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.
TINY BUBBLES
Don Ho
TRAINWRECK
Demi Lovato
UPTOWN GIRL
Billy Joel
WHAT THE HELL
Avril Lavigne
YOU GOTTA BE
Des'ree
YOU LOOK SO GOOD IN LOVE
George Strait
ABC
The Jackson 5
A Cock-Eyed Optimist
Barbra Streisand
AIN'T IT FUN
Paramore
ANGEL
Casting Crowns
APOLOGIZE
Timbaland featuring OneRepublic
AT YOUR FEET
Casting Crowns
Back to You
John Mayer
Bad Romance
Lady Gaga
Because You Loved Me
Celine Dion
BENNIE AND THE JETS
Elton John
BEST FRIEND
Jason Mraz
Blind
Lifehouse
BLUE SUEDE SHOES
Elvis Presley
BODY AND SOUL
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
BROWN EYES
Lady Gaga
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
Elvis Presley
CHASING PAVEMENTS
Adele
COME WAKE ME UP
Rascal Flatts
COWARD OF THE COUNTY
Kenny Rogers
DANGEROUS WOMAN
Ariana Grande
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
Sarah McLachlan
EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK
Elvis Costello
EVERYTHING CHANGES
Sara Bareilles
FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY
Chicago
FOOL'S GOLD
One Direction
FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS
Shania Twain
FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE
The Cure
GALE SONG
The Lumineers
GONE
Montgomery Gentry
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
Elvis Presley
HE KNOWS MY NAME
Francesca Battistelli
Here for You
Matt Redman
I DON'T DANCE
Lee Brice
I FEEL BAD
Rascal Flatts
IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER
Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen
I LOVED HER FIRST
Heartland
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO PEE
Urinetown (Musical)
JUMP
The Pointer Sisters
KISS THE RAIN
Billie Myers
LET ME LOVE YOU
DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber
LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY
The Grass Roots
LIFE IS WORTH LIVING
Justin Bieber
Page 12 of 44 · 2,110 octave bass songs
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.