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.
TWO WORLDS
Phil Collins
UNDO
Rush Of Fools
WARRIORS
Imagine Dragons
WEST COAST
Lana Del Rey
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA?
Melanie
WONDERFUL WORLD
James Morrison
YEAH!
Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE
The Supremes
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
The Beatles
ALL MY LIFE
Foo Fighters
BACK TO YOU
Selena Gomez
BELIEVE
Shawn Mendes
BORN TO FLY
Sara Evans
CHERRY BOMB
The Runaways
CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Casting Crowns
CRAZY
Gnarls Barkley
CREED
Third Day
DAYS GO BY
Keith Urban
DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES
Kix
DOWN BY THE RIVER
Neil Young
EASY LOVER
Phil Collins & Philip Bailey
EBONY AND IVORY
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
EVE OF DESTRUCTION
Barry McGuire
EVERYBODY HURTS
R.E.M.
FEAR IS A LIAR
Zach Williams
FEELS LIKE HOME
Melissa Etheridge
FILLED WITH YOUR GLORY
Starfield
FROM THE GROUND UP
Dan + Shay
GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN
Johnny Cash
GOT TO GIVE IT UP
Marvin Gaye
HAPPY XMAS
John Lennon
HEAVEN
Beyoncé
HELLO HELLO
Elton John
Hey Brother
Avicii
HIGH ENOUGH
Damn Yankees
HOTLINE BLING
Drake
I DROVE ALL NIGHT
Celine Dion
IF I RULED THE WORLD
Leslie Bricusse
IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HELL
Rodney Atkins
ISSUES
Julia Michaels
IT ENDS TONIGHT
The All-American Rejects
I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK
Death Cab For Cutie
JESUS PAID IT ALL
Alex Nifong
JUST WANNA BE WITH YOU
High School Musical 3 Cast
Knee Deep
Zac Brown Band
LIPS OF AN ANGEL
Hinder
LITTLE LION MAN
Mumford & Sons
MAJESTIC
Lincoln Brewster
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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.