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.
SUGAR MAGNOLIA
Grateful Dead
TEMPORARY HOME
Carrie Underwood
THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES
Janet Jackson
THERE'S NOTHING HOLDIN' ME BACK
Shawn Mendes
THESE HARD TIMES
Matchbox Twenty
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
Montell Jordan
TWO DOORS DOWN
Dolly Parton
Viva La Vida
Coldplay
WEST COAST
Imagine Dragons
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Justin Bieber
What Makes You Beautiful
One Direction
WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER
Billie Eilish
WITHOUT YOU
Kirk Franklin
XO
Beyoncé
YOU BELONG TO ME
The Doobie Brothers
ZOOM
The Commodores
Accidentally in Love
Counting Crows
ALL I COULD DO WAS CRY
Etta James
BELIEVE ME NOW
Steven Curtis Chapman
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART
Sting
Breakdown
Jack Johnson
BUT IT'S ALRIGHT
Huey Lewis & The News
CAKE BY THE OCEAN
DNCE
CAROUSEL
Vanessa Carlton
CLAIR
Gilbert O'Sullivan
COME CLEAN
Hilary Duff
COME DOWN NOW
Stew
CREEP
Radiohead
DESPERADO
Neil Diamond
DOWNTIME
Jo Dee Messina
EMBRACE THE CROSS
Steve Green
END OF THE ROAD
Boyz II Men
EVER THE SAME
Rob Thomas
FAVORITE GIRL
Justin Bieber
Food Chain
Eric Hutchinson
FOOLS
Diane Birch
FRESH EYES
Andy Grammer
GET BUSY
Sean Paul
GRANTED
Josh Groban
HEY THERE DELILAH
Plain White Ts
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
High School Musical 3 Cast
I ALMOST DO
Taylor Swift
IF HEAVEN WASN'T SO FAR AWAY
Justin Moore
IF I HAD $1,000,000
Barenaked Ladies
INTUITION
Jewel
LADY
Little River Band
LET IT GO
James Bay
LITTLE THINGS
One Direction
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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.