<P> John Williams composed the film 's score , which earned him an Academy Award , his second win and first for Original Score , and was later ranked the sixth greatest score by the American Film Institute . The main `` shark '' theme , a simple alternating pattern of two notes -- variously identified as `` E and F '' or `` F and F sharp '' -- became a classic piece of suspense music , synonymous with approaching danger ( see leading - tone ) . Williams described the theme as `` grinding away at you , just as a shark would do , instinctual , relentless , unstoppable . '' The piece was performed by tuba player Tommy Johnson . When asked by Johnson why the melody was written in such a high register and not played by the more appropriate French horn , Williams responded that he wanted it to sound `` a little more threatening '' . When Williams first demonstrated his idea to Spielberg , playing just the two notes on a piano , Spielberg was said to have laughed , thinking that it was a joke . As Williams saw similarities between Jaws and pirate movies , at other points in the score he evoked `` pirate music '' , which he called `` primal , but fun and entertaining ''. The primal opening notes are developed from the opening foreboding tone of Ravel 's La Valse . Calling for rapid , percussive string playing , the score contains echoes of La mer by Claude Debussy as well of Igor Stravinsky 's The Rite of Spring . </P>
<P> John Williams composed the film 's score , which earned him an Academy Award , his second win and first for Original Score , and was later ranked the sixth greatest score by the American Film Institute . The main `` shark '' theme , a simple alternating pattern of two notes -- variously identified as `` E and F '' or `` F and F sharp '' -- became a classic piece of suspense music , synonymous with approaching danger ( see leading - tone ) . Williams described the theme as `` grinding away at you , just as a shark would do , instinctual , relentless , unstoppable . '' The piece was performed by tuba player Tommy Johnson . When asked by Johnson why the melody was written in such a high register and not played by the more appropriate French horn , Williams responded that he wanted it to sound `` a little more threatening '' . When Williams first demonstrated his idea to Spielberg , playing just the two notes on a piano , Spielberg was said to have laughed , thinking that it was a joke . As Williams saw similarities between Jaws and pirate movies , at other points in the score he evoked `` pirate music '' , which he called `` primal , but fun and entertaining ''. The primal opening notes are developed from the opening foreboding tone of Ravel 's La Valse . Calling for rapid , percussive string playing , the score contains echoes of La mer by Claude Debussy as well of Igor Stravinsky 's The Rite of Spring . </P>
in jaws in what register of the orchestra is the shark 's theme
in jaws in what register of the orchestra is the shark 's theme
a simple alternating pattern of two notes -- variously identified as `` E and F '' or `` F and F sharp ''
a simple alternating pattern of two notes -- variously identified as `` E and F '' or `` F and F sharp ''