Piano Songs with Oom-pah Bass Pattern
1,981 songs — Oom-pah — the left hand alternates between a low bass note (oom) and a higher chord (pah) — is the classic accompaniment of ragtime, polka, marches, and stride piano. Instantly recognizable, fun to play.
How oom-pah bass works
Oom-pah pattern: LH alternates between a single low note on beats 1 & 3 (the "oom"), and a chord on beats 2 & 4 (the "pah"). Creates a rhythmic, bouncy feel typical of march and ragtime music.
JÚRAME
Andrea Bocelli
LET THEM BE LITTLE
Billy Dean
MOVING FORWARD
Israel Houghton
MY VICTORY
Crowder
NEVER EVER GETTING RID OF ME
Sara Bareilles
NOBODY KNOWS
Kevin Sharp
ONE ON ONE
Hall & Oates
ONE WEEK
Barenaked Ladies
ON THE WAY DOWN
Ryan Cabrera
OWNER OF A LONELY HEART
Yes
PATIENCE
Eddie Murphy
PIANO IN THE DARK
Brenda Russell
RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT
DeBarge
RHYTHM OF THE RAIN
Dan Fogelberg
SHE LOVES YOU
The Beatles
SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE
Rainbow
SOMEBODY'S EYES
Dean Pitchford
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
Bonnie Raitt
SON OF GOD
Starfield
SON OF MAN
Phil Collins
STEVE McQUEEN
Sheryl Crow
SUCH A NIGHT
Elvis Presley
SUMMER BREEZE
Seals & Crofts
SWEET CAROLINE
Neil Diamond
THE BEST OF ME
Bryan Adams
THE COLORING SONG
Petra
THE MYSTERY OF YOUR GIFT
Josh Groban
THE SIGN
Ace Of Base
THIS FEELING
Chainsmokers
TICKET TO RIDE
The Beatles
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Trace Adkins
TUNNEL
Third Day
UPSIDE DOWN
Jack Johnson
WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO
Tina Turner
Wheel
John Mayer
WHEN I'M GONE
3 Doors Down
WHY DON'T WE JUST DANCE
Josh Turner
WONDERLAND BY NIGHT
Bert Kaempfert
YOU NEVER LET GO
Matt Redman
All to Us
Chris Tomlin
ALREADY GONE
Kelly Clarkson
ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND
Beu Sisters
BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME
Mac Davis
BLACK WATER
The Doobie Brothers
BLOODY MARY
Lady Gaga
CALIFORNIA KING BED
Rihanna
CITY ON THE HILL
Casting Crowns
COLD, COLD HEART
Norah Jones
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Frequently asked questions
- What is oom-pah bass on piano?
- Oom-pah is a two-beat left-hand pattern: a low bass note on the strong beat, then a chord on the weak beat. Sounds like "oom-pah, oom-pah" — hence the name. Most associated with polka, ragtime, and traditional pieces.
- Is oom-pah hard to learn?
- It's one of the simpler bass patterns — once you can hit the bass note then the chord cleanly, it's mostly about steady rhythm. Great practice for hand independence.
- What genres use oom-pah bass?
- Polka, ragtime, classical waltzes (in 3/4 oom-pah-pah), marches, and many children's songs. Browse the list for examples across genres.