video game music

9 Best Legend of Zelda Themes to Learn

Whichever iteration of Link's fantasy adventures you prefer, playing Zelda on piano or guitar carries you away to the marvelous world of Hyrule and its myths, puzzles and adventures!

Musicnotes

• 5 min read
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The Legend of Zelda was unveiled in 1986, and the theme music of that first installment of the record-breaking video game series might as well be the soundtrack for RPG gaming in the 80s and 90s. An inescapable earworm that is just musical enough to avoid becoming a caricature, The Legend of Zelda theme is the basis for the dozens of songs in sequels and spinoffs released in the past two decades.

Composer Koji Kondo used a combination of piano and computer programming to create the original score; with the right sheet music, you can learn Zelda songs on piano or guitar, even if you can't program at all. Whichever iteration of Link's fantasy adventures you prefer, playing Zelda on piano or guitar carries you away to the marvelous world of Hyrule and its myths, puzzles and adventures.

Music as Storytelling in the Zelda Franchise

The magical flute in the original Legend of Zelda establishes the significance of music as part of the gameplay in the series. Link's flute can transport him to dungeon entrances and open secret doors (early players may remember the exhilarating moment they solved that particular puzzle). In a subsequent installment, the much-touted score of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time operates as a device to further the narrative and discover solutions to in-game puzzles. Several of the diverse pieces in Ocarina of Time are excellent Zelda songs on guitar and piano, either individually or as part of a more extended performance.

3 Zelda Songs on Guitar Every Gamer Should Learn

While woodwinds and MIDI tones are the purported stars of Zelda music, you can also capture the spirit of the narrative on your guitar. Music from the series tends to be highly interconnected and thematic, but there's a certain uniqueness to each song, which means you can experience single moments from the stories without losing the richness of the narrative.

1. 'Great Fairy’s Fountain' from Ocarina of Time

Who can forget “Great Fairy’s Fountain” from one of the most popular Zelda games? Reminiscent of a cascading waterfall, the notes descend softly and peacefully. A great piece for nostalgia and to improve your skills on the guitar. 

2. 'Song of Healing' from Majora's Mask

The melancholy minor chords of "Song of Healing" create an atmosphere of peaceful transition as it plays while you return from Deku form. Contemplative and almost darkly unsettling, considering the narrative context, "Song of Healing" brings you into Link's world in unexpectedly melodramatic and emotional ways.

3. The Ocarina Songs from Ocarina of Time

Okay, this one is technically multiple Zelda songs on guitar, but they're all from the same game and count as just one theme, right? Besides, gamers who love playing The Ocarina of Time won't want to miss taking a meandering journey through all the regions of the game by learning all 12 Ocarina songs. If you need to narrow your choices, here are the top three from the game to learn:

4 Easy Zelda Songs on Piano for Beginning Gamer-Musicians

Learning Legend of Zelda on piano doesn’t have to be hard - even beginners can handle it. Easy sheet music typically has larger notes and a simplified structure, with a focus on the melody. Build your confidence while reliving Link's adventures in Hyrule with these easy Zelda songs on piano.

1. Main Theme from Legend of Zelda

This is it: the one song for every gamer who wants to learn how to play Legend of Zelda songs on piano. The main theme, written for the first Legend of Zelda game in 1986, has been adapted for nearly every title in the franchise. Koji Kondo's initial piano and MIDI composition has evolved into a piece for a full orchestra. Nearly as ubiquitous as Koji's theme for Super Mario Brothers, the Legend of Zelda theme is a theme of high adventure with a touch of magic.

2. 'Zelda's Lullaby' from Ocarina of Time

The Ocarina of Time uses music as a structural and narrative device, so learning to play easy Zelda songs on piano should include multiple forays into the game's score. Lullabies are typically soft and pleasing to the ear, relaxing for both listener and player, and "Zelda's Lullaby" for the princess fits that description. The piece appears in several titles as a theme for the princess,

3. 'Song of Storms' from Ocarina of Time

We mentioned this above as a top choice among Zelda songs on guitar, but it's so iconic it's perfect for the piano, too. Initially composed for a blend of wind instruments, "Song of Storms" is a whirling arrangement of rising and falling tones that blow through with constant crescendos and decrescendos. It will challenge beginners, but an easy note version captures the energy and uniqueness of the piece.

4. 'Zora's Domain' from Breath of the Wild

You may have heard versions of this piece in earlier installments of the Zelda franchise, but the updated rendition of "Zora's Domain" in Breath of the Wild stands out for the quality and depth of the music on the soundtrack. When you play this newer of the Zelda songs on piano, you explore the more hopeful components of the story as your right hand moves in quick runs and arpeggios while your left provides a collection of steady chords and joyful harmony.

Sheet Music for Reliving the Legends of Zelda in Song

Gamers, like movie buffs, often revisit the stories and settings of their favorite titles and none more so than fans of action-adventure or role-playing games. The Legend of Zelda series has captured the imagination of video game players for over two decades, and it continues to top best-of lists for both gameplay and music. If you want to learn to play the Zelda theme songs on piano or another instrument, visit Musicnotes. We have a wide selection of sheet music for Zelda on piano and other instruments, including ensemble arrangements for your next performance adventure.

Sources:

  • https://www.vice.com/en/article/jmakxy/its-music-that-makes-nintendos-the-legend-of-zelda-series-so-extraordinary-330
  • https://www.nintendo.destructoid.com/getting-introspective-with-nintendos-best-music-part-1-the-legend-of-zelda/
  • https://gamerant.com/legend-of-zelda-best-songs-series/
  • https://www.thegamer.com/best-legend-zelda-soundtracks-ranked/
  • https://collider.com/ocarina-of-time-zelda-games-legacy/
  • https://www.hypable.com/best-legend-of-zelda-songs/amp/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koji_Kondo
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Symphony_of_the_Goddesses
  • https://www.eurogamer.net/why-the-song-of-healing-is-the-saddest-song-in-all-of-zelda