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.
FREE FALLIN'
Tom Petty
GIRL
The Beatles
GOLDFINGER
Shirley Bassey
HANKY PANKY
Madonna
HE WASN'T
Avril Lavigne
HOT IN THE CITY
Billy Idol
IF
Bread
I FORGOT TO REMEMBER TO FORGET
Elvis Presley
I'LL PLAY THE BLUES FOR YOU
Albert King
IN MY LIFE
The Beatles
I YUST GO NUTS AT CHRISTMAS
Harry Stewart
JOY IN THE JOURNEY
Michael Card
KING OF THE ROAD
Roger Miller
MY FOOLISH HEART
Engelbert Humperdinck
MY SHARONA
The Knack
ODE TO BILLY JOE
Bobbie Gentry
PASSIONFRUIT
Drake
PLAY OUR LOVE'S THEME
Barry White
PUSHER MAN
Curtis Mayfield
SACRIFICE
Elton John
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN
Frank Sinatra
SEPTEMBER
Earth, Wind & Fire
SINGING THE BLUES
Guy Mitchell
STUPID GIRL
Garbage
THE MESSENGER
Linkin Park
THIS BOY
The Beatles
Three Little Birds
Bob Marley
TIJUANA TAXI
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Band
TIPTOE
Imagine Dragons
XXX'S AND OOO'S
Trisha Yearwood
YOU CALL IT MADNESS
Nat King Cole
YOU MEAN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD TO ME
Christina Perri
AS TEARS GO BY
Marianne Faithfull
A TIME FOR US
Nino Rota
BERTHA
Grateful Dead
BLESSING IN THE STORM
Kirk Franklin
COLD, COLD HEART
Hank Williams
COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER
Jay & The Americans
CORRINE CORRINA
Big Joe Turner
DANGER ZONE
Kenny Loggins
DANKE SCHOEN
Wayne Newton
FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE
Roberta Flack
GOOD VIBRATIONS
Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch
GROOVIN'
The Young Rascals
HERE FOR A GOOD TIME
George Strait
I (WHO HAVE NOTHING)
Carlo Donida
JUDY IN DISGUISE
John Fred & His Playboy Band
JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO
Crosby, Stills & Nash
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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.