# Name that tune in one note **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051 "2017-02-17T14:39:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/1 "2017-02-17T14:39:37Z")
I would guess most dopers could correctly identify the Beatles tune “A Hard Day’s Night” hearing no more than the [first chord](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_Hard_Day's_Night_opening_chord.ogg). I know I can. Are there any other songs you feel confident you could identify hearing only the first note (or chord)? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/2 "2017-02-17T14:40:46Z")
Layla by Eric Clapton ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/3 "2017-02-17T14:47:21Z")
Hell’s Bells by AC/DC. The opening gong gives it away. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/4 "2017-02-17T14:58:19Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Hell’s Bells by AC/DC. The opening gong gives it away. (yes, I know the timbre is different, but you have to remember which is which) I could probably give you “Painkiller” by Judas Priest, either by the very first drum hit, or the guitar slide after the intro. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/5 "2017-02-17T15:12:30Z")
Stones’ version of Honky Tonk Woman, of course. “_Clank…_” “Got it.” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/6 "2017-02-17T15:16:21Z")
“A Whiter Shade of Pale.” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/7 "2017-02-17T15:25:48Z")
If we’re using the actual recordings, yeah. I can do this with dozens, of songs, possibly hundreds. There’s so much more information than the actual note. The first two that come to mind are The Nazz’ “Open My Eyes” and Dick Dale’s “Misiorlu”\* Now, if someone’s covering the song (such as the orchestra used to do on the game show we’re referencing), that’s harder. If I don’t have the timbre of the original instrument and the production of the original recording as hints, my accuracy is going to go way down. \*Which is started with a single note, not like the cheaters naming songs that start with chords. Chords are at least three notes, people! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/8 "2017-02-17T15:31:38Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Hell’s Bells by AC/DC. The opening gong gives it away. Came in here to say just that. “The Spirit of Radio” from Rush has a unique opening. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/9 "2017-02-17T15:34:55Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > If we’re using the actual recordings, yeah. I can do this with dozens, of songs, possibly hundreds. There’s so much more information than the actual note. The first two that come to mind are The Nazz’ “Open My Eyes” and Dick Dale’s “Misiorlu”\* > > Now, if someone’s covering the song (such as the orchestra used to do on the game show we’re referencing), that’s harder. If I don’t have the timbre of the original instrument and the production of the original recording as hints, my accuracy is going to go way down. > > \*Which is started with a single note, not like the cheaters naming songs that start with chords. Chords are at least three notes, people! 🙂 Sounds about right. I flash on whole songs based on a millisecond flip-past on the radio (yes, I’m old and listen to the radio). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/10 "2017-02-17T15:35:11Z")
“Lola” by the Kinks. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/11 "2017-02-17T15:58:18Z")
_My Girl_, The Temptations _Soul Man_, Sam and Dave (well, it’s a slide) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/12 "2017-02-17T15:59:05Z")
Pink Floyd’s Echoes. PING! ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/13 "2017-02-17T16:15:40Z")
No music man am I but _Rhapsody in Blue_ starts off pretty memorably. I don’t know if that’s technically one note though. I’d also be able to name several REM songs, _Driver 8_ being the easiest. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/14 "2017-02-17T16:59:32Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Pink Floyd’s Echoes. > > PING! Good one. ---
**Author:** ![SUZ\_MAC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@SUZ\_MAC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SUZ_MAC)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/15 "2017-02-17T17:02:16Z")
Stranglehold by Ted Nugent ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/16 "2017-02-17T17:10:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Sounds about right. I flash on whole songs based on a millisecond flip-past on the radio (yes, I’m old and listen to the radio). Oh yeah, I’m still an avid radio listener, and spin the dial like mad. My mom used to be surprised that I could recognize a song from such a short snippet. I suspect she could do the same thing, but just wasn’t familiar with the songs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/17 "2017-02-17T17:13:40Z")
I was at a college choir/band concert once where one of the songs was “Oronoco Flow” (most famously recorded by Enya). I recognized it on the first chord. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/18 "2017-02-17T17:37:52Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > I would guess most dopers could correctly identify the Beatles tune “A Hard Day’s Night” hearing no more than the [first chord](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_Hard_Day's_Night_opening_chord.ogg). I know I can. Are there any other songs you feel confident you could identify hearing only the first note (or chord)? Sure. First note: Same band, same year. **I Feel Fine** Edit: First chord: Greig Piano Concerto in A minor. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/19 "2017-02-17T18:00:54Z")
I think most people have more of these than they might think. For me, off the top of my head: Barney Miller opening Beatles - Day Tripper, Revolution, Helter Skelter, and those previously mentioned Beach Boys - Good Vibrations The Band - The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down And those are just the Bs. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051/20 "2017-02-17T18:01:18Z")
There are a few live recordings that I can recognize by the crowd sound before the music even starts. Such as Frampton’s Baby I Love Your Way. I think I may have heard them a few too many times. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-tune-in-one-note/780051.md?page=2)