Are you a budding recorder player looking for the perfectset of easy recorder songs?
Ideal for kids and beginners, learning to play simple songs on the recorder helps you master finger placement, breath control, and the ability to read musical notes and sheet music.
It’s important to start out with basic tunes at first; songs that are familiar and fun to play on the recorder, while still developing proper technique. You can jump straight into learning musical notation, or look for visual finger charts if you just want to play a recorder fast.
In this article, our expert team have put together this ultimate list of 50+ easy recorder songs for beginners,including free video tutorials and links to free sheet music!
50+ Easy Recorder Songs For Beginners & Kids
1. Happy Birthday to You (Patty & Mildred Hill)
Happy Birthday to You is a simple and internationally-recognized song, and a must-have for your repertoire.
While it traverses six notes, it has an easy tune to play on the recorder and can be good practice when familiarizing yourself with the musical notes.
Free sheet music available here.
2. Hot Cross Buns (Traditional)
Originally, Hot Cross Buns was a street cry done by vendors selling spiced English buns on Good Friday. This song has many lyrical variations, but the consistent tune makes it widely recognized.
This is a well-known beginner song for the recorder because it only has three notes and a repetitive tune that’s easy enough for kids to learn.
Free sheet music available here.
3. Soft Kitty/Warm Kitty (Edith Newlin)
While many may recognize this children’s rhyme from the television show The Big Bang Theory, it’s also a great beginner song for those learning the recorder!
There are five notes in the song and only four measures, so it’ll be easy to practice the entire song to perfection.
Free sheet music available here.
4. Baby Shark (Pinkfong)
Baby Shark internationally held children and caregivers in a vice-like grip when it first came out. This song only has three notes, and the repetitiveness of the F note will be great for practicing your timing as well.
Free sheet music available here.
5. Amazing Grace (John Newton)
Amazing Grace is a gentle Christian hymn written in the 18th century by a clergyman.
It is widely popular in songbooks because it has five notes and a slow pace, which is perfect for beginner recorder players.
Free sheet music available here.
6. Mary had a Little Lamb (Sarah Josepha Hale)
A cute children’s song that many grew up with, Mary had a Little Lamb is also a great beginner song for the recorder because it has four musical notes and a repetitive tune.
Free sheet music available here.
7. Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Eliphalet Oram Lyte)
Row, Row, Row Your Boat is an American children’s song and nursery rhyme.
For beginners who are still practicing transitioning between notes, this song is an excellent choice. Although it’s slow and repetitive, it moves diatonically throughout the scale which will help to develop your sense of melody.
Free sheet music available here.
8. Old MacDonald had a Farm (Thomas d’Urfey)
A staple for teaching kids animal sounds and memory practice, Old MacDonald is also excellent for practicing the recorder!
Old MacDonald works well played slowly and quickly, which is great for beginners looking to gain more experience with their fingering. Five notes are used; however, it’s firmly centered around the G note.
Free sheet music available here.
9. Bingo Was His Name-O
Bingo Was His Name-O, also known as Bingo and He Had a Dog, is great practice for moving up and down a scale on the recorder.
If it is so successful for teaching young kids spelling, why wouldn’t it also be successful while you learn the recorder?
Free sheet music available here.
10. Frère Jacques (Jean-Philippe Rameau)
Frère Jacques, also known as Brother John, is a popular first song for singing and other instruments because it has an easy, familiar tune.
Don’t worry—you won’t need to learn any French to master this song!
Free sheet music available here.
11. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Jane Taylor)
Typically associated with being a beginner piano song, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is also excellent for the recorder due to its basic and repetitive tune. As another bonus, it uses six of the seven notes on the scale, which is great practice for beginners.
Free sheet music available here.
12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
If you’re looking to put on a Christmas concert soon with your recorder, We Wish You a Merry Christmas is a great song for kids and beginners to start with.
It is sure to impress because it utilizes all seven notes and a simple, familiar tune that the whole family will enjoy.
Free sheet music available here.
13. Jingle Bells (James Pierpoint)
Jingle Bells heavily uses E and F, which is great for practicing your timing along to a well-recognized tune.
Since there have been more versions of Jingle Bells released than we can count, your production on the recorder will be a welcome addition.
Free sheet music available here.
14. Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber & Josef Mohr)
Silent Night was first performed during Christmas Mass in Austria approximately 200 years ago.
It has a very slow tempo that mostly uses the notes C, G, A, and E. For beginning recorder players, you should be able to learn this basic song in time for the holidays.
Free sheet music available here.
15. The Twelve Days of Christmas (Frederic Austin)
While historians disagree on whether the song is of French or English origin, there is overall agreement that the song was intended to be performed as a game of memory between singers.
Similarly, learning this song may test your memory, but it is slow and repetitive enough to help you out!
Free sheet music available here.
16. When the Saints Go Marching In (Traditional)
When the Saints Go Marching In is of unknown origin, besides being a popular Christian hymn.
Frequently repeating C, B, G & D throughout, this song will be a quick learn for beginners. Fortunately, the song is slow, so beginners can take their time learning the patterns.
Free sheet music available here.
17. Gently Sleep
Gently Sleep is a traditional lullaby originating from Wales. Although five different notes are used throughout, only two are mostly utilized in this repetitive tune.
If you’re looking to practice without disturbing your housemates, this may be the song for you.
Free sheet music available here.
18. Rain, Rain Go Away (Traditional)
Rain, Rain Go Away does not have a known composer; however, the song has been a massively popular nursery rhyme across most English-speaking countries.
The song only uses three notes (E, G, A), which makes it an easy song to learn for beginner recorder players and kids.
Free sheet music available here.
19. Las Mañanitas
Las Mañanitas is a popular traditional Mexican song. Because of its intended use for parties and group singing, it only uses four notes and is super repetitive, making it an easy recorder song for beginners.
Free sheet music available here.
20. Cielito Lindo (Quirino Mendoza y Cortés)
Cielito Lindo is a traditional Mexican song from the late 19th century. Nowadays, it is often used by Mexicans as an anthem for events like the World Cup.
It uses only four notes (letters C, A, B, G), which makes it perfect for beginner recorder players and kids who may be looking to show some Mexican pride.
Free sheet music available here.
21. Morning Mood (Edvard Grieg)
Morning Mood typically inspires mental imagery of sunny mornings with bluebirds fluttering around. It is so easy to learn, it will probably make you feel the same way once you start playing.
The song only uses G, E, D and C, which makes it easy to navigate and memorize.
Free sheet music available here.
22. Pop Goes the Weasel
Pop Goes the Weasel is a nursery rhyme that originates in England, but has gained international popularity.
This song goes higher in the range than most of the songs on this list, which can provide experience with playing higher pitches.
Free sheet music available here.
23. Rock-a-Bye Baby
Rock-a-Bye Baby may be one of the most well-known English lullabies of all time.
It is slow, repetitive and short, which is perfect for beginner recorder players looking for a familiar song to start with.
Free sheet music available here.
24. Greensleeves
Although many wish to accredit Greensleeves to King Henry VIII, as an ode to his love for Anne Boleyn, there is little evidence to support this.
The song is slow and steady, which is ideal for beginners and is often played as a Christmas song.
Free sheet music available here.
25. Scarborough Fair (Traditional)
Scarborough Fair is a traditional English ballad with an unknown author.
It is folksy and slowly alternates through the same five notes (F, A, C, E, G). For beginners looking for a song that sounds like it belongs in a Renaissance Faire, this is an ideal choice.
Free sheet music available here.
26. Oh My Darling, Clementine (Percy Montross)
Oh My Darling, Clementine derives from the Gold Rush in California.
The song is almost entirely based around G, D and B, which is ideal for kids and beginners who are unfamiliar with recorder fingering for the larger musical scale.
Free sheet music available here.
27. This Little Light of Mine (Traditional)
This Little Light of Mine is a traditional gospel song that is particularly popular during Christmas.
It frequently uses the note combinations of D, E, G, and B, A, G. The repetitiveness and slow melody make this an ideal simple recorder song for beginners.
Free sheet music available here.
28. London Bridge is Falling Down (Traditional)
Also known as London Bridge and Fair Lady, this song has many variations and potential origin stories across Western Europe.
This song is simple, slow, and mostly uses G, A, E, and F. This makes it easy for beginners to learn when starting out on the recorder.
Free sheet music available here.
29. Yankee Doodle (Traditional)
While it is now recognized as a patriotic American song, the tune of Yankee Doodle originates potentially as far back as 17th century Germany.
The song is short, catchy, and played with four beats per measure, making it ideal for beginners and kids to play on the recorder.
Free sheet music available here.
30. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Albert Von Tilzer)
As the 20th century sporting anthem of America’s favourite pastime, Take Me Out to the Ball Game has a simple tune that is easy to follow and recognize.
The most used notes in this song are C, A, G, and E, and having a consistent pattern expedites the learning process.
Free sheet music available here.
31. Pomp & Circ*mstance (Sir Edward Elgar)
The name deriving from Shakespeare’s famous play – Othello – this songwas played at Sir Edward Elgar’s honorary graduation from Yale.
The song is slow and repetitive, which beginner recorder players will appreciate.
Free sheet music available here.
32. Minuet (JS Bach)
A familiar tune that often conjures up thoughts of princesses and ballrooms, Minuet by Bach is an excellent beginner song for recorder players.
Additionally, Minuet uses seven diatonic notes, which is useful for those looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of melody.
Free sheet music available here.
33. Ode to Joy (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is a slow and steady song.
B, C, D, A, and G are the main notes used in this tune. Since these notes serve as the basis of many popular songs, it’s a great basic song to add to your beginner recorder tracklist.
Free sheet music available here.
34. Au Claire de la Lune (Unknown)
Not to be mistaken for Claire de Lune by Fauré, Au Claire de la Lune is a French folk song with unknown origins.
Mostly using the notes B, A and G, this song is short and simple to pick up for beginners.
Free sheet music available here.
35. Te Deum (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)
Te Deum, meaning Thee, O God, we praise, is a Latin Christian Hymn that is thousands of years old.
This charming melody only uses five notes of the scale and is slow enough for beginners to not feel rushed as they learn.
Free sheet music available here.
36. The Wedding March (Felix Mendelssohn)
Only using four notes, Mendelssohn’s Wedding March is an extremely slow song that beginners will be able to pick up quickly.
However, until you have refined your playing, you should withhold from playing at your friend’s wedding!
Free sheet music available here.
37. The Ruins of Athens (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Also known as the Turkish March, Beethoven relies heavily on repetition as he smoothly cycles through the scale.
This song works well for beginners who are still working on their fingering and want a folksy-sounding classical song.
Free sheet music available here.
38. Lullaby (Johannes Brahms)
Well-known for its soothing tune to lull babies to sleep, Lullaby is also an excellent beginner piece of music for the recorder.
It repeatedly cycles through the letters E, G, and A, without any additional frills.
Free sheet music available here.
39. In Dulci Jubilo (JS Bach)
Alternating between the notes F, G, and A, In Dulci Jubilo is one the easiest Christmas songs to learn as beginners don’t need to worry about any complex fingering.
It is upbeat and folksy enough to charm friends and family around the winter fire, while still instilling great recorder playing technique.
Free sheet music available here.
40. Galop Infernal (Jacques Offenbach)
Affectionately known as Can-Can, this us a a popular song that many generations have enjoyed humming and dancing to.
Learning this upbeat song will help refine your skills with tempo, which is sure to impress your friends.
Free sheet music available here.
41. Korobeiniki [Tetris theme song] (Nikolay Nekrasov)
Korobeiniki is said to have been selected for Tetris due to its varying and building tempo that the creators of Tetris felt was perfect for the game.
That same aspect of the song will help you practice the nuances of rhythm while playing your recorder. A favourite piece of music for kids and retro gamers alike!
Free sheet music available here.
42. Way Back Then [Squid Game] (Jung Jae-il)
A new media sensation from Korea, picking a song from a show is the perfect way to keep your mind engaged while practicing.
Additionally, the tune is Eastern-inspired, which can be a nice change of pace from the many English children’s rhymes that are popular for the recorder.
Free sheet music available here.
43. Always With Me [Spirited Away] (Youmi Kimura)
Many artists have been enraptured by the anime movie Spirited Away. As a result, it is no surprise that the gentle tune of Always With Me is a popular choice for beginners learning the recorder.
Free sheet music available here.
44. Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley)
Imagine your friends’ faces when they patiently sit down to hear your progress on the recorder, and instead get rick-rolled.
Never Gonna Give You Up has a simple and repetitive tune that is ideal for beginners seeking to incorporate the recorder into their friendly shenanigans.
Free sheet music available here.
45. The Office Theme (Jay Ferguson)
Many are familiar with the intro song from the popular show The Office, and eagerly sing along despite the lack of lyrics.
Fortunately, the song only uses four notes and gradually gets slower, making it an ideal song for beginners.
Free sheet music available here.
46. Gravity Falls Theme (Brad Breeck)
Disney’s Gravity Falls is an upbeat tune that is perfect for recorder-playing kids that want to incorporate their favorite shows into their music.
Its folksy tune sounds nice at a slow tempo, until you’re ready to match the pace of the intro.
Free sheet music available here.
47. Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus)
Wrecking Ball is a catchy, slow song that is perfect for beginner recorder players because it only uses four notes and is rather repetitive.
With a Miley Cyrus song is your repertoire, you can live your pop sensation dreams and impress your friends.
Free sheet music available here.
48. Another One Bites the Dust (John Deacon)
A classic funk rock song, Another One Bites the Dust is repetitive with a steady tempo.
The benefit of rock songs is they usually don’t require extra instrumentation to be recognizable; just the basic riff is enough.
Free sheet music available here.
49. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Whether you like folk rock or are just an avid Shrek fan, Hallelujah is a slow song that’s super easy to pick up.
While this song moves up and down the scale, it is repetitive with the recorder notes A and G, C and D, and E.
Free sheet music available here.
50. My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
This famous song from the blockbuster movie Titanic is slow with extended notes. Although five different notes are used throughout, only two are mostly utilized in this repetitive tune.
Free sheet music available here.
Closing Thoughts on Easy Recorder Songs
Is it easy to play the recorder?
The recorder is one of the easiest instruments to play, which is why you may learn it as a class in school. There are no strings to tire your fingers out, and no sophisticated blowing technique like playing a flute or trumpet – making it perfect for kids and beginners.
What age is the recorder for?
Anyone can play the recorder, but we’d recommend waiting until children are school-age before introducing them to it – so around 5 or 6. Recorders are traditionally seen as a kids’ instrument, but they’re a great gateway to instruments like clarinet or penny whistle.
We hope you enjoyed our ultimate list of easy recorder songs for beginners! Why not check out our list of easy kalimba songs for beginners next?
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to mastering the recorder, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to recorder karate.
PRO TIP:Many of the songs below – along with the full sheet music – can be found in instrumental books such as this one and this one, which are perfect for beginner recorder players!
![50+ Easy Recorder Songs For Beginners [Videos & Sheet Music] (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)