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.
LIGHT ON
David Cook
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Kylie Minogue
MacARTHUR PARK
Donna Summer
MERCY
Casting Crowns
NO BOUNDARIES
Kris Allen
NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW
Starship
ONLINE
Brad Paisley
OPENING UP
Sara Bareilles
PICTURE TO BURN
Taylor Swift
...READY FOR IT?
Taylor Swift
READY, SET, DON'T GO
Billy Ray Cyrus with Miley Cyrus
ROLLING IN THE DEEP
Adele
SHOTS
Imagine Dragons
SIMPLE SONG
Miley Cyrus
SOMETHING IN THE WATER
Prince
THE GAMBLER
Kenny Rogers
The Little Things
Colbie Caillat
Thinking Out Loud
Ed Sheeran
TWO OF US
Louis Tomlinson
UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
U2
WASTING MY TIME
Default
WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Glee Cast
WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU'VE MADE IN MY LIFE
Ronnie Milsap
WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLAY
Cat Stevens
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT
Baha Men
WHY CAN'T I?
Liz Phair
WISH YOU WERE HERE
Incubus
WITHOUT YOU
David Guetta featuring Usher
YOU HAD ME FROM HELLO
Kenny Chesney
6TH AVENUE HEARTACHE
The Wallflowers
ALMOST PARADISE
Ann Wilson & Mike Reno
ALYSSA LIES
Jason Michael Carroll
A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS
Rob Thomas
BE MY FOREVER
Christina Perri
BRANDY ALEXANDER
Feist
CAN I HAVE THIS DANCE
High School Musical 3 Cast
CRAZY
Aerosmith
CROCODILE ROCK
Elton John
DESERT SONG
Natalie Grant
DON'T STOP ME NOW
Queen
DOWN TO EARTH
Justin Bieber
DYING TO LIVE
Edgar Winter
EMOJI OF A WAVE
John Mayer
FALL TO PIECES
Avril Lavigne
FAME
David Bowie
GIVES YOU HELL
The All-American Rejects
HAVE A TALK WITH GOD
Stevie Wonder
HERE I AM
Renee Sandstrom
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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.