Ground BGM (Super Mario Bros. 3)

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"Ground BGM"
"Ground BGM" in Super Mario Bros. 3
The image for "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 3 on Nintendo Music
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Key C major
BPM 150
Time signature(s) 2
2
(with swung eighths)
First appearance Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Latest appearance Hello, Mario! (2025)

"Ground BGM,"[1] also known as the "Ground Theme,"[2] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for the ground levels in Super Mario Bros. 3. It is a reggae composition, featuring a backbeat rhythm on woodblock and timbales that is played through PCM audio samples.

Reuses[edit]

The following list does not include ports or remakes of Super Mario Bros. 3.

Game Description
WarioWare: Twisted! An excerpt "Ground BGM" plays in the Super Mario Bros. 3 microgame.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) "Ground BGM" is included as a playable track that can be heard in the music gallery.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS "Ground BGM" plays during ground-themed levels in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U "Ground BGM," now titled "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)," can play in the Peach's Castle (64) stage in the latter game and the Super Mario Maker stage in both games. It was released as downloadable content alongside the stages on September 30, 2015.
Paper Mario: Color Splash "Ground BGM" plays in some of the 2D portions of the Super Mario Bros. 3-like world in the Green Energy Plant.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate "Ground BGM" is included in the medley track "Ground Theme - Super Mario series," which can only be played on the Super Mario Maker stage and switches Ground Themes depending on the stage's style. It is the only Ground Theme in this track that is not available as a standalone track in the Sound Test and My Music.
Super Mario Maker 2 "Ground BGM" plays during ground-, desert-, and forest-themed levels in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style.
WarioWare: Move It! An excerpt of "Ground BGM" plays in the Super Mario Bros. 3 microgame.

Arrangements[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nelsonic Game Watch)[edit]

In Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nelsonic Game Watch, a short arrangement of the theme can be heard at the start of each game.[3]

Super Mario All-Stars[edit]

In Super Mario All-Stars, as well as Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World and Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" is included in the game's remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, where it plays in all of the same levels as the original.

Icon of an audio speaker. Ground BGM - The arrangement heard in Super Mario All-Stars
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Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

In Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays in all of the same levels as the original game. This arrangement using timbales instead of bongos before the transitional ones.

Icon of an audio speaker. Ground BGM - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
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0:30
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New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

In New Super Mario Bros. 2, a brief arrangement of "Ground BGM" can somtimes play in the loading chime.

Super Mario Maker[edit]

In Super Mario Maker, an ambient arrangement of "Ground BGM" using eight tracks that fade in and out randomly to create a dynamic mix plays while editing Super Mario Bros. 3-style ground-themed courses in the Course Maker. This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario Maker 2.

Icon of an audio speaker. Ground Theme (Edit) - Super Mario Bros. 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker
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0:30
Help:Media fileHaving trouble playing?

Super Mario Run[edit]

In Super Mario Run, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" is incorporated in the music that plays in Remix 10.

Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

In Super Mario Maker 2, a music box arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays during the nighttime version of ground-themed levels in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style. Moreover, with the newly added Desert and Forest themes retaining the original "Ground Theme" as in the Desert Land and Pipe Land levels of the original game rather than introducing unique themes, two new arrangements for editing courses in the respective themes were introduced, with the former prominently featuring the harmonica, banjo, and pan flute in its instrumentation, while the latter prominently featuring marimba, pan flute, pizzicato strings, and tuba.

Icon of an audio speaker. Ground Theme (Night) - Super Mario Bros. 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2
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Icon of an audio speaker. Desert Theme (Edit) - Super Mario Bros 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2
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Icon of an audio speaker. Forest Theme (Edit) - Super Mario Bros. 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2
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0:30
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The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

An arrangement of "Ground BGM" is a recurring background track in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, as the show is based on Super Mario Bros. 3. This arrangement is also used for the main menu screen on the show's complete series DVD box set.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 3 Theme
Game(s) Donkey Konga 2 Europe
Length 2:13
Difficulties ★★★★★★ (Solo) / ★★★★★★★ (Duet)
★★★★★★ (Solo) / ★★★★★★★ (Duet)
★★★★★★ (Solo) / ★★★★★ (Duet)
Cost 580

Super Smash Bros. Melee features a rock/jazz/reggae medley arrangement (done on a Roland Sound Canvas SC-8850) of "Ground BGM" and "World 1 Map (Grass Land)," titled "Super Mario Bros. 3." This arrangement prominently features brass, keyboard, and electric guitar. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, now titled "Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)," where it can play in the Yoshi's Island stage, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, now titled "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)," where it can play in the Yoshi's Island stage and the Super Mario Maker stage, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.

This song was later included as a playable song in the European version of Donkey Konga 2, where it was titled the "Super Mario Bros. 3 Theme." It plays only once and does not loop.

Icon of an audio speaker. Super Mario Bros. 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Melee
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a medley arrangement of "Ground BGM," "Course Clear," and "World 1 Map (Grass Land)," titled "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3," can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. This arrangement blends acoustic and chiptune-inspired instrumentation.

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]

Main article: Hammer Dance

In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, a ska arrangement of "Ground BGM," titled "Hammer Dance," is a playable song.

Icon of an audio speaker. Hammer Dance - The arrangement heard in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
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0:30
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Tetris DS[edit]

In Tetris DS, an arrangement of "Ground BGM," titled "Mario Tetris 3," plays in levels 4, 5, and 6 in Marathon mode.

Icon of an audio speaker. Mario Tetris 3 - The arrangement heard in Tetris DS
File info
0:30
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Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]

The Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games features a tropical arrangement of "Ground BGM" played on the melodica with steel drum accompaniment. This arrangement returns in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]

In Paper Mario: Color Splash, the original version of "Ground BGM" plays in some of the 3D portions of the Super Mario Bros. 3-like world in the Green Energy Plant. When Mario flips, it seamlessly shifts to a more ethereal, echoing arrangement.

Icon of an audio speaker. Ground BGM (Flipped) - The arrangement heard in Paper Mario: Color Splash when flipped.
File info
Help:Media fileHaving trouble playing?

Mario Kart World[edit]

In Mario Kart World, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" can play in Free Roam.

Other arrangements[edit]

Super Mario World[edit]

The Super Mario World album includes a jazz arrangement of "Ground BGM" composed by Soichi Noriki and performed by the Mario Club Band, titled "Go! Go! Raccoon Mario."

Super Nintendo World[edit]

An arrangement of "Ground BGM" is featured at Super Nintendo World, where it plays in the 1-UP Factory.

Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo Entertainment System 1988 Original "Ground BGM"[1] Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros. 3 Nelsonic Game Watch 1990 Arrangement
Super Mario All-Stars Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1993 Arrangement
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1994 Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars)
Super Smash Bros. Melee Nintendo GameCube 2001 Arrangement "Super Mario Bros. 3" Shogo Sakai
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Game Boy Advance 2003 Arrangement Taiju Suzuki
WarioWare: Twisted! Game Boy Advance 2004 Original Koji Kondo
Donkey Konga 2 (European version) Nintendo GameCube 2005 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) "Super Mario Bros. 3 Theme" Shogo Sakai
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix Nintendo GameCube 2005 Arrangement "Hammer Dance"
Tetris DS Nintendo DS 2006 Arrangement "Mario Tetris 3"
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Wii 2009 Original Koji Kondo
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii 2008 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) "Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)" Shogo Sakai
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition Wii 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars)
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Wii 2011 Arrangement
New Super Mario Bros. 2 Nintendo 3DS 2012 Arrangement
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games)
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)" Shogo Sakai
20151 Original "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)" Koji Kondo
Super Mario Maker Wii U 2015 Original Koji Kondo
Arrangement
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 20151 Original "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)" Koji Kondo
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U 2016 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games)
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2016 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker)
Super Mario Run Android, iOS 20172 Arrangement
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018 Original "Ground Theme - Super Mario series" Koji Kondo
Arrangement "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3" Masafumi Takada
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)" Shogo Sakai
Super Mario Maker 2 Nintendo Switch 2019 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker)
WarioWare: Move It! Nintendo Switch 2023 Original Koji Kondo
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement

1 - Added as downloadable content on September 30, 2015
2 - Added in the 3.0.4 update on September 28, 2017

Film and television[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 1990 Arrangement Michael Tavera

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Famicom Graffiti: Nintendo Cartridge Edition 1990 Arrangement 「MEDLEY III(マリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ3)」
(MEDLEY III (Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu 3))
Game Music Graffiti - Nintendo Complete Works Collection 1990 Arrangement 「MEDLEY III(マリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ3)」
(MEDLEY III (Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu 3))
Super Mario World 1991 Original 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) Koji Kondo
Arrangement "Go! Go! Raccoon Mario" Soichi Noriki
Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! 2003 Arrangement "Smash Bros. Great Medley" Shogo Sakai
Game Sound Museum: Super Mario Bros. 3 2004 Original 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) Koji Kondo
Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music 2004 Original 「地上BGM~ワーニング~地上BGM ハリーアップ!」 (Chijō BGM ~ Wāningu ~ Chijō BGM Harī Appu!) Koji Kondo
Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection 2005 Original 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) Koji Kondo
The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music 2015 Original 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) Koji Kondo

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Nintendo World 2021 Arrangement

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 地上BGM[1]
Chijō BGM
Above-ground BGM

Notes[edit]

  • On the Nintendo Music app, "Ground BGM" is labeled as "Selects," classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library," originating from Super Mario Bros. 3. "Ground BGM" shares this title with "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" and "Athletic BGM."

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Nintendo Music
  2. ^ Super Smash Bros. series Sound Tests
  3. ^ Sly DC (November 28, 2015). Nelsonic Super Mario Bros. 3 Game Watch (0:09). YouTube (English). Retrieved December 1, 2023.