Trinity College London Classical Guitar · Grade 8
Trinity Classical Grade 8 guitar
Diploma-preparation level — the summit of the graded syllabus.
Trinity exams are taken digitally by default — recorded and submitted online — with in-person exams arranged for students who prefer them.
Set pieces
Tap any piece to open its own page with a play-along video, amp settings and practice tips. You'll still need the official grade book for the notation.
Every piece across all Trinity Classical Grade 8 books(27)
- Group ABourrée (6th movt from Lute Suite in E major, BWV 1006a)— Bach, J S, arr. KoonceThe Solo Lute Works — Kjos WG100 Play
- Group AGigue (4th movt from Lute Suite in A minor, BWV 997)— Bach, J S, arr. KoonceThe Solo Lute Works — Kjos WG100 Play
- Group AEl catalán— BrocáRaise the Bar Guitar: Grades 6-8 — Trinity TCL016577 Play
- Group ASérénade (1st movt from Les soirées d'auteuil, op. 23)— CosteClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group AEarl of Essex, His Galliard— Dowland, arr. PowleslandClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group AFuga (from Sonata in A minor)— DurantBaroque Guitar Anthology vol. 4 — Schott ED13489 Play
- Group AAllegro (final movt from Sonatina in D major, op. 71 no. 3)— GiulianiSonatina in D major, op. 71 no. 3 — Tecla 2564-3 (download) Play
- Group APhantasia in A minor— Kellner, transc. KäppelClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group ACanción del Emperador (Song of the Emperor)— de NarváezHispanae Citharae Ars Viva — Schott GA176 Play
- Group ASonata in A, K 322— Scarlatti, arr. FiskSonatas vol. 2 — GSP 096 Play
- Group ARondo in D (no. 6 from 6 pièces: Est-ce bien ça?, op. 48)— SorThe Guitarist's Hour vol. 3 — Schott GA21 Play
- Group AThe Bucks of Oranmore— Trad., arr. RussellClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BOración para todos (Prayer for Everyone)— BarriosClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BNos. I & V (from Impromptus for Guitar) (both to be played)— BennettClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BHornets' Nest, no. 9— DodgsonOde to the Guitar — Ricordi RICL00011400 Play
- Group BAlba nera— DyensSeparately or Les 100 de Roland Dyens vol. 1 — Productions d'Oz DZ1950 or DZ2201 Play
- Group BAdana (jhaptal) (no. 4 from Raga Suite)— KruisbrinkClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BVals venezolano no. 3 'Natalia' (from 4 valses venezolanos)— Lauro, rev. DiazClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BYesterday— Lennon & McCartney, arr. Takemitsu12 Songs for Guitar — Schott Tokyo SJ1095 Play
- Group BReboliço— PernambucoRaise the Bar Guitar: Grades 6-8 — Trinity TCL016577 Play
- Group BPor ti mi corazón, no. 2— PonceTres canciones populares mexicanas — Schott GA111 Play
- Group BTonadilla— Pujol3 morceaux espagnols — Eschig ME258688 Play
- Group BEn los trigales— RodrigoClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BEstudio sin luz— SegoviaClassical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020: Grade 8 — Trinity TCL019356 Play
- Group BGran Vals— TárregaRaise the Bar Guitar: Grades 6-8 — Trinity TCL016577 Play
- Group BMazurka-Chôro (1st movt from Suite populaire brésilienne)— Villa-LobosMazurka-Chôro (1st movt from Suite populaire brésilienne) — Eschig ME6737 Play
- Group BPrélude no. 5 in D major— Villa-LobosCinq préludes — Eschig DF15722 Play
Books and exam booking
The Trinity Grade 8 book and the exam booking both come from Trinity College London directly.
Technical work at Grade 8
- Complete scale and arpeggio system
- Virtuoso right-hand technique
- Full command of tone colour and dynamics
- Independent programme building
What's in the exam
- Three pieces from the syllabus
- Technical work
- One supporting test
- Musical knowledge
Trinity Classical Grade 8 technical work in full
Everything below is published in Trinity's book Guitar Scales, Arpeggios and Studies from 2016: Grades 6–8. You always play the technical exercise, then choose one of: scales & arpeggios set A, scales & arpeggios set B, or the concerto extracts. Tell the examiner your choice on the submission form.
1. Technical exercise
Technical exercise in B♭ minor (♩ = 106) — music may be used.
- Major tonal centre: major scale, major arpeggio, then a dominant 7th arpeggio starting on that note and resolving on the tonic
- Minor tonal centre: harmonic minor scale, melodic minor scale, then minor arpeggio
2. Scales & arpeggios — set A
From memory, mf.
- A major tonal centre — two octaves, scale im apoyando. Minimum tempi: scales ♩ = 136, arpeggios ♩. = 72, dominant 7ths ♩ = 108
- E♭ minor tonal centre — two octaves, scales ma tirando
- F♯ major tonal centre — three octaves, scale im apoyando
- G♯ minor tonal centre — three octaves, scales ma tirando
- Chromatic scale starting on G♯ — three octaves, im apoyando
- A melodic minor scale in tenths — one octave, pi/pm
- Chromatic scale in octaves starting on F♯ — two octaves, pi/pm
- Diminished 7th arpeggio starting on A♭ — two octaves, ppimim…. Minimum tempo ♩ = 108
3. Scales & arpeggios — set B
From memory, mf.
- E♭ major tonal centre — two octaves, scale im apoyando. Minimum tempi: scales ♩ = 136, arpeggios ♩. = 72, dominant 7ths ♩ = 108
- A minor tonal centre — two octaves, scales ma tirando
- A♭ major tonal centre — three octaves, scale im apoyando
- F♯ minor tonal centre — three octaves, scales ma tirando
- Chromatic scale starting on E♭ — two octaves, im apoyando
- A major scale in thirds — two octaves, im
- E♭ major scale in sixths — two octaves, pi/pm
- Diminished 7th arpeggio starting on F♯ — three octaves, ppimim…. Minimum tempo ♩ = 108
4. Concerto extracts
Choose and perform two extracts. Music may be used.
- Vivaldi: Concerto in D, RV 93 — 1st movement, bars 24–51
- Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Concerto no. 1 in D, op. 99 — 3rd movement, first section of cadenza
- Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra — 2nd movement, first section of cadenza