History Main / LosingHorns

* The UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne & PC versions of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' allow you to put on the Type B losing horn as a car horn in Los Santos Customs.

* ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'''s Game Over fanfare, fittingly, is a "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faw0djryJpQ you lost]]" arrangement of the GrimReaper's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZtX6ln3Fww theme]].

* ''National Lampoon's Funny Money'' used the sound of a baby crying if the bonus picture was not guessed.
* The children's version of ''TabletopGame/{{Pictionary}}'' used a ship's horn for incorrect puzzle guesses and bonus losses.

* Creator/JayWolpert also subverted the trope:
** ''Series/HitMan'' had a loud "space zap" [[http://www.qwizx.com/gssfx/usa/hmtcend.wav noise]] as the buzzer for the [[BonusRound Triple Crown]].
** ''Series/{{Whew}}'' featured a GreekChorus of the villains [[http://www.qwizx.com/gssfx/usa/w-timesup.wav shouting]] ''"Tiiiiime's uuuuuup!"'' when a contestant ran out of time either in the front game or the [[BonusRound Gauntlet]].
* A harsh two-tone buzzer was heard on Bob Eubanks' version of ''Series/DreamHouse'' upon the doors failing to open if the couple entered the incorrect combination to unlock them.

* Not a game show, but ''Series/TheElectricCompany1971'' used what sounded like a dejected duck when the actor(s) on screen failed to read the displayed word or sentence within five seconds.
* Inverted on ''Series/BeatTheGeeks''; stock BigWinSirens played ''if the Geeks beat you'' in the Bonus Round.
* ''Videogame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'''s Sinking Ships minigame had the minigame's host, Salvatore going "sploosh!" whenever you miss, [[https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Price+Is+Right&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=wind+waker+minigame&tbm=vid leading some to call it the "sploosh minigame"]]. Additionally When you lose, a an alternate, yet still triumphant sounding version of the [[BigWinSirens victory fanfare]] is played.

* ''VideoGame/BalloonFight'' uses a slide whistle when a player falls out of the sky after losing their balloons. A similar sound is heard in ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' when either Mac or his opponent is knocked down.
* ''Formula Retro Racing'' uses a horn groan followed by a space zap sound when you run out of time in a race.
* Later "Old World" Macintoshes, aside from the aforementioned [=PowerPC=] Performa horn failfare, used either bongo drums(Centris/Quadra AV), a car crashing([=NuBus=] [=PowerMacs=]), or glass breaking(PCI [=PowerMacs=]) for their hardware failure sound.
* ''Series/{{Chockablock}}'', a British children's series from the 1980s, is another non-game show example. Whenever Chockabloke or Chockagirl gives an answer which deviates from the Rhyme of the Week, or pictures of two non-rhyming things are spun in during the Rockablocks game, the titular computer responds by making a sound like someone blowing a raspberry.
* In ''Series/{{Pointless}}'', a noise which sounds like a cross between a whoosh and a boom is heard whenever a contestant gives an incorrect answer. If this happens in the first two rounds, that contestant automatically adds 100 points to their pair's score. (Since the object of the game is to get the lowest score possible, this often leads to the pair being eliminated.)

* The game over music for the original [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog]] [[InvokedTrope invokes]] the losing horn, even though the 16-bit instrument used doesn't really sound like a trombone.

* Creator/LJNToys' ''T&C Surf Designs: Wood and Water Rage'' uses five descending notes for loss of a life, and a longer variant for Game Over.

* In ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestIVRogerWilcoAndTheTimeRippers'', the "Ms. Astro Chicken" arcade [[GameWithinAgame minigame]] plays a classic sad trombone when you lose a life. The main game uses Type A on the Game Over screen, as well as if you enter an invalid code in the Time Pod.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheWindInTheWillows1983'', when the DisguisedInDrag toad is booted off the locomotive after blowing his cover, the "Motorcar Montage" {{leitmotif}} ends with a sad trombone fall-off.

* '''Type A''': Seems to be the most common, as far as game shows are concerned; these usually take the form of a "mock {{fanfare}}" resembling a bar from the show's original ThemeTune, with the last note a "sad trombone" glissando. Some examples of this type have only the "sad trombone".
* '''Type B''': A series of goofy notes that form a descending "Wah-wah-wah-wahhhhhh" (a "stock" example can be found [[http://www.sadtrombone.com here]]). Does not always have to be four. Non-game show examples (especially in cartoons) are likely to fall under this type.
* '''Type C''': A mocking tune, such as the MockingSingSong, played on some instrument.
* '''Subversion''': A random sound effect is used instead.

!!Type A Examples:

!!Type B Examples:

!!Type C Examples

!!Subversions:

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia1'' has two death fanfares: "Accident", which quotes the first three notes of "Taps" but in a minor key, and "Heroic Death", which blends "Taps" with Chopin's "Funeral March". Also, if the Princess's hourglass runs out, you are treated to the HeartbeatSoundtrack ticking to a halt, then a funerary dirge aptly named "Tragic End".

* The first two ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' games used a sad saxophone version of the main theme for Game Over or [[TimedMission time running out]]. The 8-bit versions played an off-key version of the theme whenever you lost a life.

* ''Series/OneVersusAHundred'' had a slower version of the main theme, when the One lost to the Mob. Listen to it here: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1YHpD1mFsk]]

* ''Series/OneVersusAHundred'' had a slower version of the main theme, when the One lost to the Mob. Listen to it here: [[https://youtu.be/C1YHpD1mFsk]]

* ''Series/OneVersusAHundred'' had a slower version of the main theme, when the One lost to the Mob.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Hungry Hungry Homer", Homer discovers a closetful of evidence that the Springfield Isotopes are planning to move to Albuquerque and tries to show the authorities, only for the team owner to [[ItWasHereISwear get rid of the evidence before they arrive]]. And just to mock Homer further, he replaced them with a man who plays "Waah-waah" on a trombone when he opens the door.

* ''Film/CarryOnBehind'': Some "Wah-wah" music is heard when the girls pick up the chicken which was going to be their dinner, but was run over by a van.

* In ''VideoGame/FancyPantsAdventures'', low, almost cello-like tones descend upon the loss of a life. It can be quite [[IncrediblyLamePun disconcerting]] compared to the upbeat tunes of the rest of the game.

* Later "Old World" Macintoshes, aside from the aforementioned [=PowerPC=] Performa horn failfare, used either bongo drums(Centris/Quadra AV), a car crashing([=NuBus=] [=PowerMacs=], or glass breaking(PCI [=PowerMacs=] for their hardware failure sound.

* ''Chockablock'', a British children's series from the 1980s, is another non-game show example. Whenever Chockabloke or Chockagirl gives an answer which deviates from the Rhyme of the Week, or pictures of two non-rhyming things are spun in during the Rockablocks game, the titular computer responds by making a sound like someone blowing a raspberry.

* ''VideoGame/NFLBlitz'' plays a "wahh wahh wahh wahhhhhh" when a play ends in a failed fourth down conversion, a failed 2-point conversion, or a [[EpicFail safety]].

* ''Chockablock'', a British children's series from the 1980s, is another non-game show example. Whenever Chockabloke or Chockagirl gives an answer which deviates from the Rhyme of the Week, or pictures of two non-rhyming objects are spun in during the Rockablocks game, the titular computer responds by making a sound like someone blowing a raspberry.

* ''Chockablock'', a British children's series from the 1980s, is another non-gameshow example. Whenever Chockabloke or Chockagirl gives an answer which deviates from the Rhyme of the Week, or pictures of two non-rhyming objects are spun in during the Rockablocks game, the titular computer responds by making a sound like someone blowing a raspberry.