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.
SHAPE OF YOU
Ed Sheeran
SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
STANDING BY
Pentatonix
STAY WITH ME TONIGHT
Jeffrey Osbourne
THE BOYS ARE BACK
High School Musical 3 Cast
THE CONTINENTAL
Frank Sinatra
THE LOST GET FOUND
Britt Nicole
THERE WILL BE A DAY
Jeremy Camp
Toes
Zac Brown Band
TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING
Diana Ross
U GOT IT BAD
Usher
Wannabe
Spice Girls
WHEN I SAY I DO
Matthew West
ALL YOUR LIFE
The Band Perry
AND WHEN I DIE
Blood, Sweat & Tears
AN INNOCENT MAN
Billy Joel
BARTENDER
T-Pain featuring Akon
BOUND TO YOU
Christina Aguilera
BROKEN THINGS
Matthew West
BY THE GRACE OF GOD
Katy Perry
CINDERELLA
The Cheetah Girls
DOWN
Marian Hill
ENDLESS SUMMER NIGHTS
Richard Marx
EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY
Paul Young
EXPRESS
Christina Aguilera
FAVORITE SONG OF ALL
Phillips, Craig & Dean
FOR YOU
Kenny Lerum
GET HERE
Brenda Russell
GRAVEDIGGER
Dave Matthews
HALL OF FAME
The Script featuring will.i.am
HANDBAGS AND GLADRAGS
Rod Stewart
HAPPIER
Ed Sheeran
HE LIVES IN YOU
Lebo M
HIGHWAY SONG
Blackfoot
I BELIEVE
Blessid Union Of Souls
I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING
Aerosmith
I DRIVE YOUR TRUCK
Lee Brice
I HATE MYSELF FOR LOSING YOU
Kelly Clarkson
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
Taylor Swift
IMAGINE ME WITHOUT YOU
Jaci Velasquez
I'M OK
Christina Aguilera
IN THIS LIFE
Chantal Kreviazuk
I PROMISE
CeCe Winans
I STILL CAN SEE YOUR FACE
Barbara Streisand
I'VE GOT TO SEE YOU AGAIN
Norah Jones
Jolene
Zac Brown Band
LET YOURSELF GO
Elvis Presley
LOVESTONED
Justin Timberlake
Page 7 of 42 · 1,981 oom-pah bass songs
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.