20 Audition-Friendly Rock Songs for Basses
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.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.
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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.