As usual when playing a bard, our choice of tactic is determined by what the group needs.
If the group has DPS classes, they're probably better at dishing out damage than a bard, so I don't focus on directly dealing damage. Instead, I augment the other players through haste, +str, +AC, hp regen, and resist songs; and also help out casters with mana using the level 32 mana song.
If a group lacks strong DPS, that role may be filled by a bard.*I'm pretty sure charming a mob is the best way we bards have of dealing damage. I twist 5 songs (sometimes duplicates) in between charm, then retarget my pet and recharm. The damage I take during*charm breaks*takes a toll if I am also tanking, so I try to avoid it unless we have massive heals.
If a group lacks strong DPS and charming isn't an option at the moment, I have started twisting Chant of Flame/Frost/Fufil's while holding a drum. At level 48, I think stacking the 3 Chants does at least 5x the damage I could do with weapons! It seems strange, but I am often seen standing there (often in melee range if I'm tanking), holding no weapons, singing songs in the enemy's face.
Earlier in a bards career, before he or she gets Chants, I think our only option for non-charm DPS is simply haste+melee. As you probably know, if you're the only melee, you can use the self-only haste, as it is faster; but if there's even one other melee, we ought to give them haste too. As you said, they can probably do more melee damage than a bard.
Anyway, back to your question. I believe that because we bards can do so much, the best thing we can do is "whatever nobody else is doing." And if every role is covered, it comes down to boosting stats/resists and providing hp and mana regen, allowing an already-effective group to mow through mobs that much faster.
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