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.
I'D LOVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD
Ten Years After
I DON'T WANT TO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE
The Ink Spots
I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT
England Dan and John Ford Coley
IF I NEVER SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN
Maroon 5
IF I STAND
Rich Mullins
IT DON'T MATTER TO ME
Bread
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
Dolly Parton
I WILL BOAST
Chris Tomlin
LEAD ME TO THE CROSS
Hillsong United
LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID
Paul McCartney & Wings
Little Things
One Direction
LOOK AT ME, I'M SANDRA DEE
Stockard Channing
LOVE BOAT THEME
Charles Fox
LULLABY
Josh Groban
LYIN' EYES
Eagles
MADE TO WORSHIP
Chris Tomlin
MALTED MILK
Robert Johnson
MAS QUE NADA
Sergio Mendes
MISTLETOE
Justin Bieber
NIGHTS ON BROADWAY
Bee Gees
OLD AND WISE
Alan Parsons Project
Pack Up
Eliza Doolittle
PLAY ME
Neil Diamond
POP LIFE
Prince
RAY OF LIGHT
Madonna
REHAB
Amy Winehouse
SISTER CHRISTIAN
Night Ranger
SOMETHING SO STRONG
Crowded House
STILL INTO YOU
Paramore
SUGAR, SUGAR
The Archies
SURFIN' SAFARI
The Beach Boys
THE FLAME
Cheap Trick
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Simon & Garfunkel
THIS IS HOW A HEART BREAKS
Rob Thomas
THISTLE AND WEEDS
Mumford & Sons
THUNDER
Imagine Dragons
TILL I GET IT RIGHT
Tammy Wynette
TOO COOL
Meaghan Martin
TRUE
Ryan Cabrera
VENTURA HIGHWAY
America
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Glee Cast
WE GO TOGETHER
John Travolta
WHAT A MAN
Salt-N-Pepa
WIVES AND LOVERS
Bacharach & David
WORKING IN THE COAL MINE
Devo
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BABY
Sara Evans
YOU'RE STILL THE ONE
Shania Twain
A LOVE THAT WILL NEVER GROW OLD
Emmylou Harris
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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.