Easy recorder songs for kids with letter notes

Here are eight easy songs for the soprano recorder, written in letter names. The first three use three notes: B, A, and G. The next four add high C and high D. The last one adds low E and low D. Each song is in order from easiest to hardest, so a child can start at the top and work down.

How to read this page

• Each letter is one note.
• A comma marks the end of a short phrase. Take a breath there if you need one.
• A dash after a letter means “hold this note longer.”
• C’ and D’ are the high C and the high D.

The notes you need

The left hand goes on top. The left thumb covers the hole on the back.

Note	Left thumb	Left-hand fingers	Right-hand fingers
B	Covered	First	None
A	Covered	First and second	None
G	Covered	First, second, and third	None
C’ (high C)	Covered	Second alone	None
D’ (high D)	Open	Second alone	None
E (low E)	Covered	All three	First and second
D (low D)	Covered	All three	First, second, and third

For how to hold the recorder and how to blow, read the recorder for kids.

Three songs with B, A, and G

1. Hot Cross Buns

For the piano and the violin too, read Hot Cross Buns.

B A G-, B A G-,

G G G G, A A A A,

B A G-

2. Mary Had a Little Lamb

For the story of the song, read Mary Had a Little Lamb: letter notes.

B A G A, B B B-,

A A A-, B B B-,

B A G A, B B B B,

A A B A, G-

This version stays on three notes. Some books go up to high D in the second line.

3. Au clair de la lune

G G G A, B- A-,

G B A A, G-

Play those two lines twice.

Four songs that add high C and high D

4. Lightly Row

D’ B B-, C’ A A-,

G A B C’, D’ D’ D’-,

D’ B B-, C’ A A-,

G B D’ D’, B B B-

This is the first half of the song.

5. Go Tell Aunt Rhody

B B A G G, A A C’ B A G,

D’ D’ C’ B B, A G A B G-

6. Jingle Bells, the chorus

For the verse, read Jingle Bells: letter notes.

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’-

Play it again, and change the last line to:

D’ D’ C’ A, G-

7. Ode to Joy, the first half

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-

For the second half, read how to play Ode to Joy.

One song that adds low E and low D

8. Old MacDonald Had a Farm

For the piano too, read Old MacDonald: letter notes.

G G G D, E E D-,

B B A A, G-

The D and the E in this song are the low ones. They use the right hand, so cover every hole with the pads of the fingers.

Tips for a clear sound

• Use soft air. Blow warm, slow air, as if you were fogging a window. Too much air makes a squeak.
• Start each note with the tongue. Whisper “doo” into the recorder.
• Cover the holes all the way. Use the flat pads of the fingers, not the tips.
• Low notes need less air. Use even less for low E and low D.
• Go slow. Play a song at a walking pace until every note is clear.

How to learn a new song

1. Say the letters out loud in rhythm.
2. Finger the notes with the recorder on your chin, and do not blow.
3. Play one line at a time.
4. Put two lines together.
5. Play the whole song three times in a row.

From letters to real notes

Letter names are a good way to start. They do not show how long each note lasts, and real music does. When your child can play three or four of these songs, look at the same songs in written notes.

Read how to read music and note values explained.

Things to do together

Echo. Play three notes. Your child plays them back.

Guess the song. Play the first line of one song. Your child names it.

Make up a tune. Use B, A, and G alone. Play any pattern that ends on G.

Play a duet. Two players start “Hot Cross Buns” together, and stay together to the end.

Concert night. Pick two songs. Play them for the family after supper.

Print and play

Print the treble clef note chart to see where each letter sits on the staff. Mark each day of playing on a 30-day practice chart. Read the easiest instruments for a child to learn.