Piano Songs with Alberti Bass
297 songs — Alberti bass — a classical technique where the left hand plays broken chord patterns (low-high-middle-high) — defines much of Mozart, Haydn, and early Beethoven. Elegant, flowing accompaniment that supports melody without competing.
How alberti bass works
Alberti bass pattern: LH plays a broken chord in the order: lowest note, highest note, middle note, highest note (e.g., for C major: C-G-E-G repeated). Creates a continuous flow of background harmony.
XANADU
Olivia Newton-John
BELIEVER
Imagine Dragons
FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE
Bright Eyes
IF WE'RE HONEST
Francesca Battistelli
I Need Some Sleep
Eels
OH MY SOUL
Casting Crowns
ONE MORE LIGHT
Linkin Park
STUPID
Sarah McLachlan
THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES
Shawn Mendes
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Josh Groban
YOU SANG TO ME
Marc Anthony
ABRACADABRA
Steve Miller Band
BE NEAR
Shane & Shane
BERNADETTE
The Four Tops
BOOT SCOOTIN' BOOGIE
Brooks & Dunn
BY YOUR SIDE
Tenth Avenue North
Heaven Can Wait
Meat Loaf
I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU
The Temptations
I GOT YOU BABE
Sonny & Cher
LADY DOWN ON LOVE
Alabama
LIKE THE SEA
Alicia Keys
REACH OUT AND TOUCH
Diana Ross
THE STORY OF MY LIFE
Neil Diamond
THIS TOWN
Niall Horan
ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING
Shawn McDonald and Bethany Dillon
BECAUSE
The Beatles
BOTTOMS UP
Brantley Gilbert
HEAR ME
Kelly Clarkson
INVINCIBLE
Kelly Clarkson
MAYBE
Kelly Clarkson
SLOW DOWN
Nichole Nordeman
The Boxer
Simon & Garfunkel
WON'T GO HOME WITHOUT YOU
Maroon 5
ALREADY GONE
Sugarland
ALWAYS
Saliva
ANY OTHER WORLD
Mika
FAMILY AFFAIR
Sly And The Family Stone
GHOST OF YOU
Selena Gomez & The Scene
HAS ANYONE EVER WRITTEN ANYTHING FOR YOU
Stevie Nicks
HERE WITHOUT YOU
3 Doors Down
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
Neil Diamond
LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS
Elton John
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
Steven Curtis Chapman
SAFE & SOUND
Taylor Swift
BUDAPEST
George Ezra
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Traditional
EROTIC CITY
Prince
EVERYBODY'S TALKIN'
Harry Nilsson
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Frequently asked questions
- What is Alberti bass?
- Named after composer Domenico Alberti (1710-1740), Alberti bass is a classical left-hand pattern where you play broken chord notes in the order: lowest, highest, middle, highest. Heard throughout Mozart and early Beethoven sonatas.
- Is Alberti bass hard to play?
- Moderate difficulty — the pattern itself is mechanical, but maintaining steady tempo + even dynamics in the LH while playing expressive RH melody requires practice. Classic intermediate-level technique.
- What pieces use Alberti bass?
- Mozart's "Sonata in C Major" K. 545 (a.k.a. "Sonata Facile") is the textbook example. Many Haydn sonatas and Beethoven early works use it. Browse this collection for piano-friendly arrangements.