Easy Flute Songs for Beginners

The easiest flute songs use three notes, B, A and G, played with the left hand. Hot Cross Buns is the classic first song, and Mary Had a Little Lamb adds a high D. Next come Ode to Joy, Lightly Row and Jingle Bells, using G, A, B, C and D. Below are 10 public-domain flute songs with note names, fingerings and a play-along.

Updated 28 October 2026 · By the Classfern Music Department

UKUSWorks in the UK and the US. This version uses US music words (measure, quarter note and staff); the UK version uses bar, crotchet, stave. · UK version of this page

Key facts

• First notes: B, A and G, all with the left hand.
• 10 songs, all public domain, in order of difficulty.
• Levels 1–2 use G A B C′ D′; level 3 adds low D and E (and F♯) or high E′.
• The concert flute is in C: these notes sound exactly as written.
• Note names: C′ D′ E′ (with a mark) are the notes in the second octave.

What is the easiest song to play on the flute?

Hot Cross Buns is the easiest flute song: it uses only three notes, B, A and G, all played with the left hand while the right little finger rests on the E♭ key. Mary Had a Little Lamb uses the same notes plus a high D (D′).

Play the songs in order. Each level adds a note or two, so beginners build up step by step, from the first lesson to a whole tune.

What are the first notes to learn on the flute?

Most beginners start with B (thumb key and L1), A (add L2) and G (add L3), then C′ (L1 only) and D′. Next come the right-hand notes F♯, E and low D. In the first two octaves the fingering is almost the same; the air changes the octave.

The flute fingering chart shows every note from low C to C7 with sound, and the flute play-along shows the keys for each note as the music scrolls.

Play-along

Sounds are made in your browser. The microphone is used only if you press Listen in the play-along, and stays on this device. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent.

Press a “Play along” button under any song. The notes scroll past and the box shows which keys to press for each one. Slow it down, or switch on wait mode so the music waits for you.

Open the play-along Kids’ mode: bigger notes and color note names

What are some easy flute songs for beginners?

Good easy flute songs for beginners are Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb (B A G), then Ode to Joy, Lightly Row, Jingle Bells and When the Saints (G A B C′ D′). Au Clair de la Lune, Old MacDonald and Amazing Grace add low D and E; Twinkle, Twinkle adds high E′.

All ten work for elementary and middle school flute players and for adults starting out. Each song has its note names, measure by measure, and a play-along. Tap the rhythm first if a song is new to you.

Hot Cross Buns

Level 1 (3 notes) · Notes: G A B · 4/4 · Traditional English street cry (printed by 1733) (public domain)

B A G|B A G|G G G G A A A A|B A G

Play along: Hot Cross Buns

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Level 1 · Notes: G A B D′ · 4/4 · Words: Sarah Josepha Hale (1830). Tune: traditional American (public domain)

B A G A|B B B|A A A|B D′ D′
B A G A|B B B B|A A B A|G

Play along: Mary Had a Little Lamb

Ode to Joy

Level 2 · Notes: G A B C′ D′ · 4/4 · Ludwig van Beethoven (1824), from his 9th Symphony (public domain)

B B C′ D′|D′ C′ B A|G G A B|B A A
B B C′ D′|D′ C′ B A|G G A B|A G G

Play along: Ode to Joy

Lightly Row

Level 2 · Notes: G A B C′ D′ · 4/4 · Traditional German tune (public domain)

D′ B B|C′ A A|G A B C′|D′ D′ D′
D′ B B|C′ A A|G B D′ D′|B
A A A A|A B C′|B B B B|B C′ D′
D′ B B|C′ A A|G B D′ D′|G

Play along: Lightly Row

Jingle Bells (chorus)

Level 2 · Notes: G A B C′ D′ · 4/4 · James Lord Pierpont (1857) (public domain)

B B B|B B B|B D′ G A|B
C′ C′ C′ C′|C′ B B B B|B A A B|A D′
B B B|B B B|B D′ G A|B
C′ C′ C′ C′|C′ B B B B|D′ D′ C′ A|G

Play along: Jingle Bells (chorus)

When the Saints Go Marching In

Level 2 · Notes: G A B C′ D′ · 4/4 · Traditional African American spiritual (first recorded 1923) (public domain)

G B C′|D′|G B C′|D′
G B C′|D′ B|G B|A
B B A|G G|B D′ D′|C′
B C′|D′ B|G A|G

Play along: When the Saints Go Marching In

Au Clair de la Lune

Level 3 (low notes) · Notes: D E F♯ G A B · 4/4 · Traditional French song (18th century) (public domain)

G G G A|B A|G B A A|G
G G G A|B A|G B A A|G
A A A A|E E|A G F♯ E|D
G G G A|B A|G B A A|G

Play along: Au Clair de la Lune

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Level 3 (low notes) · Notes: D E G A B · 4/4 · Traditional (printed 1917) (public domain)

G G G D|E E D|B B A A|G D
G G G D|E E D|B B A A|G

Play along: Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Level 3 · Notes: G A B C′ D′ E′ · 4/4 · French melody (1761); words by Jane Taylor (1806) (public domain)

G G D′ D′|E′ E′ D′|C′ C′ B B|A A G
D′ D′ C′ C′|B B A|D′ D′ C′ C′|B B A
G G D′ D′|E′ E′ D′|C′ C′ B B|A A G

Play along: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Amazing Grace

Level 3 (low notes) · Notes: D E G A B D′ · 3/4 · Words: John Newton (1779). Tune: “New Britain”, American (1829) (public domain)

D|G B G|B A|G E
D D|G B G|B A|D′
D′ B|D′ B G|B A|G E
D D|G B G|B A|G

Play along: Amazing Grace

How do you read flute note names?

Flute note names are the letters A to G. On this page a plain letter (D, E, F♯, G, A, B) is in the low octave, and a letter with a mark (C′, D′, E′) is in the next octave up, starting from the C above the B. Play the letters from left to right, one measure at a time.

Note names tell you which note to play, not how long it lasts: listen to the play-along to hear the rhythm. When you are ready to read the staff, try learn to read music, or the “Show the sheet music” button in the play-along.

How do I make a good sound on the flute?

Start on the headjoint alone: cover the open end with your palm, rest the lip plate on your chin and blow across the hole, as if saying “poo” or blowing gently across a bottle. Aim for a clear note before adding the rest of the flute. Relaxed lips and steady air matter more than strength.

Then put the flute together and play B, A and G with long, steady breaths. Short daily practice of 10 to 15 minutes builds the lip muscles faster than one long session a week. Classfern's free flute tools on lessonplanner.info all run in your browser, and nothing is recorded or sent. Classfern is not connected with or endorsed by any instrument maker.

Quick quiz: easy flute songs

Marked by Classfern 5 multiple-choice questions on the Classfern lesson engine. Your answers stay on this device.

Start the quiz

Practice lesson: Ode to Joy

A short practice lesson on the Classfern lesson engine. Each step says how it is assessed:

• Self-assessed – the playing steps and the “I can” checklist.
• Judged by a teacher or parent (rubric) – a three-line rubric for a grown-up who listens.
• Evidence kept at home – a recording on your own device; Classfern only keeps a list.

Start the practice lesson

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