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.
NOW AND FOREVER
Richard Marx
OCEAN FLOOR
Audio Adrenaline
PART OF THE PLAN
Dan Fogelberg
PHOTOGRAPH
Nickelback
PRICE TAG
Jessie J featuring B.o.B.
ROCK THE CASBAH
The Clash
ROSIE
John Mayer
SOMEBODY'S ME
Enrique Iglesias
THE DOWNEASTER "ALEXA"
Billy Joel
THE TEARS OF A CLOWN
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
THE WATER
Feist
THIS OLD HEART OF MINE
The Isley Brothers
TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS
Styx
UNTIL...
Sting
UP!
Shania Twain
VOICES IN THE SKY
The Moody Blues
WE R WHO WE R
Ke$ha
WHAT A TIME
Julia Michaels
WHO SAID
Hannah Montana
You and Me
Lifehouse
YOU AND ME
Lifehouse
YOU'RE ONLY LONELY
J.D. Souther
ALL CREATURES
David Crowder*Band
ALMOST HOME
Mary Chapin Carpenter
ALTHEA
Grateful Dead
ANGIE
The Rolling Stones
AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
Carpenters
BARKING AT THE MOON
Jenny Lewis
Be OK
Ingrid Michaelson
BIG GIRLS CRY
Sia
BUTTERFLY FLY AWAY
Miley Cyrus
BYE BYE BYE
*NSYNC
CIRCLE OF LIFE
Elton John
COULD WE START AGAIN PLEASE?
Andrew Lloyd Webber
CRUISING FOR BRUISING
Basia
CULT OF PERSONALITY
Living Colour
DANCIN' IN THE MOONLIGHT
King Harvest
DANIEL
Elton John
DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY
Thelma Houston
DO YOUR THING
Isaac Hayes
EVERYDAY
Dave Matthews Band
Free
Zac Brown Band
GALILEO
Indigo Girls
GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA
The Smiths
GOTTA FIND YOU
Joe Jonas
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Melissa Etheridge
HEARTLIGHT
Neil Diamond
HONEY, HONEY
ABBA
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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.