In a hurry? 

Here are our top three easy flute songs for beginners: 

• “Hot Cross Buns”
• Jurassic Park theme  
• “Ode to Joy” 

Our tips for learning these songs 

There are several things you can do to support your progress when learning these songs. The first thing to do is listen to them carefully. As a beginner, your sightreading skills won’t be developed to the level where you can understand how a piece should sound before even playing it. So, to cheat, just listen to the song on YouTube! Pay attention to the melody, as this is what you’ll be learning, as well as the phrasing and tempo.

Next, we recommend breaking the song down step by step. Seeing a huge piece of music before you play it can be daunting, so split it into sections you can manage, and repeat each section over again until you’ve mastered it.

Practise slowly to build muscle memory. You should focus first on rhythm and finger placement, then gradually introduce articulation and dynamics. 

As the flute is quite a difficult instrument to actually sound, it’s important to work on your breath control. Maintaining good breath support will also make sustained phrases much easier to manage.

Keep your posture relaxed but upright, with the flute parallel to the floor and your fingers gently curved over the keys. And don’t worry if some passages feel awkward at first; practise regularly and you’ll soon get the hang of them. To that end. it’s also important to remember that short, regular practice sessions are more effective than longer ones.

If a piece includes unfamiliar notes or time signatures, work on these sections separately. Beginner songs are a great place to start as they introduce essential skills, such as slurring, tonguing, and handling accidentals in a manageable way, so they’re a great way to put these techniques into practice. 

Easy flute songs for beginners 

1. “Hot Cross Buns” 

Let’s start with a basic nursery rhyme. “Hot Cross Buns” is one of the simplest and most accessible pieces for beginner flautists. It uses only three notes, D, C, and B♭, which are usually the first fingerings you will learn on the flute. The rhythm is equally straightforward, featuring short, repeated patterns that are easy to follow and memorise.

The song is quite slow already, but keep the pace steady! It’s also worth noting that playing slower tempos is often more difficult than playing at faster speeds, so time keeping is a really useful skill to practise. 

2. Jurassic Park theme – John Williams 

The Jurassic Park theme by John Williams is super memorable, and even if you don’t know the film, you’re guaranteed to at least recognise the melody. This theme is a piece you can easily play on the flute with a simplified arrangement, teaching you some useful techniques, such as tone and breath control.

Its slow tempo and broad, powerful phrases make it a fun song for beginners to learn. Meanwhile, the main melody generally stays within a comfortable range and avoids quick note changes or complex rhythms. 

To get started, focus on maintaining a steady, supported airstream to sustain the longer notes. And of course, you should pay attention to the dynamics – they’re one of the biggest features of this piece! 

3. “Ode to Joy” 

“Ode to Joy” is an excellent piece for beginner flute players, courtesy of its clear, repetitive structure and simple stepwise melody. The beauty of this song is that it doesn’t require complex fingerings; instead, it focuses on a few mid-range notes, making it easy to memorise and play with confidence. 

To learn it, ensure you practise at a steady tempo and that notes are clear and confident. Practise in short phrases to build familiarity with the rhythm, which mostly consists of quarter and eighth notes. A relaxed embouchure is vital for this song as there are quite a lot of repeated phrases; mastering this will make it easier to play across longer sections. 

4. “Jingle Bells” 

“Jingle Bells” is a great choice for new flute players; it’s repetitive, predictable in rhythm, and everyone knows it. The melody relies mostly on stepwise motion, which means you can play with fairly simple finger transitions.  

To learn it effectively, break the tune into short phrases and practise each one slowly. Pay attention to tonguing at the start of each note for clarity. Once you’re comfortable with the notes, try playing along with a backing track to improve your timing and consistency. 

5. “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter 

‘’Hedwig’s Theme’’ from Harry Potter is possibly one of the most well-known pieces of music from the Harry Potter franchise. This is a quite literal magical piece, and can be simplified and tailored to beginner players.

The piece features repeating phrases and an easily manageable range, which is mainly within the middle register of the flute. If you’re looking to improve your rhythmic ability, this is the piece. “Hedwig’s Theme” includes dotted patterns, but you will find that these become easier with slow, steady practice. 

Focus on playing the main theme in short phrases and listen to the original to understand the phrasing and pacing. Start slowly, especially through the trickier dotted rhythms, and gradually build fluency while keeping articulation light and even. 

6. “Clair De Lune” – Debussy 

Although Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” was written for piano, a simplified version can be arranged for piano. It’s the perfect gateway if you’re looking to enter classical music. The melody uses a moderate number of notes within a comfortable range, and the rhythm flows gently without any sudden changes in tempo or articulation. 

The phrasing of this piece is expressive but not overly technical, making it ideal for working on dynamics. The best way to start learning the song is to practise slowly and focus on the sustained notes to develop breath control and a consistent tone, particularly through the longer legato lines of this piece.

By focusing on smooth finger transitions rather than speed, as well as applying a light and even touch to your playing, you can capture the peaceful mood of the piece. 

7. “When the Saints go Marching in”

Repetitive, simple, and steady. “When the Saints Go Marching In” is the perfect entry-level song on the flute. It mostly uses a handful of notes within the mid-range of the flute, so you won’t need to stretch for difficult fingerings. The upbeat, march-like rhythm also helps develop timing and articulation without being too complex.

To practise effectively, break the tune into small sections and play each one slowly, increasing the speed gradually as your confidence grows. Aim for a clear embouchure technique on each note to match the rhythmic feel. 

8. “Amazing Grace” 

Another popular addition to this list is “Amazing Grace”. This song is great for beginners thanks to its slow tempo and familiar, flowing melody. The tune mostly stays within a comfortable midrange and relies on stepwise motion, which involves moving from one step to the adjacent note, making finger placement more intuitive, which will be useful to practise if you’re a beginner.

Its simple rhythm, often based on crotchets and minims, allows you to focus on breath control and tone rather than complex timing. Start by singing or humming the melody to internalise the phrasing. Then, practise short sections on the flute, taking care to connect each note smoothly.  

9. “Largo in B Minor” – Bach

Bach’s “Largo in B Minor” is fantastic as it allows you to apply a multitude of playing techniques. This is thanks to its slow tempo and lyrical phrasing. It features minimal rhythmic variation and has a steady melody, allowing you to focus on your breathing and tone, rather than speed.

When learning the piece, concentrate on smooth transitions between notes. You can help to do this by applying natural breath points, which will help you with phrasing.

Even though “Largo in B Minor” includes some baroque ornamentation, such as added notes and embellishments, you can still learn a simplified version of this song. Once you’ve mastered the piece, you can then start to gradually introduce embellishments as you become more comfortable in your playing. 

10. “Into the West” by Annie Lennox

A fan of The Lord of the Rings? Or maybe Annie Lennox? Well ‘’Into the West’’ really has something for every beginner player. It’s ideal for beginners to learn due to its gentle tempo and flowing, vocal-style melody. The rhythms of this song are straightforward, with many sustained notes that allow you to focus on breath control and tone. 

Start by listening to the original to get a sense of the phrasing, then practise the piece slowly in short sections. Emphasise long, even notes and light tonguing to reflect the song’s expressive character. If you’re learning by ear or using a simplified arrangement, aim for consistency in tone and smooth connections between phrases. 

11. “Air” by Henry Purcell 

“Air” by Henry Purcell is well-suited to beginners due to its slow tempo and simple melodic line. The flute part avoids the dense ornamentation typical of baroque music, letting you focus on playing with a clear tone and breath control. Most of the technical challenge is held in the piano accompaniment, so you can concentrate on phrasing and stability in your playing. 

To learn it effectively, mark out breath points clearly and practise the longer, slurred phrases slowly. Take extra care with intervals, as the melody includes a few wide leaps. Keep your posture relaxed to support even airflow. 

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FAQs 

What is the easiest song to play on the flute? 

“Hot Cross Buns” is one of the easiest songs to play on the flute. It uses only three notes, D, C, and B♭, making it ideal for beginners to practise finger placement and breath control. Its simplicity helps build confidence and basic musical skills. 

What are the easiest flutes to play? 

Student model flutes with closed holes and a C-foot joint are the easiest flutes to play. These are designed for beginners with ergonomic key placements and simplified mechanisms. They help new players focus on tone production and finger technique. 

Is the flute easy for beginners? 

The flute is easy for beginners due to its lightweight design and intuitive fingerings. While producing a clear tone may take practice, most students can start playing simple melodies quickly. 

Final thoughts 

Overall, there are plenty of easy flute songs for beginners, as we’ve explored in this article.  Whether it’s dynamics, technique, or tempo, each of these songs features one, if not a multitude of techniques. So, whether you want to learn new songs or reinforce fundamental flute skills, we hope that this article has been useful to you!