First off the Bard needs more daily uses of Bardic Performance at lower levels... Perhaps level + Cha mod per day?
Countersong: 1 rank
-- It's effectiveness is very situational, but when it's used it almost always works. That said, I have never used it, half because I simply forget it's there and half because I'm usually already playing another song (inspire courage). In addition, requiring a specific type of Perform skill effectively cuts this ability off of a Bard who has not chosen one of those skills.
* Remove performance restrictions and combine with Distraction song
Distraction: 1 rank
-- Same as above, but even worse... Act, Comedy, Dance or Oratory? Really?
Fascinate: 1 rank
-- Sounds like a cool song, but once again very situational. Plus you can already cast this spell (Charm Person). The restriction of 1 target + 1/per 3 levels makes this song almost worthless considering all the other restrictions about nearby combat, threatening, spell casting, etc.
* Bump the # of targets to 1 + Cha Mod per level.
Inspire Courage: 1 rank
-- The signature song of the bard... So good that most Bards don't do anything else while in combat. Those that do kick it off on round 1 and hope the +5 rounds is enough, while they switch to another song or cast a spell.
* No suggestions to change, seems good the way it is.
Inspire Courage: 3 ranks (and 3rd level)
-- Umm, this is just Aid another without having to roll higher than a 10. Sure, it's a nice free boost, but mostly a waste of a Bardic Music use.
* It should at least scale with level/perform skill
Suggestion: 6 ranks (and 6th level)
-- Free Suggestion spell to anyone who is under the Bards Fascinate song? Only limit is how long I can sing and how many rounds I can burn? Sign me up! Oh wait, it's only against those who have already failed the saving throw against Fascinate and by this level, the Wizard already has Fireball to take care of the mooks who are going to fail TWO saving throws...
* Make it automagic, with a save at the end of each round
Dirge of Doom: 8 ranks (and 8th level)
-- Shaken and -2 to saves, attacks, etc with no save? At last, something for the Bard to do besides Inspire Courage. At 8th level, this is perfect, but by 15th, it's sorta weak and by 20th it's lame. Mostly because of the 30' range restriction, but also because it doesn't scale.
* I'd suggest making it scale with level and increase the range by 10' every 5 levels.
Discordant Performance: 8 ranks (and 8th level)
-- Confused sounds good, but then you look at the range and line of sight requirement. And they get another will save every round!
* Remove the line of sight, extend range out to 60'
Inspire Greatness: 9 ranks (and 9th level)
-- The 2nd always used song while in combat.
* Looks good as is
Song of Freedom: 12 ranks (and 12th level)
-- Break Enchantment spell... which the Bard has had access to since 10th level, but this one takes 1 minute to "cast" and requires a use of Bardic music.
* Shorten the time to 1 full round to at least make it useful in combat.
Soothing Performance: 12 ranks (and 12th level)
-- Finally access to a spell before you are allowed to cast it... Oh, but the Cleric has been doing this since level 1 and his "ability" is now up to 5d6 of healing?
** Drop this to 1 rank (level 1) and make it scale just the same as the Cleric Channel Energy ability. Add the removes extra stuff (fatigued, sickened, etc) at higher ranks. **
Frightening Tune: 14 ranks (and 14th level)
-- Yay, make all the mooks run away in fear! Your average CR 14 critter will fail this will save about 50% of the time... If they aren't already immune to fear.
* Seems pretty balanced, but might drop this down to 10th level, where it would be more effective.
Paralyzing Show: 14 ranks (and 14th level)
-- Like mass hold monster, except for the range limit and the WTF? performance requirements.
* Remove performance requirements and increase the range and also limit the number of targets to Bard level/2 or something
Inspire Heroics: 15 ranks (and 15th level)
-- +4 to saves and +4 to AC... Um, how does more AC and better saves make someone more Heroic? By this level, you either already have an insane AC or you don't care about your AC at all. And another target every 3 levels past 15th? Why not just say 15th and 18th level? Targets of this spell are usually melee/front line types, who are going to be farther than 30' away after you finish your FULL ROUND of singing to get this started.
* Remove the 30' range, add another target every 2 levels beyond 15th and add +4 to attack and damage.
Mass Suggestion: 18 ranks (18th level)
-- Must have already failed one will save to even be effected and now you want to add another one for it to work? At 18th level? Really? If they fail the Fascinate save, then an 18th level Bard should be able to command them as he wishes. There are already a ton of restrictions on the Fascinate song (no threatening, no spell casting, etc, etc)
* Remove the 2nd will save, make it automatic.
Deadly Performance: 20 ranks (and 20th level)
-- They die if they have a low will save, stunned for 1d4 rounds if they do save. Stunned: A stunned creature drops everything held,
can’t take actions, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). How did the Bard suddenly get a power that ends all BBEG fights as soon has he gets within 30'?
* Not sure how to fix this... I've never used it so not sure how it's balanced against other classes at 20th level.
No one has ever said the Bard is over powered and I think adding additional restrictions to their their iconic class ability only takes away from that.
The number one thing I'd like to see is to move the Soothing Performance to 1st level and make it scale much like the Clerics Channel Energy ability for healing. Perhaps restrict it to 1 + # of additional targets per level.