Since Jeopardy! debuted on March 30, 1964, the show has used many different arrangements of iconic "Think!" cue.
1964-1975[]
- Main (1964-1975) - "Take Ten" by Julann Griffin
- Think Cue (1964-1975, 1983 [Pilot], 1984 [Pilot], 1984-1997) - "Think!" by Merv Griffin
1978-1979[]
- Contestant Introductions (1978 Open, 1983 [Pilot]) - "January, February, March"
- Main (1978) - "Frisco Disco" by Merv Griffin (Later used on Wheel of Fortune as a prize cue).
- Commercial (1983 [Pilot]) - "Nightwalk" (Later used on Wheel of Fortune as the second shoot Music and now Pepsi Jack and found water that
1984-present[]
- Main (1984 (Pilot)) - by Merv Griffin
- 1984-1997 - by Christopher Rhyne & Merv Griffin (1984 pilot theme re-arranged)
- bongo track added in 1992
- 1997-2008 - by Steve Kaplan
- 1997-2001 - original arrangement of main theme
- 2001-2008 - re-orchestration of main theme
- 2008-present - by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design & Bleeding Fingers Music
- 2008-2021 – original Chris Bell arrangement
- 2021-present - Bleeding Fingers re-orchestration of main theme
Main theme samples[]
Original run[]
- The music used during the contestant introductions consisted of bongos, guitars, and flutes.
- The theme song was a jazz arrangement composed by Julann Griffin. Click here to listen.
1978-79 revival[]
- An orchestral arrangement by Merv Griffin, titled "January, February, March," was used in the contestant introductions. Click here to listen.
- The main theme song was a jazz arrangement consisting of brass and piano.
Syndicated version[]
- From Season 1 (1984-85) to Season 13 (1996-97), the theme song was synth-driven with a saxophone in every other verse. Click here to listen.
- From Season 2 (1985-86) to Season 7 (1990-91), the theme song was played at a slightly lower pitch during the intro. Click here to listen.
- Beginning in Season 5 (1988-89), the first 19 seconds of the theme song are only played in tournament finals. Click here to listen.
- In Season 8 (1991-92), the theme song is played at a slower speed with a very low pitch during the intro and closing credits. Click here to listen.
- Beginning in Season 9 (1992-93), the theme song was reverted to its original speed and pitch, and a bongo track was added. Click here to listen.
- In Season 13 (1996-97), after the show moved to a new set, another five seconds were removed from the start of the theme song, and it now fades in. Click here to listen.
- Beginning in Season 5 (1988-89), the first 19 seconds of the theme song are only played in tournament finals. Click here to listen.
- From Season 2 (1985-86) to Season 7 (1990-91), the theme song was played at a slightly lower pitch during the intro. Click here to listen.
- From Season 14 (1997-98) to Season 24 (2007-08), the theme song was performed by an orchestra, piano, and electric guitar. Click here to listen.
- In Season 17 (2000-01), the first six seconds of the theme song were removed, and a wind blowing sound was added to the start. Click here to listen.
- During the 2001 Celebrity Jeopardy! and International Tournament held midway into Season 17, an updated version of the theme song debuted, which is performed in a faster tempo and now has an improvisational section where parts of the "Think!" melody are played with variation and accompanied by saxophone and electric guitar solos before the main melody returns. Click here to listen.
- On the April 23, 2001 episode, the updated theme song was put to permanent use as the main theme, albeit with a shorter intro. Click here to listen.
- From Season 18 (2001-02) to Season 21 (2004-05), an alternate version of the main theme was used during the closing credits, in which the saxophone and electric guitar solos were not used. Click here to listen.
- From Season 25 (2008-09) to Season 37 (2020-21), the theme song was once again performed by an orchestra, and now has two improvisational sections. Click here to listen.
- During the first month of this season, the electric guitar was absent from the theme song during the show's intro. Click here to listen.
- An alternate version of the theme was used during the closing credits, in which the electric guitar is absent from the first improvisational section and the main melody until the end of the theme song. Click here to listen.
- During the first month of this season, the electric guitar was absent from the theme song during the show's intro. Click here to listen.
- Since Season 38 (2021-22), the theme song is an updated arrangement of the 2008 theme that is performed by a synthesized orchestra. Click here to listen.
- For Inside Jeopardy! podcasts and the Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament, an electric guitar is used during the improvisational sections, albeit with different riffs than the 2008 version. Click here to listen.
- During the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time tournament, the theme song played differently than other versions, including the current one. It now consists of synthesizers and a heavy orchestra. Click here to listen.
"Think!" samples[]
- The original "Think!" cue used a celesta lead in the first verse and a flute lead in the second verse, with timpani hitting the final two notes. Click here to listen.
- During the first two weeks of Season 14 (1997-98), the "Think!" cue had a piano lead, with timpani hitting the final two notes. Click here to listen.
- From the third week of Season 14 (1997-98) to Season 24 (2007-08), the "Think!" cue was updated to include a trumpet lead in the second verse, with timpani hitting the final two notes. Click here to listen.
- During the first month of Season 25 (2008-09) the "Think!" cue had a french horn lead with the piano and flute doubling in octaves, accompanied by loud tick-tock percussion. Now, both a timpani and pizzicato strings play the last two notes. Click here to listen.
- Beginning in the October 13, 2008 episode, the "Think!" cue was remixed to include a more prominent piano lead and de-emphasize the percussion. Only the pizzicato strings play the last two notes. This alternated with the other one and then replaced it. Click here to listen.
- During the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time tournament, the "Think!" cue used a piano lead accompanied by synthesizers in the first verse, and the second verse had a trumpet lead with a heavy orchestra, with the timpani playing the last two notes loudly. It is somewhat similar to the 1997 "Think!" cue. Click here to listen.
Rock and Roll Jeopardy! Music[]
- The Rock & Roll Jeopardy! music package has been used going into and coming out of commercial breaks during the College Championship, Kids Week episodes, and Teen Tournaments from Season 20 to Season 35.
- In 2006, it was used during Celebrity episodes.
- From 2007 to 2019, it was used during the introductions.
- The 2000-A College Championship and the 2008-B Teen Tournament used it during the Final Jeopardy! round. When the music from that game show was first used, for in and out the commercial breaks, the commercial cues would be heard.
- Starting from the 2005 College Championship, when coming out of a break, the ending part of one of the commercial cues would be heard. The prize cue can also be heard when out the commercial break for the Double Jeopardy! round.
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Theme Song
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Think Music
Sports Jeopardy! Music[]
- During Season 36, the music from Sports Jeopardy! was used for the College Championship.
- The 2020 College Championship used it during the Final Jeopardy! round
Jeopardy! Sound Effects[]
DAILY DOUBLE sound[]
- 1964-1975, 1978-1979, 1983, 1984 (2nd pilot only), 1984 versions are not used
- 1984-present: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5LTzcDevrk
Board fill sound[]
- 1964-1975, 1978-1979, 1983, 1984 (2nd pilot only)
- 1984-2008: Click here to listen.
- 2009-2016: Click here to listen.
- 2016-present: Click here to listen.