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.
TIME
Ne-Yo
ALL OVER THE WORLD
Electric Light Orchestra
ANYTHING
Jaheim Featuring Next
A Song for You
Joe Cocker
A WORLD ALONE
Lorde
BED OF ROSES
Bon Jovi
BIG GIRL
Mika
Breathe Again
Sara Bareilles
BURN DOWN THE MISSION
Elton John
Changes
David Bowie
FINESSE
Bruno Mars
FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE
Michael McDonald
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Pentatonix
HEARTBURN
Alicia Keys
HE CAME LOOKING FOR ME
The Crabb Family
Hello
Adele
Highway 20 Ride
Zac Brown Band
I'M A MESS
Ed Sheeran
I'M GONNA BE
Steven Curtis Chapman
Jesus We Enthrone You
Paul Kyle
LEAN ON ME
Kirk Franklin
LOOK AWAY
Chicago
LOVE ON THE BRAIN
Rihanna
LOVE SONG
Sara Bareilles
LOVING YOU
Michael Jackson
Outside Villanova
Eric Hutchinson
PASTIME PARADISE
Stevie Wonder
PRAY
Sam Smith
PUT THE GUN DOWN
ZZ Ward
RICH GIRL
Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
Camila Cabello
SUPERWOMAN
Stevie Wonder
THE SONG OF CHRISTMAS
Newsong
THROUGH WITH LOVE
Destiny's Child
TOO GOOD TO SAY GOODBYE
Bruno Mars
VIRTUAL INSANITY
Jamiroquai
WHAT ABOUT US
P!nk
WHAT A GIRL WANTS
Christina Aguilera
WHAT YOU WAITING FOR?
Gwen Stefani
When We Were Young
Adele
A Natural Woman
Aretha Franklin
ANGELS AMONG US
Alabama
BAT OUT OF HELL
Meat Loaf
BEST THING I NEVER HAD
Beyonce
BOYFRIEND
Ashlee Simpson
BURNING BRIDGES
OneRepublic
CREEPIN' IN
Norah Jones
CUMANÁ
Harold Spina
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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.