8

5

8

13 13

8

5

8

13 13

8

5

8

13 13

8

5

8


































P

2. Funk: staccato phrasing and 16 th-note strumming

q = 80

Funk N.C.

T A B

10

1/4

8

1/4

10 10

9

9

8

9

8 11

9

10

9

8 11


































P

3. Jazz/Latin/Blues: string bends and double-stops 3

q = 125

Blues C

=

7

F

BU

T A B

11

BU

BD

(13)

7

(11)

BD

BU

(13) 8

(10)

BU

( 8)

(10)

































Grade 7 G

rade 7 eatures two new modes

Technical Work

(lydian and phrygian) and the t he jazz

empo

q =100



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Grade 8 echnical Exercises Group C: Chords | Dominant 7 5 chords | root on A string Chords will be strummed once and then picked (arpeggiated). 1. C dominant 7 5 C

T A B

7 5

4 5 3

4 5 3

3

3

2. D dominant 7 5 D

7 5

5 6 4

T A B

5 6 4

4

4

3. D dominant 7 5 D

T A B

7 5

6 7 5

6 7 5

5

5

4. E dominant 7 5 E

T A B

7 5

7 8 6 6

5. E dominant 7 5

7 8 6 6

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Grade 8 echnical Exercises Group C: Chords | Dominant 7 5 chords | root on E string Chords will be strummed once and then picked (arpeggiated). 1. G dominant 7 5 G

T A B

7 5

2 4 3

2 4 3

3

3

2. A dominant 7 5 A

T A B

7 5

3 5 4

3 5 4

4

4

3. A dominant 7 5 A

T A B

7 5

4 6 5

4 6 5

5

5

4. B dominant 7 5 B

T A B

k o o b d

7 5

5 7 6 6

5. B dominant 7 5

5 7 6 6

































T A B

7 5

2 5 3

2 5 3

3

3

2. D dominant 7 5 D

7 5

3 6 4

T A B

3 6 4

4

4

3. D dominant 7 5 D

T A B

7 5

4 7 5

4 7 5

5

5

4. E dominant 7 5 E

T A B

7 5

5 8 6 6

5. E dominant 7 5

5 8 6 6

































T A B

7 9

3 3 2 3

3 3 2 3

2. A dominant 7 9 7 9

A

T A B

4 4 3 4

4 4 3 4

3. A dominant 7 9 A

T A B

7 9

5 5 4 5

5 5 4 5

4. B dominant 7 9 B

T A B

k o o b d

7 9

6 6 5 6

5. B dominant 7 9

6 6 5 6

































T A B

7 9

4 3 2 3

4 3 2 3

2. D dominant 7 9 D

T A B

7 9

5 4 3 4

5 4 3 4

3. D dominant 7 9 D

T A B

7 9

6 5 4 5

6 5 4 5

4. E dominant 7 9 E

T A B

7 9

7 6 5 6

5. E dominant 7 9

7 6 5 6



































T A B

7 9

1 3 2 3

1 3 2 3

2. A dominant 7 9 A

T A B

7 9

2 4 3 4

2 4 3 4

3. A dominant 7 9 A

T A B

7 9

3 5 4 5

4. B dominant 7 9

3 5 4 5

































T A B

7 9

2 3 2 3

2 3 2 3

2. D dominant 7 9 D

T A B

7 9

3 4 3 4

3 4 3 4

3. D dominant 7 9 D

T A B

7 9

4 5 4 5

4. E dominant 7 9

4 5 4 5
































Grade 8 echnical Exercises Group D: Stylistic Studies You will prepare a technical study from one group of styles from the list below. Your choice of style will determine the style of the Quick Study Piece.

P

1. Rock/Metal: crossing strings and alternate picking q = 105

Metal

Em

D

12

T A B

19

14 15

12

14

14

16

14 12

17

15

17 14

C

T A B

15

12

B

Em

12 13 12 14 15

12

12 11

12 13

14 14

14 12

D

15

14

































P

2. Funk: chordal embellishments and muted strings q = 90 Funk D

4

7

Dm

PM

7 7

5 5

4 4 4 3 4

5

5 5 5 4 5

9

4 4 4 3 4

T A B

G

5 5 5

T A B

D

9

9 9 9 8 9

G

5 5 5 4 5

5 5 5

7 7

5 5

7 7

7 7

5 5

9

10 10 10 9 10

10 10 10

12 12

10 10

10 10 10

9 9 9

10 10 10

9

9 9 9 8 9

10 10 10 9 10

10 10 10

12 12

10 10

15 15

15 15

15 15

































P

3. Jazz/Latin/Blues: legato phrasing and alternate picking q = 110

Blues 7

Gm

T A B

C

3 3

5

5

3 3

1

1 3

1

3

1

3

1

3

3

5

5

T A B

3

6

3 8

6

6

3

8

6 7

5

3

6

5

5

5

3 8

5

5

3

D

9

3

3

5

8

3 1

3

3

3 5

3 4

5

6

3 5

3

5

5

5

7

Gm

3 3

3

3

3 3

3

3


































x m . u d

Thecnical Guitar

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