Rock & Pop – Bass

Trinity College LogoPlease use the links below to find the titles recommended in the Trinity College Exam Syllabus:

Rock and Pop exam pieces can all be found in the following books. Three pieces must be chosen, one of which must have a technical focus. The first and third pieces must be chosen from the appropriate grade book, with the 3rd piece being technical focus (marked with 🎸) with both being played to a backing track.

The second song can either be

  • from the appropriate and current grade book, played to as backing track
  • Or a song from additional Trinity keyboards arrangements (see the syllabus fvor nmore details)
  • Or an own-choice song Or a song composed by the candidate
    • If song 2 is an own-choice song or one composed by the candidate it may:
    • Be unaccompanied Be played to a backing track (which can be pre-recorded by the candidate)
    • Include added vocals, performed live by the candidate
    • Include an accompaniment played or sung live by another musician

Initial Grade

Bass Initial TCL016898
Backing Tracks Bass Initial CD TCL 017376

Title Artist
All Along The Watchtower Bob Dylan
Gloria Them
Ride A White Swan T Rex
Shelter🎸 The Xx
Stand By Me🎸 Ben E King
With Or Without You U2
Yellow🎸 Coldplay
You Make Loving Fun Fleetwood Mac

Grade 1

Bass Grade 1 TCL 016904
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 1 CD TCL 017383

Title Artist
Billie Jean🎸 Michael Jackson
Float On Modest Mouse
Just Looking🎸 Stereophonics
Labelled With Love🎸 Squeeze
Learn To Fly Foo Fighters
Little Talks Of Monsters And Men
Mull Of Kintyre Paul Mccartney & Wings
Not The Girl You Think You Are Crowded House

Grade 2

Bass Grade 2 TCL 016911
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 2 CD TCL 017390

Title Artist
Brown Eyed Girl🎸 Van Morrison
Don’t Wanna Fight Alabama Shakes
Knock On Wood Eddie Floyd
Private Life Grace Jones
She Sells Sanctuary The Cult
Something To Talk About🎸 Badly Drawn Boy
Sweet Disposition🎸 The Temper Trap
You’ve Got A Friend Carole King

Grade 3

Bass Grade 3 TCL 016928
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 3 CD TCL 017406

Title Artist
Another One Bites The Dust Queen
Come Together The Beatles
(I’m A) Road Runner🎸 Jr Walker & The All Stars
Misery Business🎸 Paramore
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag James Brown
Seasons (Waiting On You)🎸 Future Islands
Song 2 Blur
Walking On The Moon The Police

Grade 4

Bass Grade 4 TCL 016935
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 4 CD TCL 017413

Title Artist
Forever🎸 Haim
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) Aretha Franklin
I Wish Stevie Wonder
Riff Raff🎸 AC/DC
The Riverboat Song Ocean Colour Scene
Sledgehammer🎸 Peter Gabriel
Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana
You Know I’m No Good Amy Winehouse

Grade 5

Bass Grade 5 TCL 016942
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 5 CD TCL 017420

Title Artist
Car Wash🎸 Rose Royce
Cause I’m A Man Tame Impala
Day Tripper The Beatles
Heartbreaker Led Zeppelin
Reach Out I’ll Be There Four Tops
Smooth Criminal🎸 Alien Ant Farm
Sweet Child O’ Mine🎸 Guns N’ Roses
Wake Up Rage Against The Machine

Grade 6

Bass Grade 6 TCL 016959
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 6 CD TCL 017437

Title Artist
Get Lucky Daft Punk
No One Knows🎸 Queens Of The Stone Age
Orion🎸 Metallica
Rio Duran Duran
Scar Tissue Red Hot Chili Peppers
Something Got Me Started🎸 Simply Red
What’s Going On Marvin Gaye
With A Little Help From My Friends Joe Cocker

Grade 7

Bass Grade 7 TCL 016966
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 7 CD TCL 017444

Title Artist
Babooshka Kate Bush
Higher Ground Red Hot Chili Peppers
I Believe In Miracles The Jackson Sisters
Phantom Of The Opera🎸 Iron Maiden
Sir Duke Stevie Wonder
The Spirit Of Radio Rush
Too Shy🎸 Kajagoogoo
Two Tribes🎸 Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Grade 8

Bass Grade 8 TCL 016973
Backing Tracks Bass Grade 8 CD TCL 017451

Title Artist
Birdland🎸 Weather Report
Dune Tune Level 42
Good Lava Esperanza Spalding
Lopsy Lu Stanley Clarke
Run For Cover🎸 David Sanborn
Silly Putty Stanley Clarke
Tommy The Cat🎸 Primus
You Can Call Me Al Paul Simon

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