Note

Notes (sometimes called musical notes ) are multicolored eighth-note items that first appear in Super Mario Galaxy. They will usually appear when Mario grabs a ? Coin, although the ones in the Gold Leaf Galaxy appear if Mario rings a bell with the Star Cursor. Afterwards, they will line up, and Mario will need to grab all of them. The background music also mutes when the notes are activated. Each note makes a different sound and together forms a short jingle or tune, typically from another game in the Mario franchise. If the player gets every note, Mario will get a prize, such as a 1-Up Mushroom. The notes are also used in a few levels where they need to be collected to get a Power Star, such as the Hurry-Scurry Galaxy, the Gold Leaf Galaxy, and the Sea Slide Galaxy.

Notes also appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They appear in the Throwback Galaxy, the Boo Moon Galaxy, and the Puzzle Plank Galaxy and have the same function as in the first game.

Notes appear in Super Mario 3D Land as well with a similar purpose, activated by a P Switch. If all of the notes are collected, Mario can earn a power-up if he is in either Small or Super form; otherwise, he earns a 1-Up Mushroom.

Notes reappear in Super Mario Odyssey, where they are much more common and are activated by a rainbow-colored, though each set plays only the rather than a melody. Collecting all of the notes in a set reveals a Power Moon.

Notes also appear in Super Mario Party in some routes of the River Survival mode. Collecting every note in a single route causes a Minigame Balloon to appear.

Notes replace Music Discs in the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft.

Themes played by notes

 * The chromatic scale (Super Mario Galaxy games and Super Mario Odyssey only)
 * Underground Theme (Super Mario Galaxy games only)
 * Underwater Theme (Super Mario Galaxy games and Super Mario 3D Land only)
 * Super Mario World bonus area theme (Super Mario Galaxy games and Super Mario 3D Land only)
 * First few notes of the Super Mario Bros. 3 athletic theme (Super Mario 3D Land only)