What is AMEB?
AMEB is the Australian Music Examinations Board. Exams are taken online but are only available in Australia. AMEB also provides online courses for their exams. It is the only exam board with formal links to the major Australian universities and Australian Ministry of Education. Please see https://www.ameb.edu.au/ for more information.
AMEB considers their music theory grades to be two grades higher than other exam boards. For example, AMEB Grade 1 Music Theory is considered equivalent to Grade 3 in ABRSM or Trinity.
MyMusicTheory is UK based and does not currently provide detailed lessons tailored specifically for AMEB music theory. However, links to appropriate lessons are provided below, along with the equivalent UK grades where possible.
As with UK exams, the topics introduced at each grade are included in higher grades.
AMEB Grades
AMEB Grade 1 Music Theory
- Treble and bass clefs (AB1, Tr1)
- Pitches with up to two ledger lines (AB2, Tr2)
- Accidentals (AB1, Tr1)
- Scales of C, G and F major (AB1, Tr1)
- Key signatures (AB1, Tr1)
- Tones and semitones (AB1, Tr1)
- Scale degrees (AB1, Tr1)
- Diatonic intervals above the tonic in the keys for this grade (treble clef only, number only) (AB1, Tr1)
- Tonic triad chords in root position (treble clef only) (AB1, Tr1)
- Note values from the semibreve to the quaver (including dotted minims) AB1, Tr1)
- Rest values of a the minim and crotchet (AB1, Tr1)
- Time signatures of 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and C (AB1, Tr1)
- Transposition into any other key of this grade (no equivalent)
- Basic musical terms (Similar to AB1, Tr1)
AMEB Grade 2 Music Theory
- Major scales of D (AB1, Tr3) and A (AB2, Tr4)
- Minor harmonic scales of Am, Em and Dm (AB2, Tr2)
- Intervals above the tonic by number and quality (treble clef only) (AB3, Tr3)
- Tonic triads in the keys for this grade
- Semiquavers (AB1, Tr2), quaver triplets (AB2, Tr3) and dotted notes (AB1, Tr3)
- The anacrusis (AB3, Tr3)
- The whole bar (semibreve) rest (AB1, Tr1)
- Time signature of 6/8 (AB3, Tr3)
- Transposition into any other key for this grade (no equivalent)
- Terms and signs
- Binary (Tr5) and ternary form (Tr6)
- Identification of accented syllables in a text (Tr4)
AMEB Grade 3 Music Theory
- Major scales of E, Eb, Bb and Ab (AB2-3, Tr3-5)
- Minor harmonic scales of Gm and Cm (AB3, Tr3-4)
- Intervals above the tonic in all keys for the grade in treble and bass clefs (AB3, Tr3)
- Primary triads (tonic, dominant and subdominant) (AB4, Tr4)
- Root position and first inversion triads (AB5, Tr2)
- Perfect and plagal cadences (AB5, Tr3)
- SATB vocal style and range (AB6, Tr4)
- Time signatures of 2/2, 3/2, 3/8 (AB2, Tr2) and 9/8 (AB3, Tr3)
- Transposition into any key for this grade (may include accidentals) (no equivalent)
- Terms and signs
- Sequences (AB6, Tr3)
- Rondo form (Tr7)
- Set a rhythm to a provided text (Tr4)
- Compose a 4-bar melody in a major key based on a given rhythmic pattern, including phrasing (no equivalent)
AMEB Grade 4 Music Theory
- Major scales of B, F#, Db and Gb (AB4-5, Tr5-6)
- Harmonic minor scales of Bm, F#m, C#m and Bbm (AB3-5, Tr3-5)
- Double flats and sharps (AB4, Tr5)
- All diatonic intervals plus their qualities in the keys for the grade
- Recognition of modulation to the dominant or relative key (AB6, Tr5)
- Syncopation (AB6, Tr2)
- Adding bar lines (AB1, Tr1)
- Time signatures of 6/4 and 12/8 (AB3-4, Tr3-5)
- Chords II, ii, VI and vi in root position and first inversion (AB5-6, Tr5-6)
- Imperfect (AB5, Tr5) and interrupted (AB6, Tr6) cadences
- Writing cadences in SATB style (Tr6)
- Harmonisation of a melody in SATB style (Tr8)
- Set a rhythm to a given text couplet (8 bars) (see grade 3)
- Compose a melody to a given rhythm (8 bars) (no equivalent)
- Transposition into any key from the grade (no equivalent)
- Terms and signs
- Ornaments (AB4, Tr5)
- Baroque Suites (Tr6)
- Orchestral String Instruments (AB4-6)
AMEB Grade 5 Music Theory
- All major scales (AB6, TR6)
- All minor scales in harmonic and melodic forms (AB6, Tr6)
- All key signatures (AB6, Tr6)
- All intervals, and their inversions (AB5, Tr5)
- Recognition of modulation to the subdominant (AB6)
- Chord vii° in minor keys (AB6, Tr6)
- Chord Ic, the cadential 6/4 (AB5, Tr7)
- Unaccented passing and auxiliary notes (AB6, Tr4-5)
- Harmonisation of a melody in SATB or keyboard style including modulation (Tr8)
- Compose a melody to a 4-line stanza of poetry (no equivalent)
- Compose an instrumental melody based on a given opening (8 bars) (AB6)
- Minuet and Trio form, Scherzo, Air with Variations, Recitative and Aria, plus knowledge of composers of the same (Tr6-7)
- Orchestral woodwind instruments (standard) (AB4-6)
AMEB Grade 6 Music Theory
- Chord iii (AB6, Tr6)
- Passing 6/4 chords (AB6, Tr8)
- Dominant 7th chords (AB6, Tr4)
- Accented passing notes (AB6, Tr5)
- Suspensions (AB7, Tr7)
- Tierce de Picardie (AB6, Tr7)
- Simple two-part counterpoint in keyboard style by adding a part above or below (no equivalent)
- Compose a melody to a 4-line stanza of poetry, with modulation (no equivalent)
- Compose a vocal melody after a given phrase, with modulation (no equivalent)
- Sonata, Symphony, Concerto, Overture, (Tr7-8) plus knowledge of composers of the same with reference to examples (no equivalent)
- Sonata form (Tr7), reference to the same in a piano sonata by Mozart or Beethoven (no equivalent)
- Set work: two movements from a symphony by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert (Tr: AmusTCL) (refer to https://www.ameb.edu.au/blog/written-and-online-exams for more details).