Electric Guitar Grade 10-6

Repertoire
Riff Playing
Sight Playing
Scale
Evaluation

Duration

Grades 10-8: 15 minutes, Grades 7, 6: 20 minutes

Candidates are expected to bring the instrument and equipment needed for the exam. (An amplifier and a lead will be prepared in the exam room.)

Candidates are expected to adjust the sound and volume as needed for each subject. Candidates may ask examiners a question if they don’t understand how to use the amplifier in the exam room.

Candidates may bring and use their own effectors.

Candidates are expected to tune their instrument to A=440Hz on their own. (For Grades 10 and 9, quality of tuning is not evaluated. For Grades 8-6, quality of tuning is one of the evaluation points.) A tuning meter may be brought into the exam room, and may be used during the exam.

If candidates have a problem with their instrument during the exam, for example, a broken string, a spare instrument, prepared in the exam room, may be used. Candidates are expected to solve any problems prior to the exam on their own.

I-I. Compulsory Piece

Candidates prepare one piece from the Compulsory Piece List and play it with the backing track.

Procedure

1. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can play along to set an appropriate volume and balance.

2. Candidate plays the piece with the backing track.

Note:
Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
Examiners may stop the performance before it reaches the end of the piece.
The backing track files are prepared at the exam room.

Compulsory Piece List

Grade 10

Book 1 - Chapter 1: Etude 1

Book 1 - Chapter 2: Etude 2

Grade 9

Book 1 - Chapter 3: Etude 3

Book 1 - Chapter 4: Etude 4

Grade 8

Book 2 - Chapter 5: Etude 5

Book 2 - Chapter 6: Etude 6-a

Book 2 - Chapter 6: Etude 6-b

Grade 7

Book 2 - Chapter 7: Etude 7

Book 2 - Chapter 8: Etude 8

Book 2 - Chapter 9: Etude 9

Grade 6

Book 3 - Chapter 10: Etude 10

Book 3 - Chapter 11: Etude 11

Book 3 - Chapter 12: Etude 12-a

Book 3 - Chapter 12: Etude 12-b

I-II. Free Selection

Candidates prepare one free selection piece and play it.

Points to consider when selecting a piece to prepare for Free Selection:

The level of the Free Selection piece is expected to be equivalent to the Compulsory Piece for the Grade.

Candidates may choose a Free Selection piece from the textbook or Compulsory Piece List provided that it is not the same piece they have prepared for the Compulsory Piece selection.

For the Free Selection, candidates are expected to bring a backing track with which they will play during the exam.

Procedure

1. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can play along and set an appropriate volume and balance.

2. Candidate plays the piece with the backing track.

Note:
Candidates are expected to bring the scores of the pieces they have prepared to the exam.
Examiners may ask to see the score.
Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
A simple score that shows the structure of the piece, chord progression, etc. is acceptable. The score itself will not to be evaluated.
Backing tracks for pieces chosen from the textbook will be prepared in the exam room. However, if candidates choose a piece from outside of the textbook, they are expected to bring any MP3 files or MIDI data that they will use as a backing track to the exam.
Examiners may stop the performance before it reaches the end of the piece.
Candidates need to set a right sound for each piece. However, examiners can give them advice if they do not understand how to use the amplifier in the exam room.
Candidates may use their own effectors to make a right sound.

Candidates prepare three given riff patterns and are asked to play, with the backing track, one chosen by examiners.

Scores of the riff patterns are provided as PDF files.

Procedure

1. Examiners select one riff pattern for the candidate to play.

2. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can play along and set an appropriate volume and balance.

3. Candidate plays the riff pattern with the backing track from the beginning to the end.

Scores: Riff Playing

Examiners select two (Grades 10-7), three (Grade 6) pieces and ask the candidate to play them by sight with the backing tracks.

Grades 10-7: A piece from Group-A and a piece from Group-B will be given.

Grade 6: A piece from Group-A and two pieces from Group-B will be given.

Procedure

1. Candidate is presented a score of the exam piece.

2. Candidate is given 30 seconds to look at the score as preview.

3. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track so that the candidate can confirm the tempo and the musical feel.

4. Candidate plays the piece with the backing track.

5. Repeat the next piece in the same manner as 1-4.

Note:
Movements, such as playing without sound, fingering/stroke motion practice etc., are not allowed during preview time.

Examples

Candidates play two scales selected by the examiners without the use of a score.

Scores: Scales

Procedure

1. Examiners give candidate information on the type, key, range and starting note of the scale to be played.

2. For Grades 7 and 6, examiners use a metronome to give the candidate the tempo (♩=120). *For Grades 10 to 8, candidates may play the scales in their own tempo.

3. Candidate plays the scale as required.

4. Repeat procedures 1 to 3 for the next scale.