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.
WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG
Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio
WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
Kenny Chesney
WIDE OPEN SPACES
The Chicks
WINTER WINDS
Mumford & Sons
YAH MO B THERE
Michael McDonald
YOU AND ME ARE GONE
Jamie Cullum
You Never Let Go
Jeremy Camp
YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT GIRL
The Beatles
ALL-AMERICAN GIRL
Carrie Underwood
Bang Bang Bang
Christina Perri
BASKET CASE
Green Day
BEFORE YOU ACCUSE ME
Eric Clapton
CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME
Blind Faith
COUNT ON ME
Bruno Mars
COWGIRLS DON'T CRY
Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
CRASH MY PARTY
Luke Bryan
DADDY DANCE WITH ME
Krystal Keith
DANCE WITH ME
Orleans
DANI CALIFORNIA
Red Hot Chili Peppers
DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY
Petula Clark
DOWNTOWN
Petula Clark
Drift Away
Linda Eder
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
MercyMe
Gravity
John Mayer
HALLELUJAH
Bethany Dillon
HOLY LAMB OF GOD
Gary Sadler
IF I HAD YOU
Adam Lambert
I Just Called To Say I Loved You
Stevie Wonder
I KNOW A LITTLE
Lynyrd Skynyrd
I'm Not The Only One
Sam Smith
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
Sam Smith
IN SPITE OF OURSELVES
John Prine
IT'S NO GOOD
Depeche Mode
I'VE LOVED THESE DAYS
Billy Joel
LEARN TO FLY
Foo Fighters
Like an Avalanche
Hillsong United
LIVE TO TELL
Madonna
LOVE OF MY LIFE
Santana
LOVING MY JESUS
Casting Crowns
MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE
Adele
MANNISH BOY
Jimi Hendrix
MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA
Gladys Knight & The Pips
MISS INDEPENDENT
Ne-Yo
MY SWEET LORD
George Harrison
NEVER AGAIN
Kelly Clarkson
O' LORD
Lauren Daigle
ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER
Bacharach & David
Price Tag
Jessie J
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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.