BASS - GRADE 8
At Grade 8 you can develop a range of skills and techniques including pinch harmonics, articulation, melodic playing, and slap solos. In the exam you’ll play a set list of three songs and, in face-to-face exams, demonstrate your playback or improvising skills.
You can find out more about the exam by downloading the complete Bass syllabus, or taking a look at the information below.
Everything you need to know about the exam, including durations, marking, room setup and what to take, can be found in the Bass syllabus and Rock & Pop room setup guide. For those taking a digital exam, please also see the section linked below.
EXAM STRUCTURE AND MARK SCHEME
Maximum marks
SONG 1
25
A song chosen from the relevant graded Trinity Bass songbook, played with the Trinity backing track
SONG 2
25
Either a different song chosen from the relevant graded Trinity Bass songbook
or a song from the additional Trinity Bass arrangements at trinityrock.com/extra-songs
or an own-choice song
or a song composed by the candidate
Song 2 may:
- be unaccompanied
- be played to a backing track (which can be recorded by the candidate)
- include added vocals, performed live by the candidate
- include an accompaniment played or sung live by another musician
SESSION SKILLS / OVERALL PERFORMANCE
20
Face-to-face exams: either playback or improvising
Digital exams: candidates will be assessed on how well the musical skills and knowledge that underpin the session skills tests are demonstrated within the context of their entire performance (ie all three songs). Full explanation and criteria for this is available in the syllabus.
SONG 3
30
A technical focus song chosen from the relevant graded Trinity Bass songbook, containing specific technical elements, played with the Trinity backing track
TOTAL
100
In your Grade 8 exam you’ll play a set list of three songs. Two of these will be from our full song list, including a technical focus (TF) song which focuses on two specific technical skills. Your other song can be from our full song list, or can be a song of your own choice, including a song that you’ve written, or a cover version that you’ve arranged.
These songs are included in the Grade 8 Bass songbook or available as single-song downloads:
| WEATHER REPORT | Birdland (TF) |
| LEVEL 42 | Dune Tune |
| ESPERANZA SPALDING | Good Lava |
| STANLEY CLARKE | Lopsy Lu |
| DAVID SANBORN | Run For Cover (TF) |
| STANLEY CLARKE | Silly Putty |
| PRIMUS | Tommy The Cat (TF) |
| PAUL SIMON | You Can Call Me Al |
THE SONGBOOK
The Grade 8 Bass songbook includes everything you need for your exam, including sheet music for eight of the songs from the complete song list (to which new songs are being added), along with performance hints and tips and background information for each song.
It also contains a code that gives access to downloadable demo and backing tracks for each of the songs. Buy and download your resources here.
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
For inspiration, have a listen to our Spotify playlist featuring the artist’s original versions of our Rock & Pop 2018 Bass songs for Grades 6-8. If you don’t already have a Spotify account, it’s free to set one up. Follow us and our playlists to easily find them again.
Develop the skills professional musicians rely on in their careers, and learn how to play music you’ve never seen or heard before or improvise over a track in the session skills part of your exam. You can choose which skill to demonstrate in your exam.
PLAYBACK
Candidates choosing this option perform some music they haven’t seen or heard before. The test consists of a series of short melodic phrases, which candidates repeat back in turn, over a backing track. See the syllabus for full requirements and graded parameters.
IMPROVISING
Candidates choosing this option improvise in a specified style over a recorded backing track that they haven’t seen or heard before. The backing track consists of a passage of music played in a loop. See the syllabus for full requirements and graded parameters.
Download example Playback and Improvisation test audio and charts for Grade 8 Bass.
You can find out more about the session skills tests, including technical expectations and how they are marked, in the Bass syllabus.
For digital exams, please also see the Rock & Pop digital grades page. Please note that no session skills are included in digital exams. Instead, candidates will be assessed on how well the musical skills and knowledge that underpin the session skills tests are demonstrated within the context of their entire performance (ie all three songs). Full explanation and criteria for this is available in the syllabus.
