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.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS
Tom Petty
YOU NEEDED ME
Anne Murray
YOU WON'T SEE ME
The Beatles
AFTERTASTE
Shawn Mendes
All Time Love
Will Young
ANGEL
Jimi Hendrix
ARE YOU GONNA BE MY GIRL
Jet
AS GOOD AS I ONCE WAS
Toby Keith
BABY I NEED YOUR LOVIN'
The Four Tops
BAILANDO
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona
BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR
Stuart Townend
BLUE SKY
Allman Brothers
CELEBRATION
Kool & The Gang
C'EST LA VIE
Robbie Nevil
CHANCES ARE
Johnny Mathis
CHASING PIRATES
Norah Jones
COME THOU FOUNT
Chris Tomlin
COMPLICATED
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
CUMBERSOME
Seven Mary Three
EIGHTEEN YELLOW ROSES
Bobby Darin
EL CANTANTE
Hector Lavoe
EVERYWHERE
Fleetwood Mac
Feelin' Alright
Joe Cocker
FOOLS FALL IN LOVE
Elvis Presley
FUNHOUSE
P!nk
GALAXIES
Owl City
GET DRUNK AND BE SOMEBODY
Toby Keith
HEART AND SOUL
T'Pau
HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW
The Smiths
I DON'T WANNA LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE
A Great Big World
I GOT YOU
Jack Johnson
I KEEP FORGETTIN'
Leiber & Stoller
I'M FREE
The Who
I'M YOUR ANGEL
Celine Dion
I NEED YOU
Marc Anthony
Isn't She Lovely
Stevie Wonder
JUST A GIGOLO
Louis Armstrong
KING OF WISHFUL THINKING
Go West
LAST PARTY
Mika
LITTLE TOY GUNS
Carrie Underwood
LOOK AT MISS OHIO
Miranda Lambert
LOVE HANGOVER
Diana Ross
LOVE THE LORD
Lincoln Brewster
MICKEY
Toni Basil
MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS
Chris Stapleton
MY WAY
Elvis Presley
NEVER SAY NEVER
Justin Bieber featuring Jaden Smith
NO OTHER NAME
Casting Crowns
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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.