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.
LET IT DOWN
George Harrison
Lieblingsmensch
Namika
MAN ON THE MOON
R.E.M.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY
Elvis Presley
MISS YOU MUCH
Janet Jackson
MO' MONEY MO' PROBLEMS
The Notorious B.I.G.
NO MATTER WHAT
Badfinger
Off to Massachusetts
Mindi Dickstein
ON THE RADIO
Donna Summer
PORQUE TU ME ACOSTUMBRASTE
Andrea Bocelli
PRETTY GOOD AT DRINKIN' BEER
Billy Currington
PRIDE
U2
REALLY DON'T CARE
Demi Lovato
Roll To Me
Del Amitri
RUBY
Kaiser Chiefs
SATISFIED
Jordan Feliz
SEXY EYES
Dr. Hook
SING
Carpenters
Songbird
Fleetwood Mac
STANDING ON THE CORNER
The Four Lads
SUCKER
Jonas Brothers
THE M.T.A.
The Kingston Trio
THE PIECES DON'T FIT ANYMORE
James Morrison
THE SHOW
Lenka
THE WEIGHT
The Band
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Elvis Presley
TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS
Glen Campbell
TURN UP THE MUSIC
Lemonade Mouth (Movie)
TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
Boys Like Girls featuring Taylor Swift
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Lou Reed
We Are
Kari Jobe
WE JUST DISAGREE
Dave Mason
WHEN CAN I SEE YOU
Babyface
YELLOW MOON
The Neville Brothers
A DANCE 'ROUND THE MEMORY TREE
Oren Lavie
AIN'T NOBODY
Jasmine Thompson
A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow
Mitch & Mickey
ALL YOUR LOVE
Otis Rush
BY THE MARK
Dailey & Vincent
CHERRY BOMB
John Mellencamp
CLINT EASTWOOD
Gorillaz
Danny's All-Star Joint
Rickie Lee Jones
DON'T CRY DADDY
Elvis Presley
DON'T YOU WANT ME
The Human League
FOREVER YOUNG
Glee Cast
GLORY TO GOD FOREVER
Fee
GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES
Elvis Presley
GOOD VIBRATIONS
Brian Wilson
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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.