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, candidates will be asked to prepare and play a short Quick Study Piece. The style of the QSP is determined by the stylistic study selected in the technical exercise section. Candidates will be shown the test and played the track with the notated parts played.

Any bars that require improvisation will not be demonstrated. Candidates will then have three minutes to study the test. The backing track will be played twice more. Candidates 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 candidates to create their 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: E major pentatonic or F 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. Candidates will hear the test twice before playing the melody back on their instrument.

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

Harmonic Recall

Tempo: 90 bpm
Key: E major

The examiner will play you a tonic chord followed by a four-bar chord sequence in the key of E major played to a bass 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. Candidates 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. Candidates will then be asked to identify the chord sequence they have played to the examiner. The test will be played twice.

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

General Musicianship Questions

In this part of the exam candidates will be asked five questions. Four of these questions will be about general music knowledge and the fifth question will be asked about their 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, vibrato
• Any dynamic marking found in the piece
• One type of scale that can be used appropriately in the solo section of the chosen piece 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 their guitar
• The tone set-up required on the amp for the chosen piece
• How to achieve changes in tone in a song