Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Bass Guitar
Grade 5
The Grade 5 Bass exam is for candidates who have the intermediate skills and techniques and have developed an increasing sense of stylistic conviction. This is demonstrated through instrumental techniques, rhythmic complexity and solo and improvisation work. There are three types of exams available: Grade Exam, Graded Certificate or Performance Certificate.
Estimated Examination Time:
- Grade Exam: 26 minutes (approx.)
- Performance Certificate: 22 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
The Bass Grade 5 book will help you put together what you’ve learnt so far, covering more sophisticated solo and syncopation techniques including slap-and-pop and hammer-on styles and more.
Bass Grade 5
The Bass Grade 5 book will help you put together what you've learnt so far, covering more sophist...
Graded Music Exam: Grade 5
All Instruments - General guidance: Graded Music Exams Overview - How to book an exam UK / Republ...
Performance Pieces
At Grade 5 the pieces last up to a maximum of 2 minutes 30 seconds. The pieces are over four pages. Emphasis is on notation accuracy, execution of stylistic techniques, technical control, developing solo and improvisation elements and communication of the music, sync.
Featured Repertoire:
Rockschool Bass Hit Tunes 2024 Syllabus
- Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life
- Greta Van Fleet – Black Smoke Rising
- Queen – Keep Yourself Alive
- Jamiroquai – Canned Heat
- Dua Lipa – Levitating
- The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Rockschool Originals 2024 Syllabus
- 7th and 42nd
- Flight Check
- Down at The Abbey
Rockschool Bass Hit Tunes 2018 Syllabus
- Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)
- Daft Punk – Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)
- Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – The Bottle
- Earth, Wind and Fire – September
- The Killers – Mr. Brightside
- The Allman Brothers Band – The Whipping Post
Rockschool Originals 2018 / 2012 Syllabus
- Geek
- Rollin’
- Do Balanço
- Tiberius
- Smack Talk
- Slam Dunk Funk
Technical Exercises
At Grade 5 level, there are three groups of technical work. The examiner will ask a selection from each group and before you start the section you will be asked whether you would like to play the exercises along with the click or hear a single bar of click before you commence the test.
GROUP A – Scales (two octaves in eighth notes)
Tempo: 80 bpm
To be prepared on the starting notes below and in the specified fingerings contained within the book.
- Major: G, Bb, C, D
- Natural minor: G, Bb , C, D
- Minor pentatonic: G, Bb, C, D
- Major pentatonic: G, Bb, C, D
- Blues: G, Bb, C, D
- Harmonic Minor: G, Bb, C, D
GROUP B – Arpeggios (one octave in quarter notes)
Tempo: 80 bpm
- Major: G, Bb, C, D
- Minor: G, Bb, C, D
- Dominant7th: G, Bb, C, D
- Major7th: G, Bb, C, D
- Minor7th: G, Bb, C, D
GROUP C – Riff
Tempo: 100 bpm
In the exam, you will be asked to play the riff from the Grade 5 book to a backing track. The riff shown in bars 1 and 2 should be played in the same shape in bars 3–8. The root note of the pattern to be played is shown in the music in each of the subsequent bars.
Supporting Tests
At Grade 5 you will be offered the choice between Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation. This is a previously unseen test. An example is shown in the Grade 5 book.
Sight Reading
Tempo: 85-95 bpm
Key: F or G major, E or G minor
At Grade 5 there is an element of improvisation. This is in the form of a two-bar development. The piece will be composed in the style of rock, funk or blues and will have chord symbols throughout. At Grade 5 the notation consists of half, quarter notes, eighth notes and quarter note and eighth note rests in 4/4. The test is 8 bars long. The examiner will allow 90 seconds of preparation and practice time and will offer the option of practising with or without a metronome. The candidate will then perform the test for the examination.
Improvisation & Interpretation
Tempo: 90–100 bpm
Key: A or G major, E or G minor
In Grade 5, the improvisation and interpretation test contains a small amount of sight reading. This consists of two bars of notation at the beginning of the test. You will be asked to play the notation as indicated and complete the test using an improvised line. This is played to a backing track of eight bars. The candidate will have 30 seconds of preparation time and the examiner will offer the metronome as a guide throughout this time. The candidate will then have a complete practice run through with the backing track and then on the repeat, the test will be examined.
Ear Tests
There are two tests which are: Melodic Recall and Harmonic Recall.
Melodic Recall
Tempo: 90 bpm
Key: F Major pentatonic or D Minor pentatonic
The examiner will play you a two-bar melody with a drum backing. The first note of the melody will be the root note and the first interval will be descending. You will play the melody back on your instrument. You will hear the test twice.
Each time the test is played it is preceded by a one bar count-in. There will be a short gap for you to practise after you have heard the test for the second time. Next, you will hear a vocal count-in and you will then play the melody to the drum backing.
Harmonic Recall
Tempo: 80 bpm
Key: G major
The examiner will play you a tonic chord followed by a four-bar chord sequence in the key of G major played to a guitar and drum backing. The sequence will be drawn from the I, IV, V, and VIm and may occur in any combination. You will be asked to play the chord sequence to the guitar and drum backing in the rhythm shown in the example below. 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 5, candidates will be asked to identify:
- The names of pitches
- The meaning of accidentals: # (sharp), b (flat) and (natural) signs
- The meaning of the time signature, key signature and swing time markings
- Repeat marks, first and second time bars, D.C., D.S., al Coda and al Fine markings
- Hammer-ons, pull-offs, accents and vibrato markings
- The construction of minor 7, major 7 or dominant 7 chords
- One type of scale that can be used appropriately in the solo section of the piece you have played
Instrument Knowledge
In Grade 5, candidates will be asked to identify:
- Any part or control on your bass
- The function of the volume and tone controls on your bass
- The tone settings for the piece you have played on the amp and why you have chosen these settings
Exam Structure
There are three types of exam available, a Grade Exam, Graded Certificate, or Performance Certificate.
Grade Exam
| 3 Performance Pieces (two of which may be Free Choice Pieces) | Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first | These account for 60% of the exam mark |
| Technical Exercises (Section A, B, C and D for Level 3 qualifications) | Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first | These account for 15% of the exam mark |
| Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation (Debut to Grade 5); Quick Study Pieces (Grade 6 to Grade 8) | Candidates are given an unseen test to prepare and perform | This accounts for 10% of the exam marks |
| 2 Ear Tests | Candidates respond to 2 aural tests. | These account for 10% of the exam marks |
| 5 General Musicianship Questions | Candidates answer 5 questions based on one of the pieces performed | These account for 5% of the exam marks |
Graded Certificate
| 3 Performance Pieces (two of which may be Free Choice Pieces) | Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first | These account for 75% of the exam mark |
| Technical Exercises | Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first | These account for 25% of the exam mark |
Performance Certificate
| 5 Performance Pieces only (three of these can be Free Choice Pieces) | These account for 20% of the exam mark each. |
Assessment Criteria
(Please note: Graded Certificates consist of just Performance Pieces and Technical Exercises. Please see the exam structure tab for more info)
Performance Pieces
| Attainment Band | Distinction | Merit | Pass | Below Pass | Below Pass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 18-20 | 15-17 | 12-14 | 6-11 | 0-5 |
| Command of Instrument | Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout | Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall | Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality | Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Sync or Pulse | Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Accuracy & Understanding | all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. | Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. | Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. | Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Style & Expression | Consistently convincing projection of the music. | Mostly convincing projection of the music. | Some convincing projection of the music. | Music not convincingly projected. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
Technical Exercises
| Attainment Band | Distinction | Merit | Pass | Below Pass | Below Pass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 13–15 | 11–12 | 9–10 | 4–8 | 0–3 |
| Command of Instrument | Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout | Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall | Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality | Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Sync or Pulse | Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Accuracy & Understanding | all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. | Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. | Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. | Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
Ear Tests
| Attainment Band | Distinction | Merit | Pass | Below Pass | Below Pass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 9-10 | 7-8 | 6 | 3-5 | 0-2 |
| Accuracy & Understanding | All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. | Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. | Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. | Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
Supporting Tests
| Attainment Band | Distinction | Merit | Pass | Below Pass | Below Pass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 9-10 | 7-8 | 6 | 3-5 | 0-2 |
| Command of Instrument | Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout | Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall | Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality | Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Sync or Pulse | Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Accuracy & Understanding | All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. | Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. | Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. | Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
General Musicianship Questions
| Attainment Band | Distinction | Merit | Pass | Below Pass | Below Pass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 5 correct responses | 4 correct responses | 3 correct responses | 2 correct responses | 0-1 correct responses |
Performance Certificate
| Attainment Band | Distinction | Merit | Pass | Below Pass | Below Pass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 18-20 | 15-17 | 12-14 | 6-11 | 0-5 |
| Command of Instrument | Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout | Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall | Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality | Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Sync or Pulse | Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained | Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Accuracy & Understanding | All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. | Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. | Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. | Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
| Style & Expression | Consistently convincing projection of the music. | Mostly convincing projection of the music. | Some convincing projection of the music. | Music not convincingly projected. | No attempt and/or incomplete performance |
