Important notice: This page is based on the VCAA Prescribed List of Notated Solo Works for Electric Bass as published for 2022. Music Studies are under ongoing review and a new Study Design commenced in 2023. Always check the current list on the VCAA website before finalising your program. This page is a guide only.
Success in this program give you the opportunity to perform at Top Class. See 2026 Top Class performers in Music and Sound
What You Need to Know First
If you are choosing your VCE Music Performance program on Electric Bass, here are the rules:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum works in program | 5 works |
| Baroque category | At least 1 work must come from this category |
| Unaccompanied works | At least 1 work must be unaccompanied |
| Same work rule | You cannot perform the same work in more than one VCE Music exam, across any year |
| Alternative works deadline | 23 February 2022 (check VCAA for current year deadline) |
Baroque Works
At least one work must be selected from this category.
| Composer | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| J.S. Bach | ‘Praeludium’ from Six Suites for Violoncello Solo No.1 (in G or C) | Approx. crotchet = 80. Da capo repeat must be played. Any double bass edition — no simplified versions. |
| J.S. Bach | ‘Menuettos 1 and 2’ from Six Suites No.1 | Approx. crotchet = 92. Da capo repeat must be played. |
| J.S. Bach | ‘Courante’ from Six Suites No.3 | Approx. crotchet = 144. Any double bass edition — no simplified versions. |
| J.S. Bach | ‘Bourees 1 and 2’ from Six Suites No.3 | Approx. crotchet = 80. Da capo repeat must be played. |
| J.S. Bach | ‘Invention No. 8’ | Performed as a duet with live or pre-recorded second part. Soloist may perform either part. |
| J.S. Bach, arr. Pastorius | ‘Chromatic Fantasy’ — Essential Jaco Pastorius (Hal Leonard HL.690420) | This edition must be used. |
Original Works, Arrangements and Transcriptions
| Composer / Arranger | Works | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ameen & Goines | ‘Yo Me Songo’, ‘Metal Mozamboque’, ‘Blue Cha Cha’ — Funkifying the Clave | Warner Bros | Must use supplied backing track |
| Stanley Clarke | ‘Song to John: Part II’, ‘Bass Folk Song’ — The Stanley Clarke Collection (Hal Leonard HL.672307) | Hal Leonard | Accompanied or unaccompanied |
| Frank Corniola | ‘Bon Voyage’, ‘Complex City’, ‘Fusion Boulevard’, ‘Highway to Funk’, ‘Oakland Drive’, ‘Odd Time Journey’, ‘Quiet Town’ — Rhythm Section Drumming (Hal Leonard HL.06620036) | Hal Leonard | Must be performed with supplied CD or live drummer playing notated accompaniment |
| Avenged Sevenfold | ‘Afterlife’ or ‘Unholy Confessions’ — Bass Play-Along: Avenged Sevenfold (Hal Leonard HL.702386) | Hal Leonard | Must use supplied CD backing track |
| Jimi Hendrix | ‘Hey Joe’, ‘All Along the Watchtower’, or ‘Crosstown Traffic’ — Bass Play-Along: Jimi Hendrix (Hal Leonard 699815) | Hal Leonard | Must use supplied CD backing track |
| Hubbard / King / Ritenour / Miller | ‘Dune Tune’, ‘Rio Funk’, ‘Run for Cover’ (from Dal segno into Coda) | Any edition | Accompanied or unaccompanied |
| James Jamerson | ‘Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing’, ‘For Once in My Life’, ‘Heard it Through the Grapevine’, ‘Home Cookin’’, ‘I Was Made to Love Her’, ‘What’s Going On’ — Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Hal Leonard HL.00698960) | Hal Leonard | Must use supplied backing track |
| Carol Kaye (trans.) | ‘Come Together’, ‘Hicky Burr’ — Electric Bass Lines No.2 (Gwyn Publishing) | Gwyn | Must be performed unaccompanied |
| Jaco Pastorius | ‘Portrait of Tracy’, ‘Donna Lee’ (min. crotchet = 140, finish 2 bars before letter B), ‘Continuum’ (A–B must be played), ‘Amerika’ — The Essential Jaco Pastorius (Hal Leonard HL.00690420) | Hal Leonard | This edition must be used. All works unaccompanied. |
| John Patitucci | ‘Backwoods’ — John Patitucci Artist Transcriptions (Hal Leonard HL.00673216) | Hal Leonard | Must be performed unaccompanied |
| Rufus Reid | ‘Almost But Maybe’, ‘Waltz for Doris’ — The Evolving Bassist (Warner Bros) | Warner Bros | Both parts must be performed as a duet. Backing track optional. |
| Chuck Sher (ed.) | ‘Nigerian Marketplace’ (Peterson), ‘Triste’ (Jobim), ‘Twisted’ (Gray/Ross) — The New Real Book Vol.1 | Sher Music | Accompanied or unaccompanied. Melody performed with accompaniment. Improvised solo/bass line may be incorporated. |
| Chuck Sher (ed.) | ‘Matinee Idol’ (Ferrante), ‘Modadji’ (Grusin), ‘Rush Hour’ (Ferrante/Ford) — The New Real Book | Sher Music | Accompanied or unaccompanied |
| Various | Up to 2 of: ‘Iron Man’/‘Peace Sells’/‘Trooper’ (Hard Rock); ‘Pride and Joy’/‘The Thrill is Gone’/‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ (Blues); ‘Cissy Strut’/‘Get Up’ (Funk); ‘Know Your Enemy’/‘Fly Away’ (90s Rock) — Hal Leonard Bass Play-Along series | Hal Leonard | Must use supplied CD backing track. Maximum 2 works from this group. |
| Various | ‘Coyote’, ‘NV43345’, ‘Terminal Beach’, ‘What is Hip’, ‘Jerry Was a Race Car Driver’ (6 string bass), ‘You Can Call Me Al’ — Bass Virtuosos (Hal Leonard 2501108) | Hal Leonard | Accompanied or unaccompanied. Repeats optional. |
| Victor Wooten | ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Classical Thump’, ‘Stompin’ Ground’ — The Best of Victor Wooten (Hal Leonard) | Hal Leonard | Must be performed unaccompanied. Repeats not required. |
Sample Programs
These are provided by VCAA as examples only. Works do not need to be performed in the order listed.
Sample Program 1
- Bach — ‘Praeludium’ (Baroque)
- Pastorius — ‘Portrait of Tracy’ (unaccompanied)
- Gray/Ross — ‘Twisted’
- Jamerson — ‘What’s Going On’ (accompanied)
- Corniola — ‘Oakland Drive’ (accompanied)
Sample Program 2
- Bach — ‘Invention No. 8’ (Baroque)
- Clarke — ‘Song to John: Part II’
- Peterson — ‘Nigerian Marketplace’
- Wooten — ‘Amazing Grace’ (unaccompanied)
- Kaye — ‘Come Together’ (unaccompanied)
Sample Program 3
- Bach — ‘Bourees 1 and 2’ (Baroque, unaccompanied)
- Grusin — ‘Modadji’
- Hamm — ‘Terminal Beach’
- Mitchell — ‘Coyote’
- Hendrix — ‘Crosstown Traffic’ (CD backing track)
Key Rules for Your Program
Accompaniment: May be live (piano, guitar, keyboard, drum kit, second bass) or pre-recorded. The backing track must not include the notated solo part. Where a specific backing track is required, it must be used.
Improvisation: Some works include improvised sections. Play in style — assessors are evaluating your performance skills and stylistic understanding, not the specific notes you improvise.
Baroque ornaments: Ornamentation and embellishment are encouraged in Baroque works.
Repeats: Generally optional unless the work specifies otherwise (da capo repeats must be played where indicated).
Editions: Listed editions are for identification. Any recognised edition is acceptable unless the note says “this edition must be used.” Never use simplified versions or arrangements unless approved.
Source: VCAA Prescribed List of Notated Solo Works — Electric Bass, 2022. Subject to change. Visit the VCAA website for the current list.