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.
Delilah
Tom Jones
Don't Look Back In Anger
Oasis
DON'T STOP
Glee Cast
DON'T TELL ME YOU LOVE ME
Night Ranger
DO YOU REALIZE??
The Flaming Lips
ELECTRIC AVENUE
Eddy Grant
GASOLINE ALLEY
Rod Stewart
GIRL
Norman Gimbel
GLORY DAYS
Bruce Springsteen
HANG ON SLOOPY
The McCoys
HARVEST MOON
Neil Young
HOLD ON
Kansas
I DON'T WANNA KNOW
Mario Winans
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I KNOW A PLACE
Petula Clark
I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN
Bacharach & David
ISN'T SHE LOVELY
Glee Cast
IT'S ONLY LOVE
The Beatles
LOVE SOMEONE
Lukas Graham
MUY DENTRO DE MÍ
Marc Anthony
NO MORE MR. NICE GUY
Alice Cooper
NOVEMBER BLUE
The Avett Brothers
Octopus's Garden
The Beatles
ON A CAROUSEL
The Hollies
PETER PAN
Kelsea Ballerini
PRESENCE OF THE LORD
Eric Clapton
REDBONE
Childish Gambino
RENEGADES
X Ambassadors
SANGRIA
Blake Shelton
SANTA BABY
Eartha Kitt
SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY
Fine Young Cannibals
SHE'S NOT YOU
Elvis Presley
SHINE
Collective Soul
SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER
Richard Marx
SLITHER
Velvet Revolver
TALK DIRTY
Jason Derulo
THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE ROLL
Jonas Brothers
THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME
Miranda Lambert
THE SAFETY DANCE
Men Without Hats
THE WAY
Pat Barrett
THIS CHARMING MAN
The Smiths
THIS LOVE OF MINE
Frank Sinatra
TOUCH OF GREY
Grateful Dead
WALKIN' MY BABY BACK HOME
Nat King Cole
WHISKEY AND YOU
Chris Stapleton
YOU DECORATED MY LIFE
Kenny Rogers
YOU'RE NOT SORRY
Taylor Swift
AIN'T NO CRIME
Billy Joel
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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.