GRADE FOUR

POPULAR MUSIC THEORY EXAMINATION

Summer 2012
Time allowed: 2 hours

Candidate NAME:
(Surname last)

Entry NUMBER: Examination CENTRE:

Instructions to candidates

1. Write your name, examination centre and entry number (details provided in your attendance
letter) in the spaces provided above, but do not open this examination paper until instructed to
do so by the invigilator.

2. All answers must be written in the spaces provided. These answers may be copies of rough
work done in the examination room, on paper provided by the invigilator, but all rough work
must be handed to the invigilator with the examination script at the end of the examination.

3. Candidates are not permitted to bring any paper, notes or books into the examination room.

4. Candidates are not permitted to talk to one another in the examination room, but reasonable
questions may be addressed to the invigilator.

5. Candidates must stop writing immediately when requested to do so by the invigilator.

6. Ensure that you return the complete examination script to the invigilator upon completion of the
examination.

7. Please leave the examination room as quietly as possible if other candidates are still
completing their examination.

Registry Mews, 11 to 13 Wilton Rd, Bexhill, Sussex, TN40 1HY

Tel: 01424 22 22 22 Fax: 01424 21 32 21
info@examregistry.com
Section 1: SCALES AND KEYS Questions 1 - 5: 4 marks each. Max. Total: 20 marks

Q1. Starting from the keynote, use letter names to write

the notes of the pentatonic major scale that has
three sharps in the key signature.

Q2. Starting from the keynote, use letter names to write

the notes of the B harmonic minor scale.

Q3. Using the correct key signature, write as whole notes (semibreves) one octave ascending of the
B♭ blues scale in either the treble or bass clef.

Q4. Using the correct key signature, write as whole notes (semibreves) one octave ascending of the
E♭ major scale in either the treble or bass clef.

Q5. Write the scale spelling of the harmonic minor scale.

Section 2: CHORDS Questions 1 - 5: 4 marks each. Max. Total: 20 marks

Q1. Starting from the root note, write the notes of B♭(sus2) using letter names.

Q2. Which chord, built on the root note of D, consists of the notes: D A D?
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Q3. Write the chord spelling of the minor 7 ♭5 chord.

Q4. Write as whole notes (semibreves) the F#m7 chord in either the
treble or bass clef.

Q5. In E7 what is the interval between the root note and D?

Section 3: RHYTHM NOTATION Q.1 - 3: 2 marks each; Q.4: 4 marks. Max.Total: 10 marks

Q1. Complete the following bars by inserting the appropriate rest or rests in the spaces marked *.

Q2. Without changing the rhythm, re-write the following bar so that the notes and rests are grouped correctly.
Section 3: RHYTHM NOTATION continued
Q3. Without changing the rhythm, re-write the following bar so that the notes and rests are grouped correctly.

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Q4. Using a pitch of your choice, write two different bars of rhythm in 8 time that includes at least one of each
of the following: dotted quarter note (dotted crotchet); sixteenth note (semiquaver); sixteenth rest
(semiquaver rest); a tie.

Section 4: KNOWLEDGE OF POPULAR MUSIC Q.1: 3 marks; Q.2 -7: 2 marks each. Max. Total: 15 marks

Q1. Name two musicians who have been members of Pink Floyd, stating the role of one of them.

Q2. During which decade did Bob Dylan first come to prominence, and with which style of music is he most
associated?

Q3. Name two famous songs recorded by the Sex Pistols.

Q4. Identify the two main functions of a guitarist in a band.

Q5. State the relationship between the size and pitch of a drum and identify the lowest pitched drum in a
conventional kit.

Q6. Explain how a performer would play the following piece of music.

Q7. How many bars in length is the following piece of music?

Section 5: HARMONY Q.1 - 3: 4 marks each; Q 4: 5 marks; Q.5 – 6: 4 marks each. Max. Total 25 marks

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Q1. Using chord symbols, write the various 7 chords that are built from each degree of the F major scale.

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Q2. Using chord symbols, write the various 7 chords that are built from each degree of the E natural minor
scale.

Q3. In the chord progression below in the key of D major, identify by Roman numerals and technical name
the cadence that is created between the chords in bars 3 and 4.

||Dmaj7 |Em7 |Gmaj7 |Dmaj7 ||

Q4. Using at least three different chords, write a four-bar chord progression in the key of B♭ major with the
last two chords forming a V-I (perfect) cadence.

|| | | | ||
Q5. Name a scale that could be used effectively for improvising over the following chord progression.

||Bm7 |Gmaj7 A7 |Em7 F#m7 |Bm7 ||

Q6. Using at least three different chords, write a four-bar chord progression over which the G pentatonic
minor scale could be used for improvising.

|| | | | ||

Section 6: TRANSPOSITION Q.1 - 2: 5 marks each. Max. Total 10 marks

Q1. Transpose the following chord progression into the key of E♭ major.

||Dmaj7 |F#m7 Bm7 |Gmaj7 A7 |Dmaj7 ||

|| | | | ||

Q2. Transpose the following chord progression into the key of B minor.

||Cm7 |E♭maj7 Fm7 |Gm7 B♭7 |Cm7 ||

|| | | | ||

[END OF EXAM SCRIPT]