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.
WAIT
M83
WE CAN WORK IT OUT
The Beatles
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE
Bacharach & David
WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE
Steve Winwood
WHY NOT ME
The Judds
Wild World
Cat Stevens
YESTERDAY
The Beatles
Y.M.C.A.
Village People
YOU MAKE MY DREAMS
Hall & Oates
ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN
Dion
A HORSE WITH NO NAME
America
ALL KINDS OF KINDS
Miranda Lambert
BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN
The Supremes
BE SOMEBODY
Kings Of Leon
COLOR MY WORLD
Petula Clark
COME, JOSEPHINE IN MY FLYING MACHINE
Spike Jones
Don't Stop
Fleetwood Mac
DON'T STOP
Fleetwood Mac
E.T.
Katy Perry
FORGIVE ME
Rebecca St. James
FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
Grateful Dead
GET DOWN TONIGHT
KC & The Sunshine Band
HELLS BELLS
AC/DC
HOW DO YOU GET THAT LONELY
Blaine Larsen
I GIVE YOU MY HEART
Hillsong Worship
IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA
Iron Butterfly
I THANK YOU
Sam & Dave
IT'S ONLY LOVE
Bryan Adams
LET HER CRY
Hootie & The Blowfish
LET YOU DOWN
NF
LOOK UP CHILD
Lauren Daigle
LOVE ON THE WEEKEND
John Mayer
MERCURY BLUES
Alan Jackson
MY WOMAN MY WOMAN MY WIFE
Marty Robbins
REBEL, REBEL
David Bowie
RHIANNON
Fleetwood Mac
SAN FRANCISCO BAY BLUES
Eric Clapton
SHE'S TOO GOOD FOR ME
Sting
SHILO
Neil Diamond
SOUTHERN MAN
Neil Young
TALK DIRTY TO ME
Poison
TELL ME WHY
Neil Young
THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES
George Harrison
THE ROAD TO MOROCCO
Bing Crosby
To Make You Feel My Love
Bob Dylan
WALK THIS WAY
Aerosmith
WALLS
Tom Petty
WHAT I'VE DONE
Linkin Park
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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.