1,968 songs · Oom-pah Bass

Piano Songs with Oom-pah Bass Pattern

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.

D
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
Montell Jordan
Medium Db · ♩=104· 4 chords
Play
E
TWO DOORS DOWN
Dolly Parton
Medium E · ♩=92· 4 chords
Play
D
Viva La Vida
Coldplay
Medium Db · ♩=139· 9 chords
Play
C
WEST COAST
Imagine Dragons
Easy C · ♩=100· 4 chords
Play
D
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Justin Bieber
Medium Db · ♩=120· 6 chords
Play
E
What Makes You Beautiful
One Direction
Advanced E · ♩=120· 5 chords
Play
D
WITHOUT YOU
Kirk Franklin
Easy D · ♩=90· 38 chords
Play
C
XO
Beyoncé
Medium C · ♩=84· 13 chords
Play
F
YOU BELONG TO ME
The Doobie Brothers
Medium F · ♩=104· 25 chords
Play
G
ZOOM
The Commodores
Medium G · ♩=90· 11 chords
Play
G
Accidentally in Love
Counting Crows
Medium G · ♩=120· 9 chords
Play
D
ALL I COULD DO WAS CRY
Etta James
Medium Db · ♩=87· 16 chords
Play
D
BELIEVE ME NOW
Steven Curtis Chapman
Easy D · ♩=72· 16 chords
Play
A
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART
Sting
Medium A · ♩=102· 9 chords
Play
C
Breakdown
Jack Johnson
Easy C · ♩=120· 5 chords
Play
A
BUT IT'S ALRIGHT
Huey Lewis & The News
Medium A · ♩=100· 6 chords
Play
E
CAKE BY THE OCEAN
DNCE
Easy E · ♩=120· 4 chords
Play
C
CAROUSEL
Vanessa Carlton
Medium C · ♩=120· 8 chords
Play
E
CLAIR
Gilbert O'Sullivan
Medium Eb · ♩=120· 18 chords
Play
A
COME CLEAN
Hilary Duff
Medium A · ♩=100· 11 chords
Play
C
COME DOWN NOW
Stew
Easy C · ♩=60· 12 chords
Play
G
CREEP
Radiohead
Medium G · ♩=92· 17 chords
Play
C
DESPERADO
Neil Diamond
Easy C · ♩=58· 16 chords
Play
G
DOWNTIME
Jo Dee Messina
Medium G · ♩=100· 9 chords
Play
E
EMBRACE THE CROSS
Steve Green
Medium Eb · ♩=100· 17 chords
Play
A
END OF THE ROAD
Boyz II Men
Medium Ab · ♩=67.5· 11 chords
Play
B
EVER THE SAME
Rob Thomas
Easy Bb · ♩=90· 10 chords
Play
G
FAVORITE GIRL
Justin Bieber
Easy G · ♩=88· 9 chords
Play
C
Food Chain
Eric Hutchinson
Medium C · ♩=100· 18 chords
Play
E
FOOLS
Diane Birch
Easy E · ♩=120· 11 chords
Play
G
FRESH EYES
Andy Grammer
Easy G · ♩=122· 7 chords
Play
D
GET BUSY
Sean Paul
Medium Db · ♩=100· 5 chords
Play
C
GRANTED
Josh Groban
Medium C · ♩=124· 9 chords
Play
D
HEY THERE DELILAH
Plain White Ts
Medium D · ♩=100· 7 chords
Play
G
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
High School Musical 3 Cast
Medium G · ♩=160· 12 chords
Play
E
I ALMOST DO
Taylor Swift
Medium E · ♩=150· 7 chords
Play
E
IF HEAVEN WASN'T SO FAR AWAY
Justin Moore
Medium Eb · ♩=144· 5 chords
Play
A
IF I HAD $1,000,000
Barenaked Ladies
Medium A · ♩=160· 5 chords
Play
E
INTUITION
Jewel
Medium Eb · ♩=100· 12 chords
Play
A
LADY
Little River Band
Medium A · ♩=120· 9 chords
Play
C
LET IT GO
James Bay
Easy C · ♩=74· 8 chords
Play
G
LITTLE THINGS
One Direction
Medium G · ♩=110· 8 chords
Play
G
LUCKY
Britney Spears
Medium Gb · ♩=100· 19 chords
Play
E
MERCY CAME RUNNING
Phillips, Craig & Dean
Medium Eb · ♩=90· 18 chords
Play
F
MERMAID
Train
Medium F · ♩=208· 9 chords
Play
C
MUCH OF YOU
Steven Curtis Chapman
Easy C · ♩=75· 15 chords
Play
B
NEITHER ONE OF US
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Medium Bb · ♩=80· 14 chords
Play
D
Not That Different
Collin Raye
Medium D · ♩=80· 11 chords
Play

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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.