GCAP Listening Test Questions With
Verified Answers 2024
Spanish Fandango - Correct answer-Genre: American parlor guitar
Period: late 19th century (composition) OR 1970s (recording)
Context: American revival of old-time guitar music in the 1970s. One of the early
standards in 19th century American parlor guitar music.
Techniques: Open G tuning. Use of open strings, melody on the first string. Vibrato for a
singing sound. Barre chords using the first finger (moveable chord).
Steel string guitar played finger style
Hawai Marche - Correct answer-Genre: Hawaiian Guitar
Period: 1930s
Context: Hawaiian guitar is characterized by the use of the slide. One of the first 20th
century guitar styles where the instrument takes a purely melodic role.
Chordal guitar accompaniment with emphasis on beats 2 and 4.
Fajar Di Atas Awan - Correct answer-Genre: Indonesian Guitar
Period: 1990s
Context: The band is aiming to create a national style of Indonesian music. It does not
reference traditional Indonesian music.
Techniques: Arpeggios accompanying the voice.
Guitar: Steel string guitar played fingerstyle.
Alir Pukai - Correct answer-Genre: Papua New Guinean Guitar
Period: 2000s
Techniques: Guitar orchestra with layered guitar parts. Strumming in a swing rhythm
(common in the Pacific region). Solo slide guitar. Bass acoustic guitar provides the low
end.
Guitar: Steel string and nylon guitars played with picks. Slide guitar on a lap steel guitar.
Stack-O-Lee - Correct answer-Genre: Blues
Period: 1920s
Context: A steady bass line keeps the rhythm and outlines the chord changes. The
melodic part is syncopated and functions as an introduction and later doubles the vocal
melody. The length of blues pieces from this period varies - the 12 bar format yet to be
established as the standard.
Techniques: Slurs are used in the treble part to emphasise certain notes (hammer ons).
A bluesy slide leads into the A chord - one of the few obvious blues touches in the
piece.
Black Snake Moan - Correct answer-Genre: Blues
Period: 1920s
