Piano Songs with Walking Bass
857 songs — Walking bass — left hand moves in steady quarter notes through the chord tones and passing notes — is the defining bass pattern of jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie. Tricky to play, instantly cool.
How walking bass works
Walking bass: LH plays a steady stream of quarter notes (one per beat) that outline the harmony — typically chord root → 3rd → 5th → chromatic passing tone → next chord root. Mostly stepwise motion.
Refuge
John Legend
THE LOVE YOU SAVE
The Jackson 5
THE POWER OF THE DREAM
Celine Dion
THE REFLEX
Duran Duran
WHAT I GOT
Sublime
WHEN I GROW UP
Pussycat Dolls
A Case Of You
Joni Mitchell
ALMOST PARADISE
Ann Wilson & Mike Reno
ANYTIME
Kelly Clarkson
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
Leona Lewis
GOODBYE
Alicia Keys
I NEED A MIRACLE
Third Day
IN THE MORNING
Norah Jones
I TRY
Macy Gray
I WORSHIP YOU
Mary Mary
MISTER CLADWELL
Urinetown (Musical)
NEED THE SUN TO BREAK
James Bay
STAND BY YOU
Rachel Platten
WEEPING
Josh Groban
Between the Lines
Sara Bareilles
BOYS 'ROUND HERE
Blake Shelton
EASY
Lionel Richie
EBONY EYES
Rick James
I CARE 4 U
Aaliyah
Let's Get Lifted
John Legend
LITTLE MIRACLES
Luther Vandross
ONLY YOU
Andrew Lloyd Webber
PINK MATTER
Frank Ocean
WE RIDE
Rihanna
ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY
Neil Diamond
BAD IDEA
Sara Bareilles
Be Honest
Jason Mraz
Billie Jean
Michael Jackson
DON'T SPEAK
No Doubt
EVERYTHING SHE WANTS
Wham!
FIX YOU
Coldplay
FIX YOU
Glee Cast
IT'S NOT TOO LATE
Demi Lovato
LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR
Aerosmith
MAMA
Il Divo
SO HIGH
John Legend
TURNING PAGE
Sleeping At Last
UNDERNEATH YOUR CLOTHES
Shakira
A CHANGE IS GONNA COME
Sam Cooke
BRICK HOUSE
The Commodores
DO YOU KNOW
Enrique Iglesias
HOW COME YOU DON'T CALL ME
Alicia Keys
IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO YESTERDAY
Boyz II Men
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Frequently asked questions
- What is walking bass piano?
- Walking bass is a left-hand technique where you play a continuous stream of quarter notes that "walk" between chord changes. Defining sound of jazz, blues, swing, and boogie-woogie.
- Is walking bass hard?
- Yes — it's one of the more advanced bass patterns. Requires hand independence (LH does its own walking line while RH plays melody/chords) and knowledge of scale + chord theory to construct walking lines.
- What songs use walking bass?
- Most jazz standards, blues progressions, and many soul/funk tracks. Browse the list for examples — mostly medium and hard difficulty.