Oom-pah-pah
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. One of the waltz bass patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need C (little finger, 5), E (middle finger, 3) and G (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3. Play C on 1, then E and G together on 2 and 3.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, B and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Oom-pah-pah on piano?
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Bass on 1, chord on 2 and 3 (oom-pah-pah). Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah.
Is Oom-pah-pah hard to play?
It is a beginner pattern. Play it with your left hand alone at 60% speed until it feels steady, then add the other hand.
Which songs use Oom-pah-pah?
Piano Man by Billy Joel, The Rainbow Connection by Kermit The Frog and The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck use Oom-pah-pah. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.