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.
GREEN LIGHT
Lorde
Holding Out for a Hero
Frou Frou
HOLD ME
Toby McKeehan
I Don't Like Mondays
The Boomtown Rats
IF HEAVEN
Andy Griggs
ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
It's Your Wedding Day
Matthew Sklar
I WON'T LET GO
Rascal Flatts
KISS ME THRU THE PHONE
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em featuring Sammie
LET ME GO
Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso feat. Florida Georgia Line
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lucky Guy
Rickie Lee Jones
MASTERPIECE
Jessie J
MISSING YOU
John Waite
PILATE AND CHRIST
Andrew Lloyd Webber
PROMISE OF A LIFETIME
Kutless
PUT YOUR RECORDS ON
Corinne Bailey Rae
REVELRY
Kings Of Leon
RISE UP
Andra Day
ROCK WITH YOU
Michael Jackson
RUSSIAN ROULETTE
Rihanna
SCREAM & SHOUT
Will.i.am
SILLY LOVE SONGS
Paul McCartney & Wings
SIMPLE
Florida Georgia Line
SING YOUR PRAISE TO THE LORD
Rich Mullins
SMASH INTO YOU
Beyonce
SUNNY CAME HOME
Shawn Colvin
SWEATER WEATHER
The Neighbourhood
TAKE ME TO CHURCH
Hozier
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE
Bruno Mars
THAT'S WHEN I LOVE YOU
Phil Vassar
THE LONGEST TIME
Billy Joel
THEME FROM "THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO"
Joey Scarbury
TIME AND TIDE
Basia
TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
Demi Lovato
UNBREAKABLE
Alicia Keys
WHAT GOES AROUND... COMES AROUND
Justin Timberlake
WHAT'S MY NAME?
Rihanna featuring Drake
WHEN YOU'RE MAD
Ne-Yo
WHO LOVES YOU
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
WHY'D YOU COME IN HERE LOOKIN' LIKE THAT
Dolly Parton
YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN'
Hall & Oates
YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN'
Elvis Presley
ALL THINGS MUST PASS
George Harrison
ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND
Mariah Carey
Astronaut
Sido
BETTER IN TIME
Leona Lewis
BRAVE
Sara Bareilles
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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.