One-to-one guitar tuition

Grade 3 Guitar Tutors

Find support for a Grade 3 exam, a performance programme or the guitar skills you want to develop next. Match lessons to your instrument, current playing and musical interests.

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Grade 3 guitar preparation depends on the instrument and the exam route. Classical, electric and acoustic guitar can involve different techniques and tests. Start with what you play now and the music you want to learn, whether you are choosing lessons for a child or returning to guitar yourself.

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Subject: Guitar
Level: Grade 3

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How one-to-one tuition can help

Control ringing notes, chord changes and rhythm in Grade 3 music
Prepare the pieces and supporting skills for your chosen exam route
Leave lessons with a specific practice task and a way to hear progress

Available tutors

Compare Grade 3 guitar tutors

3 tutor profiles selected

Look for the guitar style you play and familiarity with your chosen board, then discuss the learner’s goals and lesson arrangements.

Owen Evans

Music, and Musical Instrument Specialist

Lumsden, United Kingdom

£30.00 per hourDBS checkediAccepting enquiries

GuitarMusicMusic PerformanceMusic Technology+1 more

Holds over 8 years' of online teaching experience.
Owen holds over 18 Years' experience teaching & in the Music industry.
Received over 1 million views & listens on Spotify, Youtube & social media.
A professional songwriter in all genres.
Over 10 years' experience using Logic Pro-x.
Owen has worked with Grammy-winning producers.

Owen Evans is a UK guitar tutor with 18+ years in teaching and the music industry, including 8+ years of online tutoring. He supports ABRSM/Rockschool, GCSE and A-Level Music, plus songwriting and Logic Pro X production with tailored lesson plans.

Send a quick enquiry from here and the Latimer Tuition team will pass it on to Owen.

View Owen’s profile

Simon OKeeffe

Music and Music Performance Specialist

london, United Kingdom

£40.00 per hourDBS checkediAccepting enquiries

ABRSMGCSE (general)GuitarMusic Performance+4 more

Simon has over 12 years' of experience as a music educator across primary and secondary schools in addition to further education.
Holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Music (Guitar Institute).
Holds a Master of Arts in Record Production and Distribution (University of West London).
Professional background as a musician, producer, arranger, and musical director.

Music educator with 12+ years’ experience offering private lessons as a guitar tutor and piano tutor, plus drums and music theory. Supports GCSE, A Level and university music performance and music technology, with lesson reports and optional homework.

Send a quick enquiry from here and the Latimer Tuition team will pass it on to Simon.

View Simon’s profile

Abigail Ajala

Music, and Musical Instrument Specialist

Rushmere St Andrew, United Kingdom

£45.00 per hourDBS checkediAccepting enquiries

GuitarMusicMusic PerformanceMusic Technology+2 more

Over 11 years' of Music teaching experience.
Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music.
Has been the vocal coach for the Stagecoach Performing Arts School (Ipswich).
Teaches guitar, ukulele, piano (up to intermediate), vocals, and music theory.

Abigail Ajala is a guitar tutor with 11+ years’ teaching experience, BA in Commercial Music, and Stagecoach Performing Arts (Ipswich) vocal coach. She is also a piano tutor (to intermediate) teaching ukulele and music theory for ages 4+, KS1–3, GCSE and A Level; online and Suffolk-based.

Send a quick enquiry from here and the Latimer Tuition team will pass it on to Abigail.

View Abigail’s profile

View Grade 3 guitar tutor profiles Start my tutor search

Choose the right Grade 3 guitar route

Start with the guitar you play and the assessment you want to take. ABRSM Guitar uses a nylon-string classical instrument. Electric and acoustic players should check a syllabus written for their instrument and style. These are useful starting points for a conversation with a tutor; confirm the current syllabus and exam format before choosing your music.

ABRSM Practical Guitar: Three pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests. Plan for reading unfamiliar music and listening tasks alongside the prepared pieces.
ABRSM Performance Guitar: A continuous four-piece recorded programme, with no separate supporting tests. Preparation needs to include the complete performance, including the changes between pieces.
Trinity Classical Guitar: face-to-face: Three pieces, technical work and two supporting tests chosen from sight-reading, aural, improvisation and musical knowledge. Choose those tests with the tutor so practice covers the intended combination.
Rockschool electric guitar: Grade Exam: Pieces and technical work sit alongside ear tests, musicianship questions and a choice of sight-reading or improvisation and interpretation. Its five-piece Performance Certificate is a separate format.
Rockschool acoustic guitar: Use the acoustic syllabus for its repertoire, partial barre shapes and rhythm work. The 2026 repertoire refresh retains the technical and supporting-test requirements; check the instructions for your chosen exam format.

Next step

Classical guitar: decide which notes keep ringing

ABRSM Practical Grade 3 distinguishes a one-octave G-major broken chord with over-ringing from a two-octave G-major arpeggio without it. Over-ringing means earlier notes continue sounding as new ones are played.

As a short practice example, pluck G, B and D on separate strings. Let them overlap, then try connecting the same notes while stopping each previous string as the next sounds. If both versions sound like a chord ringing out, isolate the string that is still sounding and practise its release or muting. Aim for a clear contrast without gaps or a change of pulse, then apply it to the two prescribed patterns.

For Trinity Classical Grade 3, the G-major technical exercise and study options offer work on tone, phrasing and articulation: how notes begin, connect and end. Match the practice target to the chosen technical option.

Next step

Trinity Grade 3 technical requirements

Electric and acoustic guitar: hear what needs correcting

These practice illustrations show two different Grade 3 demands. Use the correct grade materials for the full exercises.

Electric guitar: clear barre-chord changes

Rockschool Grade 3 includes barre chords and bends. A barre uses one finger across several strings. For a practice check, make a major barre shape and pick each intended string separately. If a note is muted, check whether a neighbouring finger is touching that string. Reposition that finger so it clears the string, then pick again before strumming the chord. Then change to a minor shape on counted beats. The useful improvement is a clear chord that arrives on time, without stopping to rebuild the shape. This prepares the control needed for the syllabus’s continuous major/minor barre sequence.

Acoustic guitar: keep the beat through a tie

Rockschool Acoustic Grade 3 sight-reading includes ties. A tie joins two notes of the same pitch into one held sound. Try this original rhythm: count “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and”; pluck on “1”, hold through “and 2”, then pluck on the “and” after 2 and on beats 3 and 4. The first sound lasts one and a half beats: a crotchet (one beat) tied to a quaver (half a beat). Re-plucking on beat 2 breaks the tie; rushing the next note shortens it. Keep counting while the note rings. Success is placing the next note exactly on “and” without losing the beat.

Next step

Performance preparation: practise the join between pieces

For an ABRSM Performance Grade, being able to play each piece separately is only part of the preparation. The programme also needs continuity and a clear change of musical character.

For example, imagine a quiet piece followed by a lively one. If the player rushes to find the next opening notes, the second piece may start at an accidental tempo. Rehearse the last phrase, allow the ending to settle, set the next hand position and silently feel its opening pulse before playing. Then record that transition as part of a full run. Listen for an intentional start and whether the final piece remains as controlled as the first.

Next step

ABRSM guidance on programme order and stamina

Turn a lesson into a usable practice plan

Agree a lesson frequency and a practice routine that fit the learner’s week. A useful plan identifies the passage or exercise, the correction to try and what to listen for next time. For exam preparation, keep the chosen supporting tests in the routine as well as the pieces.

Repair one small problem
Choose a chord change, a tied rhythm or a short phrase. Begin slowly enough to hear the problem, then put the corrected movement back into the surrounding music.
Keep reading and listening active
If your route includes sight-reading, use a fresh short extract rather than repeatedly memorising one test. For aural work, practise the listening task your board asks for; aural means learning and responding by ear.
Check whether the change carries over
At an agreed review point, compare the same passage at the same tempo. Look for clearer notes, a steadier pulse or a more controlled phrase, then try the skill in different music.

Choose a tutor who can work with your playing

Compare profiles for the guitar style and board you need, then use a free introductory meeting to discuss fit. The introduction is a conversation about goals and arrangements, rather than a full teaching lesson. Bring the title of a piece you can play and one difficulty you want help with.

Describe the starting point
Say whether you use classical, steel-string acoustic or electric guitar, which books you have and whether an exam is booked. Include favourite music and any earlier lessons, even if you have not taken a grade.
Discuss how explanations should work
Mention reading difficulties, hand comfort, attention or confidence needs. For example, request a slow demonstration followed by a short written practice target if a long verbal explanation is hard to retain. Discuss how the tutor would adapt this for the learner.
Agree the practical details
Each tutor sets their hourly rate on their profile. Compare the lesson length, schedule and proposed focus within your budget. Latimer invoices after lessons on a pay-as-you-go basis. Before exam entry, agree who will book it and check the costs and arrangements for music, accompaniment and any recording.

How Latimer tuition works

Prepare for online guitar lessons

Latimer provides online one-to-one tuition. Microsoft Teams is the default platform, with another platform possible by agreement. If you want in-person lessons, discuss that arrangement with the individual tutor.

Before the first lesson, position the camera so the tutor can see both hands and test whether single notes, chords and quiet playing can be heard clearly. Have the guitar, tuner, music and any required pick or amplifier ready. If a piece uses a backing track, test its balance with the guitar. Arrange the screen and music so you can look between them without repeatedly moving the instrument.

Find tuition for your Grade 3 goal

Tell us which guitar you play, the board and format if you know them, and the part of your playing you most want to improve. You can request a tutor match without a fee.

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Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Do I need Grade 2 or a theory pass before Grade 3 Guitar?

For ABRSM Practical Grade 3, you do not need an earlier guitar grade or a theory pass. RSL also allows entry without previous grade exams, while expecting the skills taught at earlier levels. A tutor can review your current playing before you choose an entry date.

How long does it take to prepare for Grade 3?

There is no reliable timetable for every learner. Being ready to perform pieces does not automatically mean the technical or supporting tests are ready. Ask for an initial review of each required component, followed by a preparation plan that fits the practice time you can sustain.

Can I work at Grade 3 level without taking an exam?

You can discuss using Grade 3 skills as learning goals without booking an exam. Choose a musical purpose, such as playing a complete song with clean chord changes or performing a classical piece with more control. Agree how you will recognise progress and what you would like to play next.

How can a parent help without playing guitar?

Ask for a short practice note that names the task and what the learner should listen for. Your child can show you the before-and-after sound, such as a chord change with and without a pause. Help make space for practice and note any difficulty to take back to the tutor.

What if the learner needs exam adjustments?

Discuss learning needs with the tutor early and check the chosen board’s application process separately. Trinity asks for adjustment requests at booking or as early as possible, with individual review and supporting evidence. An adapted lesson does not itself confirm an exam adjustment.

Further information

Grade 3 Guitar Tutors