10 Fun Facts About Song Intros Quiz

Which rock anthem famously opens with a distinctive, arpeggiated guitar riff that Slash developed as a warm-up exercise?

Guns N' Roses' 'Sweet Child o' Mine' is instantly recognizable for its iconic opening guitar riff, which guitarist Slash reportedly created as a string-skipping exercise.

A prominent, driving drum beat and a memorable bassline introduce which 1980s pop and R&B hit, a track Michael Jackson insisted retain its long instrumental opening?

Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' features one of the most recognized drum patterns and basslines in pop music history, with Jackson famously rejecting producer Quincy Jones' suggestion to shorten its 29-second intro.

An intricate, multi-layered a cappella vocal harmony famously begins which epic rock song, known for its complex structure?

Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' opens with the iconic line 'Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?' sung in a distinctive a cappella vocal arrangement before the piano and other instruments enter.

Which hard rock track kicks off with a rapid, memorable guitar riff often associated with its solo artist's debut album?

Ozzy Osbourne's 'Crazy Train' is immediately identifiable by its energetic and distinctive opening guitar riff, a staple of classic heavy metal.

A repeating, arpeggiated synthesizer sequence sets the stage for which classic rock track, known for its blend of rock and electronic elements?

The Who's 'Baba O'Riley' features a unique and instantly recognizable arpeggiated synthesizer intro created by Pete Townshend using a Lowrey Berkshire Deluxe TBO-1 organ and an EMS VCS 3 synthesizer.

A highly recognizable, syncopated bassline forms the foundation of the intro to which famous collaboration between Queen and David Bowie?

The iconic bassline in 'Under Pressure', a collaboration between Queen and David Bowie, was famously improvised during a jam session and has become one of music's most recognizable grooves.

Which grunge anthem begins with a powerful, distorted guitar chord progression that quickly became a genre staple?

Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' opens with a distinctive, quiet-loud dynamic featuring a memorable distorted guitar riff that defined the sound of 1990s grunge.

An instantly recognizable synthesizer riff, rather than a guitar, surprisingly leads the intro to which 1980s hard rock hit?

Van Halen's 'Jump' is famous for its prominent synthesizer riff, played by Eddie Van Halen, which marked a significant departure from the band's guitar-driven sound.

The intro to which Dire Straits song features a distinctive, reverb-laden guitar riff, tension-building drums, and a famous vocal snippet from Sting?

Dire Straits' 'Money for Nothing' is known for its iconic intro, which includes a unique guitar tone, building drums, and Sting's memorable 'I want my MTV' vocal line.

A single, distinctive, and much-analyzed chord opens which classic Beatles song?

The Beatles' 'A Hard Day's Night' famously begins with a single, complex, and instantly recognizable chord that has been the subject of much musical analysis.