Main Theme (New Super Mario Bros.)

The "Main Theme" is a musical theme used in ground courses in New Super Mario Bros. that has become a recurring theme in the Super Mario franchise, particularly in the New Super Mario Bros. series. It has a 2/4 time signature played at 100 beats per minute in C major. According to Super Mario Series for Piano, the theme was composed by Koji Kondo and Kenta Nagata, although the latter credit may refer to the New Super Mario Bros. Wii arrangement.

It is the first theme heard in-game that gives a gameplay effect to the "paah" vocals, which were previously sampled in Super Mario 64. This would become a recurring game mechanic throughout the New Super Mario Bros. series.

New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. includes three additional arrangements of the "Main Theme". The theme heard while Mario and Princess Peach walk together during the opening is a arrangement of the first two measures of the "Main Theme"'s melody. It is played on the with  harmony accompaniment. The melody segues into a mysterious with stacked major seconds as Mario and Peach notice the thundercloud forming over Peach's Castle.

The athletic theme is an uptempo swing arrangement of the "Main Theme" that features, , , , , and acoustic. The B section of the arrangement adds a new melody played on a square.

One section of the credits theme features an arrangement of the "Main Theme" played on in the treble range with a whistled, staccato square synthesizer, and the drum kit featured throughout the rest of the piece. This transitions into a fuller version played on with  accompaniment, then into the "Underground Theme" from Super Mario Bros..

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii features several arrangements of the "Main Theme" throughout the game. An arrangement of the "Main Theme" titled "Ground Theme" plays on ground levels like in New Super Mario Bros. The rhythm of the hook and opening section is changed. The latter replaces the square-wave sixteenth notes with a staccato electric organ that continues in the background throughout the A section. The orchestra hits that accompany the "paah" vocals in the original version are replaced by clapping rhythms. When the player is riding a Yoshi, additional and  percussion is added to the instrumentation.

An arrangement of the first two measures of the "Main Theme"'s melody plays at the end of the opening cutscene while Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad are chasing Bowser's airship. The leitmotif is played on synthesized brass, leading to a dominant chord and roll.

Similar to New Super Mario Bros., the athletic theme is an arrangement of the "Main Theme", though the piano, clarinet, xylophone, and square synthesizer from the original athletic theme have been replaced with, , and muted , making it a / arrangement.

The theme heard in snow courses is a /winter arrangement of the "Main Theme" played on, , , and fills. It also reintroduces the from the New Super Mario Bros. original. Like the "Ground Theme", additional cuíca and shaker percussion is added to the instrumentation when the player is riding a Yoshi.

The theme heard in the first phase of the Bowser battle is based on the first two measures of the "Main Theme"'s melody.

The credits theme, titled "Staff Credit Roll", quotes and reharmonizes the "Main Theme" as well as the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros..

The Bowser battle arrangement is reused for the same purpose in New Super Mario Bros. 2.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World features a more relaxed arrangement of the "Main Theme" based on the arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The main melody is doubled on and, and the melody of the section before the loop is played on. In addition to new instrumentation, this arrangement uses a different paah sample than New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

While it does not include the actual melody, the game's ending theme features the same basic chord progression as the "Main Theme".

New Super Mario Bros. 2
New Super Mario Bros. 2 uses arrangements of the "Main Theme" for its ground, athletic, snow, and credits themes heavily based on the arrangements heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. All of these arrangements double the melody with vocals.

The ground, athletic, and snow themes add woodblock instrumentation when the player is in Raccoon form, and the melody is doubled on a bell synth arpeggiator when a Gold Ring is active.

The standard ground arrangement returns as a playable track titled "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. 2)" in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it can be played on the Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker stages, as well as in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now formatted as "Ground Theme - New Super Mario Bros. 2", where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.- and Super Mario-series stage.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl features a tropical-styled arrangement of the "Main Theme" and level clear jingle from New Super Mario Bros. arranged by Shogo Sakai. It has a -type beat with acoustic guitar, steel drums, and saxophone. It is titled "Main Theme (New Super Mario Bros.)" and can be played on the Delfino Plaza stage.

The arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it can be played on the Delfino Plaza and Super Mario Maker stages, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now formatted as "Main Theme - New Super Mario Bros.", where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.- and Super Mario-series stage.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS features an arrangement of the New Super Mario Bros. 2 athletic version of the "Main Theme" titled "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. 2)". It was arranged by Yusuke Takahama and can be played on the Golden Plains and Super Mario Maker stages.

This arrangement also appears in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it can be played on the Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker stages, and returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now titled simply "Athletic Theme - New Super Mario Bros. 2", where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.- and Super Mario-series stage.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
The Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games features an arrangement of the "Main Theme", specifically the New Super Mario Bros. athletic version, as a playable track.

This arrangement returns in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, and the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
The Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games features an arrangement of the New Super Mario Bros. Wii "Ground Theme" version of the "Main Theme" as a playable track.

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.

Mario Party 10
In Mario Party 10, a brief orchestral arrangement of the introduction and first four notes of the melody of the New Super Mario Bros. Wii Ground Theme version of the "Main Theme" is one of three music tracks that are chosen to play at random in the Steal the Beat minigame, alongside the Super Mario Bros. "Ground Theme" and Super Mario World "Ground Theme". The arrangement is titled "Contemporary Theme".

Super Nintendo World
An arrangement of the "Main Theme" is featured as part of the background music of Super Nintendo World.

Mario Strikers: Battle League
A arrangement of the "Main Theme" is used in Mario Strikers: Battle League as one of the themes for the Mushroom Hill stadium.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos
The New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos book features two solo piano arrangements of the "Main Theme": a full arrangement titled "Ground Theme", and a partial arrangement included in "Staff Credit Roll".

Super Mario History 1985-2010
The Super Mario History 1985-2010 album contains an uncompressed version of the "Main Theme" from New Super Mario Bros., rather than the compressed version heard in-game.

LINE
The Super Mario's Relaxing Life LINE sticker set features a brief arrangement of the "Main Theme" that plays over a.