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.
HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL
Michael Korb
HOUND DOG
Elvis Presley
I CALL YOU FAITHFUL
Donnie McClurkin
I COME TO THE CROSS
Bill Batstone
I NEED TO KNOW
Marc Anthony
I WOULD DIE 4 U
Prince
LOLLIPOP
The Chordettes
LONESOME TOWN
Ricky Nelson
MEXICALI ROSE
Gene Autry
RELEASE ME
Engelbert Humperdinck
SOMETIMES
Henry Mancini
STREETS OF LONDON
Ralph McTell
THINGS WE SAID TODAY
The Beatles
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Newsboys
WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN
Creedence Clearwater Revival
WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN
Creed
YOU REALLY GOT ME
The Kinks
BABY LOVE
The Supremes
ENTER THE CIRCUS
Christina Aguilera
Here Comes The Sun
The Beatles
HOUND DOG
Elvis Presley
I FEEL YOU
Depeche Mode
I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY
Hank Williams
I'VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU
Bee Gees
LUCILLE
Little Richard
MOONLIGHT AND ROSES
Bonnie Guitar
MY ISLAND HOME
Neil Murray
MYSTERY TRAIN
Elvis Presley
NEVER SMILE AT A CROCODILE
Jack Lawrence
RISE UP AND PRAISE HIM
Paul Baloche
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
Frank Sinatra
SWEET NOTHIN'S
Brenda Lee
TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP
The Romantics
WOOLY BULLY
Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER
The Police
DON'T ANSWER ME
Alan Parsons Project
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC
Lovin' Spoonful
LET'S GET TOGETHER
Hayley Mills
LOCOMOTIVE BREATH
Jethro Tull
LOW RIDER
War
ONLY BELIEVE
Elvis Presley
ROCKIN' ROBIN
Bobby Day
THE CISCO KID
War
THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD
Nirvana
THIS MAGIC MOMENT
Jay & The Americans
Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Bock & Harnick
I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN
The Beatles
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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.