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.
BATTLEFIELD
Lea Michele
BUT WE LOST IT
P!nk
CALL ME
Blondie
DANCING ON THE CEILING
Lionel Richie
DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
Jenifer Lewis
DRUGS OR JESUS
Tim McGraw
Edge of Desire
John Mayer
FALLING SLOWLY
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Hillsong United
GO ALL THE WAY
The Raspberries
GOD BLESS US EVERYONE
Andrea Bocelli
GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU
George Harrison
HAZARD
Richard Marx
HEARTBEAT SONG
Kelly Clarkson
HEY JUDE
The Beatles
HOLD MY HAND
Hootie & The Blowfish
HOLD ON, WE'RE GOING HOME
Drake
HOME
Chris Tomlin
HOW 'BOUT THEM COWGIRLS
George Strait
I CAN WAIT FOREVER
Air Supply
IF GOD MADE YOU
Five For Fighting
IF YOU WANT ME TO
Ginny Owens
I.G.Y.
Donald Fagen
I Never Told You
Colbie Caillat
IN GOD WE STILL TRUST
Diamond Rio
I WISH IT WOULD RAIN
Phil Collins
LA CAMISA NEGRA
Juanes
LADIES LOVE COUNTRY BOYS
Trace Adkins
LANDSLIDE
Fleetwood Mac
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Bethany Dillon
LIKE THE WAY I DO
Melissa Etheridge
LOVE WINS
Carrie Underwood
MAMA'S SONG
Carrie Underwood
MERCY, MERCY ME
Marvin Gaye
MY DEAR COUNTRY
Norah Jones
NEW DIVIDE
Linkin Park
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE
Paul McCartney
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Willie Nelson
OOH CHILD
Donnie McClurkin
OUR SONG
Taylor Swift
RESURRECTION POWER
Chris Tomlin
ROSES
Shawn Mendes
SAY HEY
Michael Franti & Spearhead
SAY YOU WILL
Foreigner
SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD
Eagles
SHE WILL BE LOVED
Maroon 5
SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH
Dan Hill
SPOTLIGHT
Jennifer Hudson
Page 19 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.