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1.3 Law And Order (Intro)

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The iconic Law and Order intro sound effect, the two-note dun dun sting from the NBC crime drama, used for dramatic reveals and mock courtroom moments.

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About this sound

The iconic Law and Order intro sound effect, the two-note dun dun sting from the NBC crime drama, used for dramatic reveals and mock courtroom moments.

This is the famous two-note percussive sting that opens Law & Order, a deep, echoing dun dun built from layered orchestral hits. It lasts only a few seconds but lands with instant authority, signalling a shift to a new scene, a serious accusation, or a verdict about to be delivered. The sound is clean, tense and unmistakable, with a hollow metallic edge that mimics a jail door and a gavel at once. Listeners recognise it immediately even without the narrator, and creators rely on that recognition to add weight, irony or mock-serious drama to an ordinary moment.

Pro tip

Place the sting exactly on the cut or text reveal and let it ring out in silence for a beat. Do not loop it or talk over the second hit, the pause and decay are what sell the joke or the dramatic turn.

How people use it

Drop after a friend gets caught lying on camera.
Add to mock trial skits in classroom presentations.
Punctuate a shocking confession in a podcast story.
Use as transition into bad news announcements online.

More information

Law & Order premiered on NBC in 1990, created by Dick Wolf, with music by composer Mike Post. The opening sting, often written as dun dun, became one of television's most recognisable audio logos, marking scene changes throughout the long-running franchise and its spin-offs including Special Victims Unit. Parodied for decades on sketch shows and later in memes and short videos, it now works as shorthand for interrogations, accusations and courtroom drama even among viewers who have never watched a full episode.

FAQ

What is the Law and Order intro sound?

It is the two-note dun dun sting heard at the start of Law & Order scene transitions. Created as part of Mike Post's theme for the NBC series, the deep orchestral hit signals a new location, time or development in the investigation.

Who composed the Law and Order theme?

Composer Mike Post wrote the Law & Order theme, first used when the series premiered on NBC in 1990. His score combines jazz and orchestral elements, and the opening sting became so iconic it was carried across the franchise's many spin-off series.

How do creators use the dun dun sound?

Creators drop it right before a reveal, accusation or punchline to imitate a courtroom moment. It works best on a hard cut with a brief silence after, letting the familiar sting frame ordinary arguments, confessions or mistakes as serious legal drama.