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.
To Make You Feel My Love
Garth Brooks
TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY
Marvin Gaye
TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY
Savage Garden
TWO MORE BOTTLES OF WINE
Emmylou Harris
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
Bon Jovi
WHAT'S THE BUZZ
Andrew Lloyd Webber
WHAT WAS I THINKIN'
Dierks Bentley
Wonderwall
Oasis
WOULD I LIE TO YOU?
Eurythmics
YES IT IS
The Beatles
YOU BELONG TO ME
The Doobie Brothers
YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON
The Supremes
YOU MAY BE RIGHT
Billy Joel
YOUR LIFE IS NOW
John Mellencamp
YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG
AC/DC
1985
Bowling For Soup
ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS
Casting Crowns
ALL THOSE YEARS AGO
George Harrison
ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS
Bobby Darin
Awakening
Chris Tomlin
BIRTHDAY
Katy Perry
CHERISH
The Association
COME MONDAY
Jimmy Buffett
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
Van Halen
GOTTA GET UP
Harry Nilsson
HARVEST
Neil Young
HATE TO SEE YOUR HEART BREAK
Paramore
HEART AND SOUL
Huey Lewis & The News
HEY YOU
Pink Floyd
HIDDEN AWAY
Josh Groban
HOME
Phillip Phillips
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
Duran Duran
IF I WALK AWAY
Josh Groban
LAST FRIDAY NIGHT
Katy Perry
LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD
Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake
LOVE SOMEBODY
Maroon 5
MAGGIE MAY
Rod Stewart
MAGGIE MAY
Rod Stewart
MAMA TOLD ME
Three Dog Night
MAMMA MIA
ABBA
MAN IN THE BOX
Alice In Chains
NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
Kierra Sheard
NONE BUT JESUS
Christy Nockels
ON AND ON
Stephen Bishop
ON A SLOW BOAT TO CHINA
Frank Loesser
One Day I'll Fly Away
Nicole Kidman
OUT OF TOUCH
Hall & Oates
QUEEN OF HEARTS
Juice Newton
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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.