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.
MORNING HAS BROKEN
Cat Stevens
ONE
Bee Gees
PRAISE ADONAI
Paul Baloche
SANCTUARY
Randy Scruggs
SISSY'S SONG
Alan Jackson
SNOWBIRD
Anne Murray
THE GREEN DOOR
Jim Lowe
UNDERWATER
Mika
YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN
Elvis Presley
YOUNG LOVE
Sonny James
BE THOU MY VISION
Eden's Bridge
BOBBY'S GIRL
Marcie Blane
DAY AFTER DAY
Badfinger
DECK THE HALLS
Traditional
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK
The Beatles
HELLO IN THERE
John Prine
ICE CREAM
Sarah McLachlan
I NEED TO KNOW
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
IT AIN'T ME BABE
Johnny Cash
IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I DANCE WITH YOU
Frank Sinatra
JINGLE BELL ROCK
Bobby Helms
LAY DOWN SALLY
Eric Clapton
LEADER OF THE PACK
The Shangri-Las
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
The Beatles
NEVER DREAMED YOU'D LEAVE IN SUMMER
Stevie Wonder
OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL
Bob Seger
ONLY THE LONELY
Roy Orbison
POINT OF KNOW RETURN
Kansas
POISON
Alice Cooper
POLICY OF TRUTH
Depeche Mode
PRETZEL LOGIC
Steely Dan
ROSE OF MY HEART
Johnny Cash
ROUGH BOY
ZZ Top
SANTA, BRING MY BABY BACK
Elvis Presley
SHUT UP AND DRIVE
Rihanna
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
Elvis Presley
THEME FROM "BABY THE RAIN MUST FALL"
Glenn Yarbrough
UP AROUND THE BEND
Creedence Clearwater Revival
WITH THESE HANDS
Tom Jones
YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING
Barry White
AMAZING GRACE
Elvis Presley
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU
Haley Reinhart
COCAINE
Eric Clapton
COMES A TIME
Neil Young
GOOD NIGHT
The Beatles
HOMEWARD BOUND
Simon & Garfunkel
LOVE TRAIN
O'Jays
Mister Sandman
The Chordettes
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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.