Just like the breathtaking animated title sequence, the theme tune of the Game of Thrones soundtrack has burnt itself indelibly into our minds. The driving rhythms and dark melodies immediately evoke the image of an epic journey across the map of Westeros. If you want to recreate that cinematic magic at home, you need the right Game of Thrones sheet music. In this post, we'll show you exactly how to play this masterful piece yourself. Grab your instrument, and let's awaken Westeros!
The Essentials of the Game of Thrones Sheet Music at a Glance
The Character: The rhythm of the theme tune is incredibly sweeping and dynamic. The original is carried by a deep, dominating cello, and we want to transfer its dark mood onto our instruments.
Guitar in Focus: We’ve created a brilliant arrangement of the piece for guitarists. There is separate sheet music for the melody and the accompaniment – perfect for playing together with a friend!
Tip: Download our free PDFs and watch the video teasers to get a feel for the rhythm before diving into the details in our courses.
Crossing Blades: Playing the Game of Thrones Soundtrack on the Guitar
The theme tune is especially fun on the guitar because we can perfectly mimic the driving rhythm using various playing techniques.
Your Free Guitar Sheet Music to Download
We’ve split the piece up so you can play it either as a soloist or in a duet with a friend. Simply download your free Game of Thrones guitar sheet music here:
Watch the YouTube Tutorial for Guitar
In this short YouTube teaser, you can see straight away how powerful the arrangement sounds on the acoustic guitar. Get the motivation you need for your own practice here:
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Learn Epic Film Music on the Guitar With music2me!
Want to dive deeper into the world of soundtracks? We’ll teach you the Game of Thrones soundtrack and many other legendary film melodies in our "Acoustic Guitar" module.
The Dark Side of the Keys: Playing the Intro on the Piano
The piano offers you the huge advantage of being able to play the melody (right hand) and the rhythmic accompaniment (left hand) at the same time. This way, you sound like a small orchestra all by yourself!
Your Free Game of Thrones Sheet Music to Download
To get started straight away, download our Game of Thrones sheet music, and pop it on your music stand.
Have a Listen: The Piano Arrangement in the Video Teaser
We’ll show you just how majestic these notes sound on the black and white keys in this short preview. Pay special attention to the powerful left hand!
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The rhythmic independence of both hands, in particular, requires a bit of practice. In our detailed piano lesson on "Game of Thrones", we show you the exact fingering bar by bar and how to correctly accentuate the heavy chords so that your musical journey to Westeros is a complete success.
Learn Film Melodies With music2me!
Want to dive deeper into the world of soundtracks? We’ll teach you the Game of Thrones soundtrack and other legendary film melodies in our “Movie Score & Pop Music” module.
Background Knowledge: The Genius Behind the Game of Thrones Intro
The intro and the entire GoT soundtrack were penned by Ramin Djawadi. The German-Iranian composer began his career in 1998 with a summa cum laude degree from the renowned Berklee College of Music. Shortly after, he was recruited by star composer Hans Zimmer, whom he initially assisted before his own career took off. He even won the coveted Emmy Award for Game of Thrones in 2018. Fun fact: It almost didn't happen! Originally, Stephen Warbeck was lined up to do the music, but he turned it down.
The GoT soundtrack is largely instrumental. This background music is what creates the dark and suspenseful atmosphere that makes the hit series so special. Djawadi didn't just create musical themes for the individual houses, but also for significant characters. If a character develops, their musical theme changes over the course of the seasons too! For the legendary theme tune, the producers wanted something that evoked a journey. Djawadi granted their wish: the sweeping rhythm and the dominating cello perfectly underscore the visual flight of the camera over the map of Westeros.
Winter Is Coming – But You Are Prepared!
Don't let the dark and driving character of the piece unsettle you. Whether you're plucking the strings of your guitar or sitting at the piano keys: with the right sheet music, our video lessons, and a little patience, you'll soon have this epic melody under your fingers. We wish you loads of fun practising – and watch out for the White Walkers!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Game of Thrones Intro
Is the Game of Thrones intro hard to play?
The piece requires a good sense of rhythm. On the piano, hand coordination is the biggest challenge. For the guitar, we’ve specially created split arrangements (melody and accompaniment) so that even beginners can quickly achieve audible success.
What key is the Game of Thrones theme tune in?
The original was composed by Ramin Djawadi in C minor. This key is extremely popular in film music when it comes to creating danger, drama, and a dark atmosphere – exactly what makes up the harsh world of Westeros.
What time signature is the Game of Thrones intro played in?
The piece is in a driving 3/4 time (the rhythm is also often interpreted as 6/8 time). This creates that typical, undulating, and oppressive feeling that so brilliantly soundtracks the visual flight over the map. When practising, it's best to count along evenly and with accents: "1-2-3, 1-2-3".
What tempo (BPM) is right for the GoT intro?
The original has a fairly brisk tempo of around 160 to 165 BPM (beats per minute). But don't let that stress you out! When you're first working through the sheet music, you should initially set your metronome to a slow 80 to 90 BPM. Only increase the tempo once you can navigate the left-hand chord changes without looking.
Which instrument dominates the original version of the intro?
In the original, the main instrument is a large cello. Its deep, warm, and slightly melancholic sound gives the intro its unmistakably dark and majestic character.
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