Piano Songs with Octave Bass
2,110 songs — Octave bass — the left hand plays the same note one or two octaves apart, alternating or simultaneously — gives songs a powerful, anthemic feel. Common in rock ballads, pop power-songs, and dramatic accompaniment.
How octave bass works
Octave bass pattern: LH plays a root note + the same note an octave below or above, either alternating (boom-boom) or together (block octaves). Builds energy through register width without changing harmony.
CELEBRATE THE FUTURE HAND IN HAND
Cheryl Berman
CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM
Katy Perry
Crown Him
Chris Tomlin
CRUSH
Mandy Moore
DON'T
Ed Sheeran
Don't Phunk with My Heart
The Black Eyed Peas
EVERMORE WITHOUT YOU
Andrew Lloyd Webber
FINALE/REPRISE
Danny Elfman
FIND MY WAY
The Gabe Dixon Band
FREE IN YOU
Indigo Girls
Get Lucky
Daft Punk
Gone at Last
Paul Simon
Hall Of Fame
The Script
HIGH
James Blunt
HOT
Avril Lavigne
I SHOULD HAVE CHEATED
Keyshia Cole
IT'S MY LIFE
Bon Jovi
JEALOUS
Nick Jonas
LEAN ON
Major Lazer & DJ Snake Feat. MØ
LIVE LIKE HORSES
Elton John
LOOK THROUGH MY EYES
Phil Collins
LOOK WHAT I FOUND
Lady Gaga
LOSE MY BREATH
Destiny's Child
LOVER, YOU SHOULD'VE COME OVER
Jamie Cullum
LOVE YOU I DO
Jennifer Hudson
MAMA, I'M A BIG GIRL NOW
Marc Shaiman
MARRAKESH EXPRESS
Crosby, Stills & Nash
MAYBE TOMORROW
The Jackson 5
MOVE TOGETHER
James Bay
MY SISTER
Reba McEntire
OVER AND OVER
Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
PAPER GANGSTA
Lady Gaga
POWER FLOWER
Stevie Wonder
RIVER
Leon Bridges
SEND ONE YOUR LOVE
Stevie Wonder
SLOW DOWN BABY
Christina Aguilera
SO SMALL
Carrie Underwood
Speechless
Lady Gaga
STRANGERS LIKE ME
Phil Collins
STRONGER
Glee Cast
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
Mika
Suddenly I See
KT Tunstall
TATTOO
Jordin Sparks
THE BREATH YOU TAKE
George Strait
THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD
Natalie Grant
THESE WALLS
Teddy Geiger
The Story
Brandi Carlile
THE SWEETEST TABOO
Sade
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Frequently asked questions
- What is octave bass in piano?
- Octave bass is a left-hand technique where you play the same note in two octaves — typically the chord root plus its lower octave. Creates a fuller, more powerful sound than a single bass note.
- Is octave bass hard to play?
- For intermediate players, no — most adult hands span an octave comfortably. Children or smaller hands may need to roll the octave (play the lower note slightly before the upper).
- Which songs use octave bass?
- Rock ballads like Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and many Coldplay songs use octave bass extensively. Browse the list above for ~2,000 examples in our catalog.