The 5 Best TV Themes on Guitar: Strings and Silver Screens
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The 5 Best TV Themes on Guitar: Strings and Silver Screens · Source: JHG / Alamy Stock Photo
TV themes on guitar always excite our inner child. It takes us back to a time when we could escape and enjoy our favourite show. Here are a few classic examples we all know and love.
5 Best TV Themes on Guitar:
TV Themes on Guitar: Sentimental Value
It’s 2025, so we can watch just about anything on our phones whenever and wherever we want. But when I grew up, there was only one screen in the entire house. The television.
Who else remembers when it was a privilege to be allowed to watch what you wanted? How lucky we were. Moreover, as guitarists, it was made even better when that show had a killer TV theme on guitar.
Here, we’ll be checking out some notable guitar anthems with regard to TV themes. A great TV theme is so important. It establishes the theme for that program, and if it’s done its job correctly, you’ll be humming it hours later.
The Professionals – Laurie Johnson
Aired from 1977-1983, The Professionals was a look into a fictional high-level criminal intelligence unit. Complete with cringeworthy fight scenes, burning rubber, and this exciting TV theme on guitar.
Composed by the late Laurie Johnson, the theme has a high-octane feel right from the off. With the horns section being the most notable, if you listen carefully, there’s just as much going on with the guitars.
From palm muting wah action to the high octave bends. There’s a tremendous sense of excitement throughout the opening titles of this song. Arguably, it’s the guitar work that helps to achieve this.
Jessica – The Allman Brothers
In a lot of cases, most TV themes are composed especially for that programme. However, some shows borrow hits straight from the charts. The Allman Brothers’ 1973 track became the legendary theme for BBC’s Top Gear.
From 1977, Top Gear was initially a professional piece of consumer-based motoring journalism. Moreover, it used Jessica as its theme. By 2002, the programme received a makeover in terms of its presenters, ethos, and that hallmark theme tune received a remix. Even Slash had a go at playing it.
The revised adaptation of the show ran for 20 years, again with a splattering of different presenters. There is one thing, though, that remained the same: that theme song. On guitar, those Allman Brothers harmonies are unmistakable and ignites a spark that has extended for over 40 years.
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Moving on, we have another instance where the creators of a show just had to borrow a certain track for their programme. From the heroic 1977 album, Rumours, by Fleetwood Mac, the BBC yet again took inspiration from the charts. This of course, became the theme associated with the Formula 1 coverage.
Over the years, the exhilarating instrumental section has been used on and off to signal the start of a weekend of motor racing. After all, cars and guitars go hand in hand. Maybe it’s a man thing?
Led by John McVie’s iconic bass line, and then followed by Lindsay Buckingham’s blistering lead guitar work. When it comes to TV themes on guitar, this could be one of the most recognisable.
Go Go Power Rangers – Ron Wasserman
Continuing our look into TV themes on guitar, this is a call for all 1990s kids. Anyone who is anyone wanted to be a Power Ranger when they were a kid, well, depending on how old you are.
Another notable composer of TV and film scores, Ron Wasserman actually recorded the guitar parts on keys as he is not a guitarist. For the live-action version of Power Rangers, Tim Pierce was brought in to record the guitar parts.
From a guitarist’s perspective, this pretty much has it all. Chugging power chords, tapping, and drenched in distortion. It’s got a real Van Halen or even a Dragon Force feeling about it. Even before I could play guitar, I admired this track from a young age.
I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts
Finally, we’re sticking with the whole 1990s thing for our last look at TV themes on guitar. Instructed by Warner Bros. Television, The Rembrandts recorded this song as the main title theme song for the popular American sitcom, Friends.
Not their usual style, this track reached a peak in The Rembrandts’ career, labelling them as The Friend’s Theme people forever. It’s a good song, with nice hooks and tasty guitar parts. However, I can understand why they’d be frustrated at the association with the show.
The jangly intro line comes from the unmistakable sound of a *Rickenbacker. Now 30 years on from the show’s initial release, it’s still being streamed on Netflix on a daily basis. It’s never been my kind of viewing, but there is no denying the addictive guitar work.
TV Themes on Guitar: Any more?
There are so many to choose from. Why not drop your favourites below in the comments? They don’t even have to be guitar-oriented. Just legendary themes that will be remembered by us musicians forever.
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