Guitar Audition Requirements for Non-Guitar Majors
If you are not planning to be a performance major, you are still expected to choose a
primary instrument and take lessons at McNally Smith. The following requirements are used
to assess your musicality and ability on the instrument. It is only part of the audition
process, and the requirements in your major area must also be met (see each individual
department for specific information).
The McNally Smith College of Music Guitar Department wants each prospective student to
be as prepared as possible for his or her audition. The primary goal of the audition is to make
sure each freshman has the skills required to thrive at MSCM.
Prepare what is in this packet and present it at your audition, or make a video recording if
you are unable to audition at McNally Smith or at one of our off-site audition locations.
It is imperative that you practice and prepare with a metronome. Your ability to play in time
with the metronome is a major factor in the audition scoring. Speed is not important but
good solid timing is. The audition has four sections. Scales must be played with a
metronome at the audition (or on the video).
Shape I
This fretboard shows the note
names on the 5th and 6th string.
Roots of scales, chords, and
arpeggios occur on these strings.
The notes can be found on other
strings using octave shapes.
Shape II
Shape III
All scales, chords, and apreggios
are built around the following 5
octave shapes, containing either 2
or 3 roots within a position.
Shape IV
Shape V
Guitar Audition Requirements for Non-Guitar Majors
Guitar Audition Requirements for Non-Guitar Majors
Section 1 – Chord Knowledge
Section 2 – Scale Knowledge
Play the following scales ascending from the lowest to the highest note and then
descending from highest to lowest note. Use alternate picking (down, up, down, up etc.)
playing 8th notes with a metronome. Downbeats (down strokes) should coincide with the
“click” of the metronome and upbeats (upstrokes) should be “in between” the clicks of the
metronome. Practice these scales with the metronome set on 80 beats per minute (bpm).
Barre Chords -- Be able to play the following barre chords:
The tonic (name of the scale) for each scale is on the low E string. Practice in all keys.
The instructor will choose a different key for each scale.*
Open Chords -- Be able to play each of these “open string” chords:
Section 3 – Prepared Piece
Moveable 7th Chords -- Be able to play the following moveable 7th chords:
Your prepared piece should demonstrate your musicality. You have two choices for
this section:
1. Prepare
a 2 to 3-minute solo guitar piece that you can perform for the audition instructor.
This could be a classical guitar piece, a jazz chord melody or a finger-style tune. It should
stand alone without accompaniment.
2. P
repare a 2 to 3-minute piece to perform with a backing track. This can be any genre.
You must provide the backing track and the audio device to play it on with a 1/8 inch
stereo
output jack for the audition instructor to connect with our playback system.
Video Auditions - pay attention to balance on this section and others with backing tracks.
We want to hear your instrument clearly, but still hear the “band” you are fronting.
Guitar Audition Requirements for Non-Guitar Majors
Section 4 - Listening/Theory
In addition to chords, scales and a prepared piece, the student will be asked to repeat
short melodies that are played for them by singing them back to the instructor. The
student will also be asked to clap rhythms that are played for them, or strum them on a
guitar chord. The student will also be asked to identify chord qualities (i.e. Major, Minor,
Diminished, Augmented, Dominant 7, Major 7, Minor 7) when they are played for them on a
piano or guitar. If the student is interested, he or she will have the opportunity to
improvise over a simple chord progression, using pentatonic or blues scales.
Typically an audition is 30 minutes long. There is time at the start for the audition
instructor and you to get acquainted and for you to get comfortable with your
surroundings. Do not bring extra equipment. All you need is your electric guitar and a
chord. You may also bring an acoustic or classical guitar for your prepared piece.