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.
IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND
Johnny Cash
I'M SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Al Jolson
IN A BIG COUNTRY
Big Country
I WANT TO BE A COWBOY'S SWEETHEART
Patsy Montana
JOHN DEERE GREEN
Joe Diffie
KID CHARLEMAGNE
Steely Dan
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
The Doobie Brothers
LONG TALL SALLY
Little Richard
MAY IT BE
Enya
Merry Xmas Everybody
Slade
NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME
Roosevelt Sykes
PLEASE MR. POSTMAN
The Marvelettes
RAMBLE ON ROSE
Grateful Dead
ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
Bill Haley & His Comets
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER
The Tempos
SEX AND CANDY
Marcy Playground
SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE
R.E.M.
SHOULD'VE BEEN A COWBOY
Toby Keith
SHRIMP BOATS
Jo Stafford
SILVER BELLS
Lady A
STUCK ON YOU
Elvis Presley
SUGARTIME
McGuire Sisters
SYNDICATE
The Fray
TEMPTED
Squeeze
The Best
Tina Turner
THE FOOL ON THE HILL
The Beatles
THEME FROM "THE MONKEES"
The Monkees
THE WAY IT IS
Bruce Hornsby
THINGS HAVE CHANGED
Bob Dylan
Tight Rope
Leon Russell
TILL THE RIVERS ALL RUN DRY
Don Williams
TORNADO
Little Big Town
TRAVELLER
Chris Stapleton
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Queen
WE'RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER
Al Jarreau
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
A DIOS LE PIDO
Juanes
A GLAMOROUS LIFE
Sheila E.
ALL ALONE ON CHRISTMAS
Darlene Love
ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS
Mot The Hoople
BEST OF YOU
Foo Fighters
BLACKBIRD
The Beatles
BLUE EYES
Elton John
BRANDY
Looking Glass
BUT I DO
Clarence "Frogman" Henry
Constellations
Jack Johnson
CRAVING YOU
Thomas Rhett
DAYS ARE NUMBERS
Alan Parsons Project
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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.