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.
FREAK OUT
Avril Lavigne
FREE LOOP
Daniel Powter
GIVE ME JESUS
Jeremy Camp
HAVE A NICE DAY
Bon Jovi
HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY
Van Morrison
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Lady A
HEY STEPHEN
Taylor Swift
HOLD US TOGETHER
Matt Maher
I Can't Stop Loving You
Keith Urban
I CAUGHT MYSELF
Paramore
I'D LOVE TO LAY YOU DOWN
Conway Twitty
I Do
Colbie Caillat
IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES
Garth Brooks
IT IS WELL
Bethel Music
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston
JUST MY IMAGINATION
The Temptations
LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCA
Ricky Martin
LUCID DREAMS
Juice Wrld
MAKING LOVE
Carole Bayer Sager
MAMBO NO. 5
Lou Bega
MANGER THRONE
Julie Miller
MMM MMM MMM MMM
Crash Test Dummies
MY IMMORTAL
Evanescence
MY WAY
Paul Anka
NOBODY ELSE BUT ME
Jerome Kern
PAPARAZZI
Lady Gaga
PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE
Depeche Mode
POISON & WINE
The Civil Wars
RUN AROUND
Blues Traveler
SHE WOLF
Shakira
SOME BEACH
Blake Shelton
SOMOS NOVIOS
Andrea Bocelli
SO MUCH MORE THAN THIS
Grace VanderWaal
STAY
Lisa Loeb
STAY WITH ME
Sam Smith
STREETS OF NEW YORK
Alicia Keys
SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
U2
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
Elvis Presley
TELL HER ABOUT IT
Billy Joel
The Letter
Joe Cocker
THE MAKINGS OF YOU
Curtis Mayfield
THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS
Karrin Allyson
TICKET TO RIDE
Carpenters
TIRED OF BEING ALONE
Al Green
TOWN WITHOUT PITY
Gene Pitney
VOGUE
Madonna
We're All Alone
Linda Eder
WE WILL DANCE
Steven Curtis Chapman
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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.