I've had it with grade 7 aural. The exams start in less than 2 weeks and I still can't tell the difference between a dominant and dominant 7th chord. I also can't name the chords in an imperfect cadence - I can't tell whether the chord preceding the dominant is tonic, tonic 2nd inversion or subdominant.

I also can't figure modulations. I can recognise a modulation from major to relative minor but I can't differentiate between modulations to the subdominant or dominant.

On the positive side, my singing isn't too bad. I just hope I do well enough in the non-aural parts of the exam to get me over the 100 mark. I've worked so hard for this grade 7 piano exam.

Before you tell me off, I know I've gone on about this before but I just needed a rant. Anyway, I'm off to listen to 'Don't Believe The Truth'.

Shelton

Keep going, you'll get there eventually, but aural at the higher grades is a killer. Have you tried going on sites such as www.musictheory.net (it has aural on it) or good-ear.com?

Best wishes for your Grade 7, you can do it!

If it's any consolation shelton I'm struggling as much as you.
Dominant 7th has that bit of discordancy in it - or it does to me - a sort of squished sound in it if that makes any sense. remember they play the chords of the cadence again preceded by the tonic so hopefully we'd recognise the tonic & if it's not like the tonic at all it must be the subdominant.
Modulation - if it goes to the dominant, listen for the sharpened note that leads to the dominant eg if it goes from C major to G major they get there by using an F# which you will hear.
If it goes to the subdominant eg c major to F major you're listening for the flattened note of Bb
I reckon if i can tell the modulation to minor or dominant, then if i'm not sure it must be the subdominant!
i'm going on the educated guesswork as you can see.

Can you tell the difference between a major and minor second? Is there one?

It's not so bad if you practice tons- it should get easier actually.
When I did my grade 7 I practiced so much that it was difficult to get it wrong.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

A major second is a tone. A minor second is a semitone.

some people just find these thing easier than others. i hate music but i have perfect pitch...it is ironic

If you hate music why are you on this forum?
Unless you haven't noticed, this whole website is about music.

sorry but i just hate playing music. i do enjoy reading about it and i like exams and things because i am a very competitive person

Don't worry too much about it - modulations and cadences are only one part of the test. If you're all right with the singing and 7D, chances are you'll be getting 14-15. My singing was rubbish (and sining is also TWO tests), but I could do the other tests and got 14.

Try and sound professional in 7D (the music had an expressive tone that added to the melodic spotlight... !), and really listen in the candences and modulations. They are not really likely to take off more than one mark at the most if you can't tell the difference between V and V7 and Ia and Ic as long as you identify the cadence correctly. For the modulations, try humming the tonic note through the extract and then comparing it with the last chord, though this doesn't always work - play around and see what works best. And if you're using the CD, make sure that it's not the only resource you use, as the there are a limited number of tests which, if you listen to everyday, will become extremely repetitve.

Aural is worth 18, not 21 or 30 or 50 or 68.4 million so relax! If you pass (12/18), you only lose 6 marks as opposed to 10 if you scrap a pass on a piece!

Thanks to all who give advice.

You are really telling me what I already suspected - that the aural is not as important as the pieces. Although I will continue to do a bit of aural everyday until the exam, I will rely more on the pieces, scales and sight-reading which I believe will get me a pass at least.

Overall, I'm pretty confident about the exam. I just would have liked to be strong in all areas, an attitude which got me 100% in the grade 5 theory exam (cheesy grin) but I suppose at the higher grades, this becomes harder to achieve.

Take care,

Shelton

I reckon Dominant 7th always sounds like it wants to "go somewhere else" - tonic I think (more recent theory revisors may correct me, I'm a bit rusty) - one way to tell it on its own.
Key thing is to make a good attempt at each section - ace the bits you're good at, score what you can on the others.
Not like nasty old Diploma where you have to pass each section - sigh...

I had my first aural today for 15mins and I did sight-singing and singing back the bass. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT IN EXAM
g7 trombone

Perhaps there should be a we hate Grade 7 aural club

Why restrict it to G7? Surely everyone hates aural - I know that I did when I took G8 (didn't go G7)

I thought 7 as there are several threads about it at the moment but you are right it is unpopular at all grades.

Maybe part of what helps to make it unpopular is when you try to learn in a month something that probably needs best part of a year to learn as it appears gilbert is having to do.

Nothing unusual in the way Gilbert is learning that's exactly what our Music Service offers 3/4 lessons before the exam and they aren't one to one. Needless to say we've sacked them.

i'm working toward grade 7 as well
havn't tried any aural for grade 7
usually 3-5 months before the exam

i'm quite scared with the lower part singing
and havnt seen the rest

good luck for grade 7 candidates!