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What is a Grade 8 guitarist?

The Grade 8 Guitar exam is for candidates who have mastered advanced technical control and have a thorough grasp of extended stylistic techniques.

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Buy Your Book The Guitar Grade 8 book is a vital aid to mastering the pro-level material in your exam. Earn those UCAS points and become a pro-level musician by working through the sophisticated techniques and theory in its pages. VISIT THE STORE We have published 2 versions of this edition as shown in the pictures here; one version is more USA centric with some American English terms and background information referring billboard chart success rather than the UK charts. Please note that both versions of the book have everything you need for an exam and are both valid editions for when you enter for the assessment. Exam Structure There are two types of exam available, a Grade Exam 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

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 Performance Certificate 5 Performance Pieces only

(three of these can be Free Choice Pieces) These account for 20% of the exam mark each. Performance Pieces At Grade 8 the pieces last up to a maximum of 3 minutes 45 seconds. The pieces are over four pages. Emphasis is on complex notation accuracy, commanding execution of stylistic techniques and technical control, mature and creative solo and improvisation elements and a clear sense of ownership and communication of the music through performance. Rockschool Guitar '18 Snarky Puppy - Native Sons

Steve Vai - Die To Live

Steely Dan - Kid Charlemagne

D'Angelo - Spanish Joint

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River (Live iTunes Festival 2013)

Albert Lee - Country Boy Rockschool Originals Meet Darth Ear

Mind The Gaps

Lead Sheet

Freightshaker

Nosso Samba

Dark Matter

Technical Exercises At Grade 8 level there are four 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/Modes (two octaves in eighth notes) 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) 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 7b9

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 You will prepare a technical study from one group of styles from the list below. Your 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 Key: E major pentatonic or F minor pentatonic or B natural minor Tempo: 90 bpm 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 Key: E major

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Tempo: 90 bpm The examiner will play you a tonic chord followed by a four bar chord sequence in the key of A major played to a bass and drum backing. The sequence will be drawn from the I, ii, iii, IV, V and vi 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 practice 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 For this section of the exam the candidate chooses the piece to answer 5 questions on. The examiner will ask you four music knowledge questions and one instrument knowledge question. In Grade 8 you 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 piece you have played and its relation to the underlying harmony of the piece Instrument Knowledge The examiner will also ask you one question regarding your instrument. In Grade 8 you will be asked to explain and demonstrate: Where to find the same pitch on two different strings

The function of the volume and tone controls on your guitar

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

Assessment Criteria 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.

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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

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