I've noticed most of the ABRSM syllabus concentrates on scales, arpeggios and musical pieces but not so much on learning chords

I know chords can be constructed from the scales and arpeggios but it's not like learning chord positions where after some time fingering becomes quick and natural and easy to recall.

Is there a reason for this or am I missing something? Also, are there any pieces up to Grade 6 that focus more on chords?

I have a few books sucha s Jeff Buckley - Grace which is good for learning new chord positions and solos but just thought this is something which seems to be missing from the ABRSM syllabus.

I'm no guitar expert but I just think it's that the AB examines classical guitar.
If you want another style try a different exam board.

Sbhoa, think you're right. I know Rockschool does more chordy things.

Sorry, just reading what I wrote I can see how it might have sounded a bit like 'go away'.
I didn't mean it like that, honest.
Was just trying to say that other exam boards do exams for different styles of music where AB are mostly classical.

You make a very valid point about the ABRSM not covering chords, they are actually a very important part of the classical guitar technique and without a good understanding of chordal shapes over the entire fret board it is very dificult to develop memory skills. Most other exam boards do ask for a knowledge of chords.

That's ok, I'm back after your apology ;op

I think the point I was making was that there are plenty of very complex chords over the wide range of ABRSM syllabus but they aren't ever named.

I used to play French horn so was always used to only playing single notes when reading music. With guitar I'm very slow at reading music as have to work out playing 1 - 4 notes at the same time.

In fact as I've been typing this I think I've convinced myself I should learn the name of the chord too. I guess it's not difficult but I am very surprised it's not part of the AB syllabus.

I wouldn't switch to another exam board as I love the rest of AB anyway!

On the guitar I came at this very much the other way around: I learned the chord shapes until, as you say, the fingering became natural. Then a little right hand work and chords become arpeggios, then a bit more left hand work for passing notes and arpeggios became scales, and suddenly from playing chords you're playing more "finger-style" and even classical. Having said which, I've never actually sat and played a scale or arpeggio on the guitar (I have on the bass). I have far too much fun playing music!

I might be talking rubbish here but is this like you play chords on piano but don't have to know what the chords in your pieces are?

I don't understand this either. Most of the repertoire from Dowland to Villa-Lobos is written around chords (isn't it?) and it just makes it harder to learn without knowing the chords - sort of by rote. Having said that I know some really good classical guitarists who have no idea what an Am chord looks like.

I have played both classical style guitar and many other styles and I would say that it is beneficial to learn chords. Particularly because a lot of classical guitar music (from my experience (which is limited)) is based around chords and being able to move your hands swiftly to different chord position can make music easier to play. Chords are the easiest part of guitar, learn the basic chords first and then practice switching from different chords and it gets easier.

Personally I find it difficult recogizing chords from written music, I wish I was better at it.