Piano Songs with Mixed Bass Patterns
372 songs — Mixed bass songs switch between multiple patterns within a single piece — block chords in the verse, oom-pah in the chorus, octave bass in the bridge. Reflects more sophisticated arrangements.
How mixed bass works
Mixed bass: the song uses different LH patterns in different sections (verse / chorus / bridge / outro). Common in modern pop arrangements where producers vary accompaniment to keep interest across a 3-4 minute song.
Breakable
Ingrid Michaelson
FREE BIRD
Lynyrd Skynyrd
GOODNIGHT MY LOVE, PLEASANT DREAMS
Jesse Belvin
I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE
Ella Fitzgerald
SWEDISH RHAPSODY
Chet Atkins
TOO HIGH
Michael McDonald
YOUR LOVE BROKE THROUGH
Keith Green
BLUE
LeAnn Rimes
DON'T EVER LEAVE ME
Jerome Kern
Hiding My Heart Away
Adele
SEVEN YEARS
Norah Jones
SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE
Thomas Dolby
Sovereign
Chris Tomlin
THE LITTLE OLD LADY
Jan & Dean
TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME
Elvis Presley
TWO FOR THE ROAD
Henry Mancini
A FOOL SUCH AS I
Elvis Presley
CALIFORNIA LOVE
2Pac
CITY OF STARS
Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone
FIRE AND RAIN
James Taylor
JUST LIKE HEAVEN
The Cure
Out Here on My Own
Mariann Cook
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES
John Jacob Loeb
SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE
Cream
THE DARKTOWN STRUTTERS' BALL
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
WINDY
The Association
AIN'T NO SUNSHINE
Bill Withers
IF I HAD A HAMMER
Peter, Paul & Mary
I TRIED
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony featuring Akon
SOMETIMES
Henry Mancini
WITHOUT A SONG
Frank Sinatra
EVERY LIGHT IN THE HOUSE
Trace Adkins
HUSHABYE
Mystics
SHAKE YOUR BOOTY
KC & The Sunshine Band
Bang the Drum All Day
Todd Rundgren
DON'T WORRY BABY
The Beach Boys
HIGHER GROUND
Stevie Wonder
I GOT A NAME
Jim Croce
THE HUMMING
Enya
ALL ALONE
Irving Berlin
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Eddy Arnold
MAS QUE NADA
Sergio Mendes
WE HAVE COME INTO HIS HOUSE
Bruce Ballinger
SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU
Elvis Presley
COME EMMANUEL
Twila Paris
HI-HEEL SNEAKERS
Tommy Tucker
MARY ANN
Ray Charles
SOMETHING
The Beatles
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Frequently asked questions
- What does "mixed bass" mean?
- Mixed bass songs change their left-hand accompaniment pattern between sections — e.g., simple block chords in the verse, fuller octave bass in the chorus, arpeggios in the bridge.
- Are mixed-bass songs harder?
- Often yes — you have to learn multiple LH patterns instead of one, and switch cleanly at section boundaries. Worth the effort for the more dynamic arrangement.