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.
BILLY, DON'T BE A HERO
Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
BRIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD
Van Morrison
BROKEDOWN PALACE
Grateful Dead
COULD IT BE MAGIC
Barry Manilow
CRYING
Roy Orbison
FORTUNE FADED
Red Hot Chili Peppers
GOOD MORNING, U.S.A.
Michael Barker
GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE
The Beatles
HAPPINESS
Clark Gesner
HELPLESS
Neil Young
IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU
Bee Gees
IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH DECEMBER
Merle Haggard
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW
Tommy James And The Shondells
IT'S A SMALL WORLD
Sherman Brothers
IT'S A SMALL WORLD
Sherman Brothers
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
John Denver
LOVE ME IF YOU CAN
Toby Keith
MAYBE
The Chantels
MURDER IN THE CITY
The Avett Brothers
ONE
U2
PUT ON YOUR SUNDAY CLOTHES
Jerry Herman
SON-OF-A-PREACHER MAN
Dusty Springfield
THANK YOU, LORD
Paul Baloche
THE HOUSE IS ROCKIN'
Stevie Ray Vaughan
THE LETTER
The Box Tops
T.N.T.
AC/DC
WE FALL DOWN
Chris Tomlin
WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS
Jack Johnson
WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT
Twisted Sister
WE SHALL WEAR A CROWN
Rex Nelon
WHATEVER LOLA WANTS
Richard Adler
BREAKING THE LAW
Judas Priest
CARRYING YOUR LOVE WITH ME
George Strait
COME THOU FOUNT
David Crowder Band
DIGGY LIGGY LO
Rusty & Doug Kershaw
ECHOES IN RAIN
Enya
EVEN MY DAD DOES SOMETIMES
Ed Sheeran
FINAL COUNTDOWN
Europe
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
John Lennon
GOD OF WONDERS
Marc Byrd
HELLO MARY LOU
Ricky Nelson
HELPLESSLY HOPING
Crosby, Stills & Nash
I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE
The Beatles
KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG
Roberta Flack
LADY MADONNA
The Beatles
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
John Denver
LET'S GO
The Cars
Morning Has Broken
Cat Stevens
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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.