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.
STAY BEAUTIFUL
Taylor Swift
SUNFLOWER
Post Malone & Swae Lee
THANK YOU, LORD
John P. Kee
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Katy Perry
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
The Civil Wars
THE OTHER WOMAN
Lana Del Rey
THIS MASQUERADE
Carpenters
TOES
Zac Brown Band
TRYING TO FIND ATLANTIS
Jamie O'Neal
WE GOT THE PARTY
Hannah Montana
Whom Shall I Fear
Chris Tomlin
WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
YOU RAISE ME UP
Celtic Thunder
YOUR LOVE IS A SONG
Mike Elizondo
ALIVE AGAIN
Matt Maher
ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME
Paul Baloche
ARE YOU SURE HANK DONE IT THIS WAY
Waylon Jennings
ARROW THROUGH ME
Paul McCartney & Wings
A SONG FOR YOU
Amy Winehouse
A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP
Leonard Cohen
A Thousand Years
Christina Perri
BAND ON THE RUN
Paul McCartney & Wings
BANG BANG BANG
Selena Gomez
BEAUTIFUL ONE
By The Tree
BETTER TOGETHER
Matt Wong
BRAVE
Nichole Nordeman
Crazy
Gnarls Barkley
DEAR MR. FANTASY
Traffic
DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME
Elton John
DON'T WALK AWAY
Miley Cyrus
FAKE PLASTIC TREES
Radiohead
Fearless
Colbie Caillat
FINAL COUNTDOWN
Europe
FIX MY EYES
for KING & COUNTRY
FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING
Irene Cara
GETTIN' YOU HOME
Chris Young
GOING TO CALIFORNIA
Led Zeppelin
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Elton John
GOOD FOR YOU
Selena Gomez
GRAND CENTRAL STATION
Mary Chapin Carpenter
GRIZABELLA: THE GLAMOUR CAT
Andrew Lloyd Webber
HAIR
James Rado
Half The World Away
Aurora
HARD TO SAY GOODBYE, MY LOVE
Beyonce Knowles
HASTA QUE TE CONOCÍ
Juan Gabriel
HER DIAMONDS
Rob Thomas
HE REIGNS
Kirk Franklin
HE'S A REBEL
The Crystals
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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.