Maybe it is because of all the hours I spent playing the original NES console, but I always loved the theme songs for the old school Nintendo video games. Games like “The Legend of Zelda” and “Tetris” became the background noise of my childhood and hearing those songs always takes me back.
Japanese composer Koji Kondo wrote much of the most well known music for the original Nintendo games, including “Duck Hunt,” “The Legend of Zelda” and “Super Mario Brothers.”
The “Super Mario Brothers” theme has been played by a variety of different groups and artists, many of which can be heard on Youtube. Many stand out version exist on the site, from a guitar player that reproduces the game’s sound effects perfectly to the 11-string bass version. The best version for my money would be Korean guitarist Zack Kim’s.
Kim employs what is known as “free hands” style, in which he uses “tapping” as opposed to the traditional technique of strumming or picking the strings. Kim’s version of the technique somewhat resembles piano playing, with each hand playing separate guitars. One hand plays the song’s melody, while the other hand plays the accompaniment.
Kim’s Youtube channel features the talented 26-year old musician’s take on classics such as Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” and Pachelbel’s “Cannon in D.”