Practice Routine and Songs Intermediate Electric - Level 3

This lesson pulls everything from Level 3 together into a structured practice routine and a comprehensive set of song recommendations. The emphasis is on full song performance — not just learning riffs in isolation, but being able to play complete songs from start to finish along to a recording or backing track. If you can do that consistently with the songs at this level, your Grade 3 skills are genuinely solid.

A structured practice routine with target BPMs for scales and exercises

All the exercises from this level are compiled with recommended BPMs. For scales, the minimum benchmark is four times through without a note mistake at around 80–100 BPM. From there you can challenge yourself upward. Having clear targets turns practice from aimless noodling into focused skill development — you know exactly what you’re working toward each session, and you can track your progress over days and weeks.

How to use half-time BPM for developing real speed

A powerful technique for building speed is to set your metronome to half the target BPM (say 50–60 BPM) and play only two notes per click. This forces you to maintain perfect timing with much more space between the reference points, which actually develops your internal clock and coordination faster than just cranking up the tempo. It sounds counterintuitive, but this is where real speed and solidity come from.

Two essential “curveball” song recommendations outside the usual genres

It’s easy to stay in the Oasis–Beatles–Zeppelin comfort zone, so two slightly unexpected recommendations are highlighted. Oye Como Va by Santana introduces Dorian mode flavour over a 2–5 chord progression, breaking you out of minor pentatonic shape 1. Knock on Wood by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper is the gateway to Hendrix-style rhythm-and-lead playing, where chords and single-note lines interweave. Both are Grade 3 and will broaden your playing in ways that staying within one genre won’t.

Why full song performance is the true test at Grade 3

Songs weren’t written to sit at specific grades — they were written to be great music. We’re retrofitting them to match your skill level, but the jam tracks throughout the course are what truly test whether you can perform at this standard. At Grade 3, the expectation is that you can play full songs along to recordings, manage your tone and pedal settings, and — if you’re interested in performing — hold your own stood up in front of an amp. That’s the real benchmark, and everything in this level has been building toward it.

Recommended Songs For Level 3

• Oye Como Va — Santana

• Knock on Wood — Eddie Floyd / Steve Cropper

• Day Tripper — The Beatles

• All My Loving — The Beatles

• Taxman — The Beatles

• Revolution — The Beatles

• Come Together — The Beatles

• I Feel Fine — The Beatles

• Live Forever — Oasis

• Live Forever Solo - Oasis

• Don't Look Back in Anger — Oasis

• Supersonic — Oasis

• Some Might Say — Oasis

• Cigarettes and Alcohol — Oasis

• Columbia (lead lines) — Oasis

• Born to Be Wild — Steppenwolf

• The Last Time — The Rolling Stones

• Good 4 U — Olivia Rodrigo

• Sweet Leaf — Black Sabbath

• Paranoid — Black Sabbath

• Black Night — Deep Purple

• Friday I'm in Love — The Cure

• Love Is a Losing Game — Amy Winehouse

• Smells Like Teen Spirit (with solo) — Nirvana

• You Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DC

• Misty Mountain Hop — Led Zeppelin

• Black Dog — Led Zeppelin

• Last Nite — The Strokes

• Green Day songs (unspecified)

• You Really Got Me — The Kinks