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.
HEAVEN
Los Lonely Boys
HERE TODAY
Paul McCartney
HEY YA!
OutKast
HIGHER AND HIGHER
Michael McDonald
HIT THAT JIVE JACK
Diana Krall
HYPNOTISED
Coldplay
If I Were a Boy
Beyonce
If I Were A Boy
Beyonce
I KNOW THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY
Smokie Norful
Inaudible Melodies
Jack Johnson
I SEE LOVE
Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe
IT IS YOU
Newsboys
JOYFUL, JOYFUL
Casting Crowns
LEAVE ME ALONE
P!nk
LET IT FADE
Jeremy Camp
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY
Jana Kramer
LIMBO ROCK
Chubby Checker
LIVE AND LET DIE
Paul McCartney & Wings
LIVING IN AMERICA
James Brown
LOSING MY WAY
Justin Timberlake
MAMA SAID
Lukas Graham
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
Dean Martin
ON THIS WINTER'S NIGHT
Lady A
ORDINARY WORLD
Duran Duran
PRAYING FOR TIME
George Michael
SAME OLD LOVE
Selena Gomez
SATISFACTION
The Rolling Stones
SEND MY LOVE
Adele
SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER
The Supremes
Some Other Time
Barbra Streisand
SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL
Curtis Mayfield
SONG THAT THE ANGELS CAN'T SING
Casting Crowns
STRANGER IN MY HOUSE
Ronnie Milsap
SWEET SURRENDER
Sarah McLachlan
TELL MAMA
Janis Joplin
THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU
Roberta Flack
THE LONG DAY IS OVER
Norah Jones
THE LORD MUST BE IN NEW YORK CITY
Harry Nilsson
THE REASON
Celine Dion
THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT
The Smiths
THING CALLED LOVE
Bonnie Raitt
WAITING IN VAIN
Bob Marley
YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING
James Morrison
YOUR MAN
Josh Turner
Your Song
Rita Ora
3 AM
Matchbox Twenty
ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME
Chris Tomlin
AN INNOCENT MAN
Billy Joel
Page 17 of 42 · 1,981 oom-pah bass songs
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.