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.
I WAS HERE
Beyonce
Jar of Hearts
Christina Perri
JUMP SHOUT BOOGIE
Barry Manilow
LIKE I LOVE YOU
Justin Timberlake
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
DHT
LONG HAIRED COUNTRY BOY
Charlie Daniels
LOVE AIN'T GONNA LET YOU DOWN
Jamie Cullum
LOVE WITHOUT END, AMEN
George Strait
MEAN
Taylor Swift
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
ABBA
NO WAY OUT
Phil Collins
ONE HEADLIGHT
The Wallflowers
OUR KIND OF LOVE
Lady A
OVER AND OVER AGAIN
Nathan Sykes feat. Ariana Grande
RAIN IS A GOOD THING
Luke Bryan
RAINY DAYZ
Mary J. Blige Featuring Ja Rule
REDEMPTION SONG
Michael McDonald
Rock & Roll
Eric Hutchinson
ROUND AND ROUND
Perry Como
SHADOW
Ashlee Simpson
SHAKE IT OUT
Florence And The Machine
SOUL POWER
James Brown
Taylor, The Latte Boy
Kristin Chenoweth
THE MOB SONG
Beauty and the Beast Cast
THE PHOENIX
Fall Out Boy
WE ROCK
Camp Rock (Movie)
WHENEVER, WHEREVER
Shakira
YOU'RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE
Charles Strouse
A Dream Goes On Forever
Todd Rundgren
ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS
Andrae Crouch
ALL JACKED UP
Gretchen Wilson
ALL THE RIGHT MOVES
OneRepublic
ALL THESE THINGS
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
BEAUTIFUL GOODBYE
Maroon 5
BETTER WHEN I'M DANCIN'
Meghan Trainor
BLAZE OF GLORY
Jon Bon Jovi
CALLING OCCUPANTS
Carpenters
CAN'T HELP BUT WAIT
Trey Songz
CRY ME A RIVER
Justin Timberlake
DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE
The Shirelles
DISTURBIA
Rihanna
FALLIN' ALL IN YOU
Shawn Mendes
GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD
Kathy Troccoli
Greatest Day
Take That
HAPPY WORKING SONG
Amy Adams
Hello, It's Me
Todd Rundgren
HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
Bonnie Tyler
HUMAN OF THE YEAR
Regina Spektor
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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.