Top 20 Song Intros Everyone Instantly Knows

#20: “Money” (1973)

Pink Floyd

That cha-ching of a cash register coupled with that iconic bass line might be the most lucrative sound in rock history. Pink Floyd’s “Money” opens side two of The Dark Side of the Moon with a literal rhythm of capitalism crafted from a loop of coins, cash registers, and paper tearing. Then comes that slinky 7/4 bass line, instantly recognizable and unlike anything ever heard on the radio. It’s both mechanical and groovy, reflecting the album’s critique of materialism. The intro doesn’t just grab your ear - it sets up an entire mood of cynicism and funk-laden cool. In one bar, you know you’re listening to Pink Floyd, and you know it’s about to be weirdly perfect.

#19: “Layla” (1970)

Derek and the Dominos

Talk about emotional combustion. The intro to “Layla” erupts with twin guitars from Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, intertwining in a descending, desperate riff that screams heartbreak. The tone is raw and the attack ferocious, a perfect reflection of Clapton’s real-life romantic turmoil. The riff’s minor-key tension grabs you instantly, its combination of blues, rock, and anguish rolled into one unforgettable hook. Then, before a single lyric, you already feel the ache of unrequited love. It’s like the guitar itself is crying. Few openings ever hit so hard or meant so much.

#18: “Sunshine of Your Love” (1967)

Cream

That thick, rolling riff is rock history in four bars. Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” fused blues and psychedelia into a new sound - heavy, hypnotic, and super cool. Jack Bruce’s bass and Eric Clapton’s guitar lock into a syncopated pattern that feels both behind the beat and ahead of its time. Ginger Baker’s steady, tom-heavy drumming adds a tribal pulse that grounds the song’s swirling psychedelia. The result is pure groove: sultry, smoky, and instantly recognizable. The intro alone practically invented hard rock’s attitude in the late 1960s, introducing a sludgier, groovier element that was way ahead of its time. And yeah, it still slaps.

#17: “Barracuda” (1977)

Heart

From the first pick scrape, “Barracuda” attacks. Nancy Wilson’s galloping E-minor riff slices forward like its namesake predator, blending speed, precision, and fury. It’s a masterclass in controlled aggression, hard rock streamlined for maximum impact. Written by Michael Fisher and powered by Heart’s feminist fire, the intro hits with metallic sharpness and hypnotic repetition. Ann Wilson’s soon-to-arrive vocals and the pitch of the cymbals only amplify the tension, but it’s that opening riff that defines the song’s bite. Every note drips with adrenaline, and it’ll get you pumped like nothing else.

#16: “Imagine” (1971)

John Lennon

When he was in The Beatles, John Lennon was more of a countercultural rebel. And here he is opening “Imagine” with something serene and spacious. The opening piano chords of “Imagine” are perfectly simplistic, with Lennon’s soft touch and gentle pacing creating an atmosphere of peace that feels almost sacred. There’s no ornamentation, no flashy production like people were used to with The Beatles - just good old fashioned, raw sincerity. Each note lands like a gentle breath, leaving quiet room for reflection and encouraging you to simply close your eyes and, well, just imagine.

#15: “Still D.R.E.” (1999)

Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg

Two piano notes. Infinite swagger. How does he do it? The intro to “Still D.R.E.” is one of hip hop’s most efficient power moves, establishing the fact that Dr. Dre was still the best in the biz. Produced by the legend himself, its cold, repeating melody immediately establishes authority before a single word drops. The minimalism is surgical, with just enough space for Dre’s confidence to breathe. That metallic timbre gives it an almost futuristic vibe, while the relentless repetition turns it iconic. You know the beat instantly, and it never fades from memory. Even now, over two decades removed, it still sounds fresh. And, you know, it’s an easy song to learn on the piano!

#14: “Under Pressure” (1981)

Queen & David Bowie

That iconic bass line - dun dun dun da-da dun dun - might be humanity’s favorite groove. John Deacon and David Bowie crafted a masterpiece of sound with this simple yet ingenious pattern. What makes it iconic, aside from the fact that it’s an absolute bop, is its emotional duality: steady and comforting, yet urgent and anxious. And as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie join in, the intro blossoms from simplicity into pure majesty. Minimal yet monumental, it captures both artists’ theatrical power, and it could just be the greatest team-up in music history. And yes, Vanilla Ice has a role to play in its longevity, we can’t deny that.

#13: “Baba O’Riley” (1971)

The Who

What other keyboard intro sounds as alive as this one? “Baba O’Riley” (not Teenage Wasteland!) opens with a cold and pulsating loop on the synthesizer, an early experiment in sequencing that instantly became legendary. Pete Townshend built the famous arpeggio from a Lowrey organ with its built-in “marimba repeat” feature, creating a hypnotic and mechanical rhythm that still sounds futuristic half a century on. And When Keith Moon’s drums crash in, it feels like liberation - technology colliding with rebellion. The intro has a restless energy, and it basically introduced the future of rock and electronic fusion. You could say that the ‘70s began here.

#12: “Highway to Hell” (1979)

AC/DC

And here we have the complete opposite end of the spectrum - pure rock, no futuristic bells and whistles. It’s amazing what Angus Young can do with a guitar, as he has crafted countless legendary riffs, including the one to “Highway to Hell” which is instantly recognizable with just a few punchy power chords. That opening blast lasts barely a second, yet you immediately think, “Oh yeah, Highway to Hell, I’m so in.” There’s no buildup, no suspense - just straight to business, straight to head bangin’. The tone is immediately clear: party hard, live free, and crank the volume up. Just, not too loud. Mind your neighbors.

#11: “I Got You (I Feel Good)” (1965)

James Brown

Few songs announce themselves quite like James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good).” Beginning with Brown’s loud and confident yell, this thing gets off the ground running and never lets up. The moment that sharp brass blast hits, you know exactly what’s coming - pure, unfiltered joy. Brown’s electrifying yell and that sharp saxophone riff combine to make one of music’s most instantly recognizable intros, a boisterous call to get off your feet and dance. Released in 1965, the track’s opening seconds cemented Brown as the Godfather of Soul, fusing rhythm, funk, and charisma into one perfect groove. Even today, just a few notes are enough to make anyone grin, nod, and, of course, feel good.

#10: “Smoke on the Water” (1972)

Deep Purple

Ritchie Blackmore didn’t just write a guitar riff - he wrote the alphabet of rock. “Smoke on the Water” opens with four simple notes that have basically transcended time and space. The power of the intro lies in its structure: played in fourths, heavy yet melodic, and defining the very language of the electric guitar. Its fuzzy tone gives each note wonderful punch and precision, and its timing is just offbeat enough to feel alive. And of course, its simplicity is universal, with basically every budding guitarist learning to play this as a young lad. This is baby’s first guitar song, the notes a rite of passage.

#9: “I Ran (So Far Away)” (1982)

A Flock of Seagulls

Talk about perfectly capturing that shimmering, futuristic sound of early new wave. “I Ran” opens with bright, echoing guitar arpeggios drenched in delay and reverb, creating a sense of vast space that sounded like the future. The swirling synths and driving drumbeat immediately establish a sleek, otherworldly atmosphere that was fresh at the time but what is now unmistakably of its era - in a good way, of course! It evokes a cinematic, almost science fiction mood, and it remains the quintessential sound of ‘80s new wave. This thing is a time machine in auditory form.

#8: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)

The Rolling Stones

Three notes changed rock forever. Keith Richards’ fuzz-drenched guitar intro to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is the ultimate statement of countercultural attitude, sounding far heavier and more immediate than…well, anything, really. It’s hard to imagine just how earth-shattering this opening was in 1965. Richards supposedly dreamed the riff and recorded it while half-asleep, accidentally creating one of music’s most recognizable intros in the process. Its raw distortion, produced by a Gibson Maestro fuzzbox, gave the Stones their defining edge and practically invented hard rock. The riff’s simplicity makes it universal - primal enough for anyone to hum, but powerful enough to fill a stadium. And fill stadiums they have. Many of them.

#7: “Sweet Home Alabama” (1974)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

It’s the sound of sunshine on strings. It’s pure Americana, distilled into a few seconds of auditory magic. The opening riff of “Sweet Home Alabama” sparkles with clean, country-flavored twang that radiate with warmth and swagger. Ed King’s picking and Gary Rossington’s rhythm create a breezy interplay that instantly sets the mood, and the bright, inviting tone is like being invited onto a porch to drink some iced tea. You don’t just hear this song - you feel the Southern pride and good humor that is baked into every note. Lynyrd Skynyrd helped create southern rock, and their work still sounds fresh all these years later. And when Ronnie Van Zant tells you to “turn it up,” you better listen.

#6: “Billie Jean” (1983)

Michael Jackson

Pop begins here. Well, it began way before this, but you know what we mean. The intro to “Billie Jean” is all about tension - the crisp kick drum, the tight snare, and that funky, rubbery bass line locking together in irresistible precision. Quincy Jones and MJ collaboratively built the groove like a suspense film, being lean, dark, and endlessly looping. It’s a hypnotic rhythm, and it’s so distinctive that DJs could play one second of that opening drum beat and instantly fill a dance floor. The minimalism is timeless; it never tries too hard, because it doesn’t need to. They know they made an absolute banger with just a few notes, and they defined cool in the process.

#5: “Lose Yourself” (2002)

Eminem

Arguably the best rap song ever written, “Lose Yourself” is cool because it kind of has two iconic intros for the price of one. You’ve got that awesome piano section with its simple yet urgent progression, immediately building tension and anticipation. It feels like the calm before a storm. And then the storm comes in the form of the gritty beat, which adds a street-level edge that mirrors the song’s themes of struggle and determination. Once you hear these two instruments, you know you’re in five minutes of sheer hip hop brilliance.

#4: “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964)

The Beatles

This might hold the record for the shortest yet most instantly recognizable song intro of all time. Lasting about one second, it’s just a huge…something…of noise, and then The Beatles just get right into it. No muckin’ about, as the Brits would say. As described by musicologist Jeremy Summerly, “the sound of this chord is the most discussed pop opening of all time.” And funnily enough, music experts long theorized how they even made that sound in the first place. There have been entire academic reports written about it. How amazing is that? The Beatles were so ahead of their time in terms of production that their music sounded downright alien.

#3: “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)

Led Zeppelin

Delicate, mysterious, and eternal. “Stairway to Heaven” opens with Jimmy Page’s fingerpicked acoustic guitar weaving through an ethereal progression, with each note feeling deliberate and setting a meditative tone. The melody is old fashioned - a little classical, almost medieval - and it invites you in gently, promising a mythical journey rather than an outright Zeppelin-esque jam. Layered recorders enrich the mood, while Robert Plant’s voice soon rises like an ancient storyteller. It’s a masterclass in buildup, its contrast to the more explosive back half being a perfect bit of songwriting. Even decades later, those first measures can still put a hush over any room. It’s like a spell.

#2: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987)

Guns N’ Roses

Slash turned a joke riff into rock immortality, that’s how much of a musical genius he is. The opening riff of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was written while Slash was joking around with drummer Steven Adler, yet it shimmers with a beautiful melody, each note dancing like sunlight on chrome. It’s intricate and complex, like most of Slash’s riffs, yet it’s also instantly singable, bridging hard rock’s intensity with pop accessibility. It’s no wonder this was the band’s first and only #1 single. Within seconds, you know you’re hearing something special, both tender and epic all at once. The riff still sounds fresh and unique, even all these decades later.

#1: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)

Nirvana

It’s almost unheard of for a single musician to change the course of history with just a couple of notes. Kurt Cobain did it with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” with those opening notes popularizing the grunge movement and altering rock on a whole different course. The song explodes with four distorted chords that define ‘90s rebellion, with Cobain’s jagged guitar drenched in fuzz and perfectly balancing punk urgency with a radio-friendly pop structure. The guitar continues on its own until the tension is broken with an unforgettable release, with Krist Novoselic’s bass and Dave Grohl’s drums erupting in with authority. With just a few notes, the song transformed underground angst into mainstream movement and ignited an entire cultural movement. Pretty darned iconic, we’d say.

What other songs do you instantly recognize? Let us know in the comments below!