Tuba Street Performer Songs

[whattheduck]

Over the years I’ve amassed a collection of songs that work well for solo tuba street gigs. Strong, recognizable, melodies work well with the general public (a lot of TV, movie themes and pop songs where the melody can clearly stand alone). Looking to update my book.
What tunes have you found work well for these situations?

[whattheduck]

For the Love of Money - O'Jays

Perfect!

[hurricane_harry]

I have a busking band that does a lot of pop. That's what works. Hip hop is good to the tuba. All about that bass by Megan trainor and fancy by iggy have been working well. Bruno Mars has a new hit with a decent bass line. Just turn on the radio. Anything on tuba sounds amazing

[opus37]

So, how did you put together your collection? What is your playlist? I assume you found the piano music or some other instrument solo music and transposed the part for tuba.....

If you don't already have them:
Puff the Magic Dragon
Laura's Theme

[Three Valves]

What we need is a Real Book of solo tuba for street gigs.

[whattheduck]

Great minds think alike. "Puff" and "All About That Tuba" are already on the list. I'll try to find my list tonight. Most of the tunes came from transcriptions I've done, bass clef real books, and pop trombone books.

[whattheduck]

All About That Bass
All of Me
All My Loving
Andy Griffith Theme
Another One Bites the Dust
Ballad of Davy Crockett
The Bare Necessities
Basin Street Blues
Beyond the Sea
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
The Brady Bunch
Bye Bye Blackbird
Cabaret
Cantina Band
Centerfold
Chamelon
Chariots of Fire
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Cruella De Vil
Days of Wine and Roses
Don’t Worry Be Happy
Do-Re-Mi
The Dock of the Bay
Don’t Worry Be Happy
Do You Want To Build A Snowman
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
Duke of Earl
Theme From E.T.
Eternal Flame
Edelweiss
Eternal Flame
Fly Me to the Moon
Foggy Day
For the Love of Money
Happy Days Theme
Heart and Soul
Honeysuckle Rose
I Got Rhythm
I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart
I Love Lucy (theme)
I’m Late
Imperial March
I’m Popeye the Sailor Man
In A Mellow Tone
It Don’t Mean A Thing
It’s A Small World
It’s Only A Paper Moon
It Was A Very Good Year
Jeopardy
Joy to the World (Hoyt Axton)
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Karma Chameleon
Kiss the Girl
The Lady Is A Tramp
Let’s Go Fly A Kite
Linus and Lucy
Little April Shower
Love and Marriage
Making Our Dreams Come True (Laverne & Shirley)
Michelle
Mickey Mouse March
Mister Sandman
Mission Impossible Theme
Muppet Show Theme
My Little Suede Shoes
Once Upon A Dream
On the Road Again
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Part of Your World
Puff the Magic Dragon
Raiders March (Indiana Jones)
Sentimental Journey
The Siamese Cat Song
Sing (a happy song)
Smile
Spiderman Theme
Smurfs Theme
So Long, Farewell
Star Wars (several tunes)
So Long, Farewell
So This Is Love
Spoonful of Sugar
Summertime
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Super Mario Bros. Theme
That’s Amore
This Land Is Your Land
Through the Years
Thus Spake Zarathustra (fanfare)
Tomorrow
Toyland March
The Unbirthday Song
Under the Sea
The Way You Look Tonight
What A Wonderful World
When You Wish Upon A Star
Whistle While You Work
Winnie the Pooh
Yellow Submarine
Yo Ho (Pirates Life for Me)
You Are My Sunshine
You Can Fly!
You’ve Got A Friend In Me
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

[eupher61]

I can't possibly list all the tunes I know and can do. I played 4 hours solo on NYE and had no problem. no one except vendors would realize I'd repeat a tune, and even they probably wouldn't. Play what you want with enough discounts to adapt to requests. Me...I don't care about playing current pop tunes. I don't know them and don't care.

[Three Valves]

I'd pay money to *not* be followed around by a tuba player who's playing all that stuff.

I'd pay 3.95 to download the sheet music like I did for 41 Christmas Carols for Solo Tuba.

[whattheduck]

Here are a few books that can help get you started. The trombone books are in tuba friendly keys.

Trombone pop books:
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Instrumental ... bone+songs" target="_blank

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Disney-S ... bone+songs" target="_blank

Four volumes of Real Books in bass clef:
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Book-Bass-Cl ... +real+book" target="_blank

For Christmas tunes:
http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewp ... mid=240347" target="_blank