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.
I GO TO EXTREMES
Billy Joel
INVINCIBLE
Pat Benatar
Ironic
Alanis Morissette
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME
Carpenters
IT'S SAD TO BELONG
England Dan
I Will Follow
Chris Tomlin
JACK AND DIANE
John Mellencamp
LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS
Bruce Springsteen
LEAD ME TO THE CROSS
Chris And Conrad
LET'S GO CRAZY
Prince
LITTLE ALTAR BOY
Carpenters
LITTLE SISTER
Elvis Presley
LOVE IN ANY LANGUAGE
Sandi Patty
LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Elton John
MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER
Elton John
MAGNET AND STEEL
Walter Egan
MAMA'S BROKEN HEART
Miranda Lambert
MARTHA MY DEAR
The Beatles
MINE WOULD BE YOU
Blake Shelton
NO EYE HAD SEEN
Michael W. Smith
ORDINARY
Train
PLAY MY MUSIC
Jonas Brothers
PROPUESTA INDECENTE
Romeo Santos
RED, RED WINE
UB40
RED SOLO CUP
Toby Keith
RIVER DEEP - MOUNTAIN HIGH
Tina Turner
Say
John Mayer
SET FIRE TO THE RAIN
Adele
SEVEN YEAR ACHE
Rosanne Cash
SEX ON FIRE
Kings Of Leon
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Otis Redding
SONG FOR JUDITH
Judy Collins
SWEET NOTHING
Calvin Harris
TELL ME WHY
The Beatles
TERRAPIN STATION
Grateful Dead
THE HEAT IS ON
Glenn Frey
These Dreams
Heart
THIS IS THE TIME
Billy Joel
WHAT'S MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS
Jerry Lee Lewis
When I Was a Boy
Dar Williams
WHERE IS MY MIND?
Pixies
WISH I KNEW YOU
The Revivalists
YOU ARE GOD ALONE
Phillips, Craig & Dean
YOU MAKE ME BRAVE
Bethel Music
YOU SAY
Lauren Daigle
ZOMBIE
Bad Wolves
1999
Prince
ACCORDING TO YOU
Orianthi
Page 26 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.