20 Audition-Friendly Rock Songs for Basses

June 1, 2021

Looking for new material to expand your vocal chops with? Or does your casting call specifically request non-musical theatre rock songs? With more pop/rock musicals entering the scene, it’s becoming increasingly common to keep a prepared rock song in your back pocket. And because of that, we’ve put together a list of amazing rock songs for basses, broken down by decade.

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1950s/1960s Rock Songs for Basses

“Crackin’ Up” – Bo Diddley

“Sunday Morning” – The Velvet Underground

“The Old Laughing Lady” – Neil Young

“Three Steps to Heaven” – Eddie Cochran

1970s Rock Songs for Basses

“C’est La Vie” – Emerson Lake & Palmer

“I Believe in Father Christmas” – Emerson Lake & Palmer

“Tom Traubert’s Blues” – Tom Waits

“Your Song” – Elton John

1980s Rock Songs for Basses

“Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Joy Division

“Mercy Seat” – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

“Nikita” – Elton John

“The Carny” – Nick Cave

1990s Rock Songs for Basses

“A Long December” – Counting Crows

“Butt Town” – Iggy Pop

“Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” – Crash Test Dummies

“The Ship Song” – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Contemporary Rock Songs for Basses

“Ever the Same” – Rob Thomas

“Future Days” – Pearl Jam

“Let the Bells Ring” – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

“The Fable of the Brown Ape” – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!

Which of these bass rock songs is your favorite?

And what are you working on at the moment? We would love to hear all about it in the comments below! In the meantime, you can check out our database of best audition songs for specific musicals.

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 holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.