Can The Flute Play Violin Music?

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Can The Flute Play Violin Music-

The flute is considered a C instrument and plays anything in the treble clef. So, can the flute play violin music? Yes, yes it can. And you can do so without even knowing how to transpose music.

A whole new world of tunes opens up when you realize that the flute is a chromatic instrument, and reads the music in the treble clef.

It’s totally doable though.

Any music that is written in the treble clef can be played on the flute with the exception of the lowest notes that are way below the staff (without transposing).

The flute has a low C and some flutes also can play the B below that C (middle C on piano). Most violin music commonly includes a couple of notes lower than this

While we can technically ‘play’ those notes on the flute, we can’t play them in that low of an octave. So, if you come across the low G or A for example, you’ll have to pop up and play those notes in a higher octave… which makes an awkward melody if the surrounding notes are also down low there.

It takes a bit of thinking and some practice to figure out how you should shape the phrase that has the notes ‘out of the flute range’. It’s totally doable though. (I do it every day)

You’ll probably have to change the entire phrase to be in a higher octave, or perhaps a mix of an octave higher than what is written and what is shown on the sheet music.

Not only can the flute play music written for violin, but we can also play from the sheet music written for instruments including: piano, oboe, bagpipes, clarinet, saxophones, trumpet, cornet, mandolin, recorder, guitar, and french horn.

Flutes also are playing in the treble clef where alto and soprano singers are.

Interesting? There’s a whole world out there of things ‘flute’ to learn. Have you had an experience where you had to read music from another instrument’s sheet music? Tell us about it in the comment section here.

Hope to see you in a lesson soon!

Have any questions? Comment below and I will help you out.

Rebecca FullerRebecca Fuller
Get Flutie with us! Learn and enjoy every musical minute.

2 thoughts on “Can The Flute Play Violin Music?”

  1. I do it all the time in church. Most of the music in the hymnal is written in a lower octave. It was difficult at first but got easier with time. Now we got some new books for the flute, so I am happy!

    1. Awesome, Robin. It’s good to know how to read different music. Glad you have flute music now! ~Rebecca

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