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.
HARBOR LIGHTS
Willie Nelson
HE'S SO SHY
The Pointer Sisters
Human
The Killers
Human
Christina Perri
I'LL COME RUNNING BACK TO YOU
Sam Cooke
I LOVE THE NIGHT LIFE
Alicia Bridges
I'M A MESS
Bebe Rexha
JADED
Aerosmith
JESSIE'S GIRL
Rick Springfield
KING OF PAIN
The Police
LET IT BE ME
Neil Diamond
LIFE AIN'T ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL
Gary Allan
LISTEN TO OUR HEARTS
Geoff Moore & The Distance
MAJESTY
Delirious?
MAMA SAID
The Shirelles
MANEATER
Hall & Oates
MONEY DON'T MATTER 2 NIGHT
Prince
NEVER TOO MUCH
Luther Vandross
New Age
Marlon Roudette
NIGHT TRAIN
Jason Aldean
NORWEGIAN WOOD
The Beatles
OH! DARLING
The Beatles
On a Night Like This
Dave Barnes
ONE AND ONLY
Adele
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
Paula Abdul
PDA
John Legend
PIECES OF ME
Ashlee Simpson
POKER FACE
Lady Gaga
ROCK OF AGES
Def Leppard
SLIP SLIDIN' AWAY
Paul Simon
SOMEBODY TO LOVE
Jefferson Airplane
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE
The Four Tops
SUMMER NIGHTS
Olivia Newton-John
TALKIN' 'BOUT A REVOLUTION
Tracy Chapman
TELL HIM
The Exciters
THANK YOU
Sly And The Family Stone
THAT DON'T IMPRESS ME MUCH
Shania Twain
THE BOYS OF FALL
Kenny Chesney
THE GUILTY ONES
Duncan Sheik
THESE EYES
The Guess Who
TROUBLE
Ray LaMontagne
TRUST IN YOU
Lauren Daigle
UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF
The Supremes
VIVA LAS VEGAS
Elvis Presley
WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS
Green Day
WATCHING YOU
Rodney Atkins
WONDERFUL
Brian Wilson
WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
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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.