20 Audition-Friendly Rock Songs for Tenors

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

Looking for fresh material to stretch your vocal chops? Or maybe your casting call specifically wants a non-musical theatre rock song. With more pop/rock musicals showing up on audition notices, it’s smart to know a song from outside the musical theatre canon. Here’s a list of great rock songs for tenors, organized by decade.

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1960s Rock Songs for Tenors

“All You Need Is Love” – The Beatles

“Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” – Herman’s Hermits

“She’s a Rainbow” – The Rolling Stones

“With a Little Help From My Friends” – The Beatles

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1970s Rock Songs for Tenors

“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen

“Heaven Can Wait” – Meat Loaf

“Money” – Pink Floyd

“The Man Who Sold the World” – David Bowie

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1980s Rock Songs for Tenors

“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey

“Making Love Out of Nothing At All” – Air Supply

“Lost in Love” – Air Supply

“Waiting for a Girl Like You” – Foreigner

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1990s Rock Songs for Tenors

“Closing Time” – Semisonic

“Jumper” – Third Eye Blind

“Karma Police” – Radiohead

“Never Let You Go” – Third Eye Blind

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Contemporary Rock Songs for Tenors

“Jet Pack Blues” – Fall Out Boy

“Racing Rats” – Editors

“The Kids Aren’t Alright” – Fall Out Boy

“The Scientist” – Coldplay

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

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Which of these tenor 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.

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