64 of the Best Audition Songs for Basses

Are you getting ready for an important audition? Well, first you should check out our giant database of audition songs for specific musicals. But if your show hasn’t yet been covered by us, or if you’re just looking to expand your repertoire,  you can go through this list of audition songs for basses.

By the way, if your vocal range lies between E2-E4, you are a bass! If your range lies between the bass and baritone vocal types (or if it extends both), you are a bass-baritone. And if you haven’t gone through the steps to find your vocal type yet, I would definitely recommend doing so!


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First Step: Read your audition details

Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call. Also, as you’re picking out a song, these links may be helpful:

Backing Tracks for the Songs Below

“Audition Songs for Basses” Spotify Playlist


Quick Tip: For easy access to each song’s sheet music, backing tracks, music, time period, and vocal type info, just follow any of the links below!


Golden Age Songs for Basses (1940-1959)

Don’t Cry” – The Most Happy Fella

Edelweiss” – The Sound of Music

I Still See Elisa” – Paint Your Wagon

I’m an Ordinary Man” – My Fair Lady

Lonely Room” – Oklahoma!

My Time of Day” – Guys and Dolls

Thousands of Miles” – Lost in the Stars

What a Waste” – Wonderful Town


Post-Golden Age Songs for Basses (1960s)

A Wonderful Day Like Today” – The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd

Days Gone By” – She Loves Me

How to Handle a Woman” – Camelot

I’ll Never Say No” – The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Not Mine” – Hallelujah, Baby!

Once Upon a Time” – All American

Try to Remember” – The Fantasticks

Why Should I Wake Up?” – Cabaret


1970s Songs for Basses

Fallin’” – They’re Playing Our Song

Fear No More” – The Frogs

If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife

In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds

I Wanna Make the World Laugh” – Mack & Mabel

Pilate’s Dream” – Jesus Christ Superstar

Pure Imagination” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

She Is a Diamond” – Evita


1980s Songs for Basses

Father to Son” – Falsettos

Funny” – City of Angels

I Am What I Am” – La Cage aux Folles

It Wasn’t Meant to Happen” – Marry Me a Little

Marry Me” – The Rink

See You in the Funny Papers” – Woman of the Year

Song on the Sand” – La Cage aux Folles

There’s Always One You Can’t Forget” – Dance a Little Closer


1990s Songs for Basses

Farewell, Good Angel” – Jane Eyre

Heaven Help Me” – Footloose

How Long Must This Go On?” – Beauty and the Beast

If the World Were Like the Movies” – My Favorite Year

Lost in the Darkness” – Jekyll & Hyde

The Greatest Star of All” – Sunset Boulevard

They Live in You” – The Lion King

Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel


2000s Songs for Basses

Coffee Shop Nights” – Curtains

It’s In Your Hands Now” – Roadshow

Love Sneaks In” – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Love Who You Love” – A Man of No Importance

Mrs. Remington” – The Story of My Life

The Life That You Wished For” – Chaplin

Welcome to the World” – A Man of No Importance

Who’s the Man” – The Witches of Eastwick


2010s Songs for Basses

Everything About You” – Groundhog Day

Out of the Sun” – Honeymoon in Vegas

Temporarily Lost” – The Bridges of Madison County

The Great Comet of 1812” – The Great Comet

The Man Inside the Clues” – Catch Me If You Can

This Is Not An Exit” – American Psycho

We Look to You” – The Prom

What Would You Do?” – If/Then


Character/Comedic Audition Songs for Basses

Be Prepared” – The Lion King

Hephaestus” – Dear Edwina

If I Were a Rich Man” – Fiddler on the Roof

I Wanna Be a Producer” – The Producers

My Name” – Oliver!

Please Send Me Someone” – Young Frankenstein

Reindeers are Better Than People” – Frozen

Suppertime” – Little Shop of Horrors


By the way… If you like this post, you might also like:

DIY Bass Rep Book.


Know of any other great audition songs for basses?

And what role are you auditioning for next? We would love to hear all about your own favorite musical theatre songs for basses in the comments below! In the meantime, you can check out our database of best audition songs for other musicals.


Stacy Karyn, author of Audition Songs for Basses.
Author: Stacy Karyn

Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.


 

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