Technical Exercises

At Grade 8 there are four groups of technical work. The examiner will ask for a selection from each group, and before starting this section candidates will be asked whether they would like to play the exercises along with the click or hear a single bar of click before commencing the test.

GROUP A – Scales/Modes (two octaves in eighth notes)

Tempo: 100 bpm

To be prepared in two positions. The first position is to be prepared on the E string from the starting notes of G-B chromatically. The second position is to be prepared on the A string from the starting notes of C-E chromatically.

• Whole Tone
• Diminished
• Altered

GROUP B – Arpeggios (one octave in eighth notes)

Tempo: 100 bpm

To be prepared in two positions. The first position is to be prepared on the E string from the starting notes of G-B chromatically. The second position is to be prepared on the A string from the starting notes of C-E chromatically.

• Dominant 7#5
• Dominant 7b5
• Minor 7b5
• Dominant 7#9
• Dominant 7 b9
• Diminished

GROUP C – Chords

To be prepared in two positions. The first position is to be prepared on the E string from the starting notes of G-B chromatically. The second position is to be prepared on the A string from the starting notes of C-E chromatically. Chords should be strummed and then picked (arpeggiated).

• Dominant 7#5
• Dominant 7b5
• Dominant 7#9
• Dominant 7b9

GROUP D – Stylistic Study

Candidates will prepare a technical study from one group of styles from the list below. The choice of style will determine the style of the Quick Study Piece. Each study concentrates on two stylistic techniques.

• • Rock/Metal: crossing strings and alternate picking
  • Funk: chord embellishments and muted strings
  • Jazz/Latin/Blues: legato phrasing and alternate picking

Supporting Tests

Quick Study Piece

At Grade 8 you will be asked to prepare and play a Quick Study Piece. The style of your QSP is determined by the stylistic study you selected in the technical exercise section. You will be shown the test and played the track with the notated parts played. Any bars that require improvisation will not be demonstrated. You will then have three minutes to study the test. The backing track will be played twice more. You are allowed to practise during the first run through of the backing track, with the notated parts now absent, before playing it to the examiner on the second playing of the backing track. The QSP is in the form of a lead sheet and it is up to you to create your own interpretation of the music in the parts marked for improvisation.

Ear Tests

There are two tests which are: Melodic Recall and Harmonic Recall.

Melodic Recall

Tempo: 90 bpm
Key: B major pentatonic or C minor pentatonic or B natural minor

The first note of the melody will be either the root, third or fifth note and the first interval will be either ascending or descending. You will play the melody back on your instrument. You will hear the test twice.

Each time the test is played the sequence is: count-in, root note, count-in, melody. There will be a short gap for you to practise after you have heard the test for the second time. You will hear the count-in and root note for the third time followed by a vocal count-in and you will then play the melody to the bass and drum backing.

Harmonic Recall

Tempo: 90 bpm
Key: A major

The examiner will play you a tonic chord followed by a four bar chord sequence in the key of A major played to a guitar and drum backing. The sequence will be drawn from the I, IIm, IIIm, IV,V and VIm chords and may occur in any combination. The test may also contain Imaj7 and IVmaj7. You will be asked to play the chord sequence to the drum backing in the rhythm shown in the Grade 8 book. This rhythm will be used in all examples of this test given in the exam. You will then be asked to identify the chord sequence you have played to the examiner. You will hear the test twice.

Each time the test is played the sequence is: count-in, tonic, count-in, chords. There will be a short gap for you to practise after you have heard the test for the second time. You will hear the count-in and tonic for the third time followed by a vocal count-in then you will play the chords to the drum backing.

General Musicianship Questions

In this part of the exam, you will be asked five questions. Four of these questions will be about general music knowledge and the fifth question will be asked about your instrument.

Music Knowledge

In Grade 8, candidates will be asked to identify:

• The names of pitches
• Any expressive musical marking found in the piece such as palm muting, accents, staccato, legato, slap (T) and pull (P) markings, and natural harmonics
• Any dynamic marking found in the piece
• One type of scale that can be used appropriately in the solo section of the piece you have played and its relation to the underlying harmony of the piece

Instrument Knowledge

The examiner will also ask candidates one question regarding their instrument. In Grade 8, candidates will be asked to identify:

• Where to find the same pitch on two different strings
• The function of the volume and tone controls on your bass
• The set up for the tone required for the piece you have played on the amp
• How to achieve changes in tone in a song