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.
GREEN-EYED LADY
Sugarloaf
HIGHWAY TO HELL
AC/DC
HOLD IT AGAINST ME
Britney Spears
I AM WOMAN
Helen Reddy
IF YOU ONLY KNEW
Shinedown
I HEAR A SYMPHONY
The Supremes
IT'S A SMALL WORLD
Sherman Brothers
IT'S MY LIFE
Talk Talk
I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD
Ronnie Milsap
JOY TO THE WORLD
Three Dog Night
LEMON TREE
Peter, Paul & Mary
LITTLE BOAT
Buddy Kaye
LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU
Billy Ocean
ME & MY UNCLE
Grateful Dead
MOMENT OF FORGIVENESS
Indigo Girls
MONDAY, MONDAY
The Mamas & The Papas
NEVER COMES THE DAY
The Moody Blues
NEVER ON THE DAY YOU LEAVE
John Mayer
OLD SHEP
Elvis Presley
ONLY TIME
Enya
OUR TIME IS HERE
Demi Lovato
PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG
James Brown
RESOLUTION
Nick Lachey
ROCK ON
David Essex
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT
Elton John
SAVE ROOM
John Legend
SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD
Katia Bowley
SILHOUETTES
Herman's Hermits
STILL
The Commodores
Stoney End
Laura Nyro
SUPERMARKET FLOWERS
Ed Sheeran
SUSIE-Q
Creedence Clearwater Revival
SWEET HOME ALABAMA
Lynyrd Skynyrd
THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA
Amy Winehouse
THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE U.S.A.
Donna Fargo
THE MAN WITH ALL THE TOYS
The Beach Boys
THE TIDE IS HIGH
Blondie
THIS I PROMISE YOU
Ronan Keating
TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE
Tony Orlando
TROUBLE
Elvis Presley
UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING
Red Hot Chili Peppers
WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE IN ME
Hillsong Worship
Wir Sind Groß
Mark Forster
YOU DON'T KNOW ME
Michael McDonald
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
The Beatles
BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Sean Kingston
BETTER BE HOME SOON
Crowded House
CARNIVAL TOWN
Norah Jones
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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.