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.
DIRT ON MY BOOTS
Jon Pardi
DRAG ME DOWN
One Direction
EPILOGUE
Justin Hurwitz
EVERY TIME I LOOK AT YOU
Il Divo
HALFCRAZY
Musiq
IF IT'S LOVE
Train
IN THE BEDROOM DOWN THE HALL
Pasek & Paul
IN THESE ARMS
Bon Jovi
ISLANDS
Sara Bareilles
I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA
Mike Posner
JAI HO
A.R. Rahman
JUST ONCE
Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
LOVE TAKES YOU IN
Steven Curtis Chapman
MI MANCHI
Andrea Bocelli
MMM Bop
Hanson
NOT A BAD THING
Justin Timberlake
RATHER BE
Pentatonix
ROCK THE BOAT
Aaliyah
SENORITA
Justin Timberlake
SICK BOY
Chainsmokers
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Sarah Brightman with Andrea Bocelli
TOUCH ME
Duncan Sheik
UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME
Aretha Franklin
UNWELL
Matchbox Twenty
Used to Love U
John Legend
WHO IS LIKE THE LORD
Israel Houghton
YOU AND I
Rick James
YOU MATTER TO ME
Sara Bareilles
A BROKEN WING
Martina McBride
A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION
Elvis Presley
BEST SHOT
Jimmie Allen
BRAND NEW ME
Alicia Keys
City
Sara Bareilles
CRY
Faith Hill
DECONSTRUCTION
Indigo Girls
DETERMINATE
Lemonade Mouth (Movie)
DON'T DO SADNESS/BLUE WIND
Duncan Sheik
DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE
Linda Eder
DREAM
Imagine Dragons
EVEN IF
Kutless
Grace Flows Down
Passion Band
GRACE KELLY
Mika
HEARTBEAT
The Fray
Here I Am
Bryan Adams
I DIDN'T PLAN IT
Sara Bareilles
I'M LOSING YOU
The Temptations
JUST FINE
Mary J. Blige
LEGO HOUSE
Ed Sheeran
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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.