Broad music knowledge needed

[acdcrock]

I'm doing an exam in just under 2 years that you have to do in Ireland which determines which college you get into based on grades. I do music and 50% of my exam will be practical. I have to play 6 songs (I play guitar) and they have to show a variety of musical ability/variety in the songs. Here's the songs I'm considering so far:

Free Bird/Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Classical Gas - Mason Williams
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
Hotel California - Eagles
Always With Me, Always With You - Joe Satriani
Blackbird - The Beatles
Jockey Full of Bourbon - Tom Waits
Classico - Tenacious D (to show classical songs but in a song I like)

As you can see they don't really vary from Rock (that much) so I was wondering if people could recommend some songs (with decent guitar parts, not difficult but prominent) from varying genres/styles.

[clashcityrocker10]

Try some Pat Metheny songs. He's jazz. Don't know exactly which songs you'd want to play, so listen to Letter from Home or Still Life (Talking) for some ideas.

[Oscar-Rio]

Death - Lack of Comprehension

[Piscasis]

I think the best way to do it would be to first choose 6 different genres, and then select 6 songs, one from each genre. Of course, I would say umbrella genres not subgenres because that wouldn't be very various (lol what an alliteration). Ex. Metal, Rock, Jazz, Punk, Classical, Country.

[berkthgar]

Death - Lack of Comprehension

I was gonna suggest a Death song, but I didn't want to be "that guy" who says PLAY MOAR METALZ. good pick though.

[Hungryfreak]

Napalm Death - "You Suffer"

[Oscar-Rio]

I was gonna suggest a Death song, but I didn't want to be "that guy" who says PLAY MOAR METALZ. good pick though.

well that song in particular has very simple scale progression in the opening while remaining quite stylized. Plus the song is a beast.

[acdcrock]

I can say now I won't be doing much metal. If I do any it will be Metallica. There's a guy in my class who likes all the cannibal corpse-esque stuff. I don't. Any experimental/latin/classical/country stuff would be great though.

So my thoughts have changed, I like the one song from each genre idea:
Rock - One of the songs from first post, haven't decided
Jazz - Better Days Ahead by Pat Metheny (thank you very much, I love it)
Punk - Would love to do Sex Pistols/The Clash but they don't have any impressive guitar songs. Maybe The Ruts? Any idea?
Country - Not much experience in this area, suggestions would be warmly welcomed
Classical - Classical Gas (kinda, in a way, not really but I'll get away with it)
Metal - Some Metallica song. Enter Sandman/The Unforgiven are two that straight away come to mind

Thank you for all the suggestions so far

[clashcityrocker10]

I can say now I won't be doing much metal. If I do any it will be Metallica. There's a guy in my class who likes all the cannibal corpse-esque stuff. I don't. Any experimental/latin/classical/country stuff would be great though.

So my thoughts have changed, I like the one song from each genre idea:
Punk - Would love to do Sex Pistols/The Clash but they don't have any impressive guitar songs. Maybe The Ruts? Any idea?
Country - Not much experience in this area, suggestions would be warmly welcomed

Mick Jones of The Clash has some pretty good guitar work. Check out something on Give 'Em Enough Rope like "Safe European Home" or "Tommy Gun." Or you could play some Husker Du.

As for country, I'm sure other people would be able to help more, but you can always play some Johnny Cash or Lucinda Williams.

[Piscasis]

For the more country/folky area, try something from a band named Railroad Earth. Maybe this one. It's a bit more folk than country but it shouldn't matter, it'd still be different than the other song choices. As for metal, I suggest not doing Metallica. There are metal bands that aren't Death Metal.