Technical Exercises

At Grade 6 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

Minor pentatonic:

All five positions to be prepared and played.

• G, B.

Modes:

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.

• Dorian
• Mixolydian

GROUP B – Arpeggios (two octaves, two positions in eighth notes)

Tempo: 100 bpm

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.

• Major 7th
• Minor 7th
• Dominant 7th

GROUP C – Chords

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).

• Minor7b5
• Diminished

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: tapping and legato
• Funk: staccato phrasing and 16th-note strumming
• Jazz/Latin/Blues: string bends and double-stops

Supporting Tests

Quick Study Piece

At Grade 6 you will be asked to prepare and play a short 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: D major pentatonic or D minor pentatonic or G natural minor

The examiner will play a two-bar melody with a drum backing. The first note of the melody will be either the root note or fifth and the first interval will be either ascending or descending. Candidates will play the melody back on their instrument. The test will be played twice.

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 play the melody to the bass and drum backing.

Harmonic Recall

Tempo: 90 bpm
Key: D major

The examiner will play a tonic chord followed by a four-bar chord sequence in the key of D 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 will also contain V7. Candidates will be asked to play the chord sequence to the drum backing in the rhythm shown in the Grade 6 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 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 6, 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 6, 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