westdog666

Hello people,

I've literally just taken my grade 8 (15/12/12 - 2006 syllabus)

Prior to this I looked online for as much info as i could to help me know exactly what to expect, and the results were slim...

SO, here's what I experienced...

Upon arrival i was given the quick study piece and a laptop to play the backing track. Please note it is ONLY a backing track as you are expected to be able to read the music / tab to decipher what and when to play. This came as a complete surprise to me as i was expecting a full track to hear (Perhaps my own naivety)

I was then led into the actual exam room and given a moment to set volume and tone levels. Please remember to tune up before entering the exam room as this is not allowed during the exam (another surprise!!)

So then the examiner asked which part of the exam I would prefer to start with and I selected the Quick Study Piece to get it over with. At this point he also asked me to name the tracks I wished to play in order of preference (Fusion, 667, Bonzo)

I then proceeded to play my Q.S.P and believe i pulled it off quite well considering my music reading skills are amateur at best. It was a funky number at 90 bpm if you wanted to know details.

Then i played my pieces in the order I had previously selected.

Then for the technical exercises...

I was asked to play the first three modes of the major scale (shapes Ionian, Dorian and Phrygian) in Ab all at 80 bpm. I asked to clarify if all the positions had to start at Ab and the reply was I could, or I could play the scales consecutively in the key of Ab.
I decided to play all three from Ab and was even given a second chance on Dorian as there was one bum note. (However in the warm up before the scales I blasted through every position in Em, perhaps demonstrating my ability and gaining that second chance?)

Next were the arpeggios... Surprisingly he only asked me to play 2 of the three. The first was G7#5 as written in the book (first example) and the second was Bbm7#5 (the third arpeggio positioned a fret lower that written)

Then the chords... Again i was surprised to only have to play one sequence.
I was asked to play sequence 2 in Eb and after no warning the metronome started causing me to panic but it just kept going until I found my feet again. Some slight hesitation but nailed the chords eventually.

SWEEP PICKING...AH.
As a fan of metal and rock I love sweep picking but this exercise sucks!! (possibly the taps after each sweep) I played it clean as opposed to distorted and feel it went well overall. 80 bpm FYI.

Ear tests... these were perhaps my biggest worry.
I was played a melodic line in A Mixolydian and think i came close to replicating it but defo not an exact copy. And the chord recall was in D but again went horribly.

Next were the questions: I was asked to turn to fusion in the book and explain the time signature, then some demi-semiquavers and a group of sextuplets.

He also asked the difference between Major and Lydian (#4) and Aeolian (b3, b6, b7)

That was it...

Obviously i'm awaiting my result but you don't have to pass every part of the exam to gain an overall pass result so fingers crossed!!

Any questions i'll gladly answer if i can!

Peace

Rob W-B