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.
COLD SWEAT, PT. 1
James Brown
COWGIRL IN THE SAND
Neil Young
DARLING, BE HOME SOON
The Lovin' Spoonful
DOCTOR'S ORDERS
Carol Douglas
DON'T GIVE UP ON US
David Soul
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME
Louis Armstrong
FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE
Bad Company
FOREVER COUNTRY
Artists of Then, Now & Forever
GANGNAM STYLE
PSY
GONE COUNTRY
Alan Jackson
GREEN ACRES THEME
Vic Mizzy
HELLO WALLS
Faron Young
HOT N COLD
Katy Perry
I DON'T NEED NO DOCTOR
Peter Frampton
I'M JUST TALKIN' ABOUT TONIGHT
Toby Keith
IT'S ALL IN THE GAME
Tommy Edwards
LITTLE DARLIN'
The Diamonds
LUCILLE
Kenny Rogers
MONEY
The Beatles
MONY, MONY
Tommy James & The Shondells
NOT FADE AWAY
Buddy Holly
NOW OR NEVER
Billie Holiday
ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU
Hootie & The Blowfish
Perhaps Love
John Denver
REELING IN THE YEARS
Steely Dan
SHERRY
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
SHOUT TO THE NORTH
Robin Mark
SMOOTH OPERATOR
Sade
STEPPIN' OUT
Joe Jackson
TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS
Amy Grant
TRAVELIN' MAN
Ricky Nelson
TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT
Bobby "Blue" Bland
VANILLA TWILIGHT
Owl City
WALK LIKE A MAN
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
WALK OF LIFE
Dire Straits
WATER
Brad Paisley
WEDDING SONG
Peter, Paul & Mary
WHO PUT THE BOMP
Barry Mann
WILDFLOWERS
Tom Petty
You Can Call Me Al
Paul Simon
YOU GOTTA LOVE SOMEONE
Elton John
Yours
Ella Henderson
AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE
Paul McCartney
ALL OF CREATION
MercyMe
AMAZED
Jared Anderson
AQUALUNG
Jethro Tull
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR
Sherman Brothers
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
Neil Sedaka
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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.