A flute trill is a musical technique applied on the flute, where the flutist rapidly alternates between two notes by quickly switching their finger positions on the flute instrument. This creates a rapid, flute sound that can add ornamentation or emphasis to a musical passage. Flute trills can be notated in sheet music with a ‘tr‘ symbol above the notes that are to be trilled. You can get a PDF or a printable flute trill chart from here.
Flute trill fingering chart
How to do a trill on flute
To do a trill on the flute, follow these steps:
- To execute a flute trill, select two adjacent notes on the instrument.
- Start by playing the lower of the two notes. For example, if you’re trilling between C and C#, start by playing C.
- While holding down the first note, rapidly alternate between the fingerings for the two notes. For instance, if trilling between C and C#, alternate between the fingerings for C and C#.
- Begin practicing slowly, focusing on making the trill smooth and even.
- Gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the technique.
- Pay attention to the rhythm of the music and the notation for the trill.
- Keep practicing to improve your proficiency. With enough practice, you’ll be able to perform flute trills with ease and confidence.
Various examples of flute trills from one note to another
A flat to A trill on flute
To play an A flat to A trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for A flat and A while holding down the A flat fingering.
A flat to B flat trill on flute
To play an A flat to B flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for A flat and B flat while holding down the A flat fingering.
A to B trill on flute
To play an A to B trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for A natural and B natural while holding down the A natural fingering.
A to B flat trill on flute
To play an A to B flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for A natural and B flat natural while holding down the A natural fingering.
A sharp to B trill on flute
To play an A sharp to B natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for A sharp and B natural while holding down the A sharp fingering.
B flat to B trill on flute
To play a B flat to B natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for B flat and B natural while holding down the B flat fingering.
B flat to C trill on flute
To play a B flat to C natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for B flat and C natural while holding down the B flat fingering.
B to C trill on flute
To play a B natural to C natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for B natural and C natural while holding down the B natural fingering.
B to C sharp trill on flute
To play a B natural to C sharp trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for B natural and C sharp while holding down the B natural fingering.
C to C sharp trill on flute
To play a C natural to C sharp trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for C natural and C sharp while holding down the C natural fingering.
C to D flat trill on flute
To play a C natural to D flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for C natural and D flat while holding down the C natural fingering.
C to D trill on flute
To play a C natural to D natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for C natural and D natural while holding down the C natural fingering.
C sharp to D trill on flute
To play a C sharp to D natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for C sharp and D natural while holding down the C sharp fingering.
D flat to E flat trill on flute
To play a D flat to E flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for D flat and E flat while holding down the D flat fingering.
D to E trill on flute
To play a D natural to E natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for D natural and E natural while holding down the D natural fingering.
D to E flat trill on flute
To play a D natural to E flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for D natural and E flat while holding down the D natural fingering.
D sharp to E trill on flute
To play a D sharp to E natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for D sharp and E natural while holding down the D sharp fingering.
E flat to E trill on flute
To play an E flat to E natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for E flat and E natural while holding down the E flat fingering.
E flat to F trill on flute
To play an E flat to F natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for E flat and F natural while holding down the E flat fingering.
E to F trill on flute
To play an E natural to F natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for E natural and F natural while holding down the E natural fingering.
E to F sharp trill on flute
To play an E natural to F sharp trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for E natural and F sharp while holding down the E natural fingering.
F to F sharp trill on flute
To play an F natural to F sharp trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for F natural and F sharp while holding down the F natural fingering.
F to G flat trill on flute
To play an F natural to G flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for F natural and G flat while holding down the F natural fingering.
F to G trill on flute
To play an F natural to G natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for F natural and G natural while holding down the F natural fingering.
F sharp to G trill on flute
To play an F sharp to G natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for F sharp and G natural while holding down the F sharp fingering.
F sharp to G sharp trill on flute
To play an F sharp to G sharp trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for F sharp and G sharp while holding down the F sharp fingering.
G flat to A flat trill on flute
To play a G flat to A flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for G flat and A flat while holding down the G flat fingering.
G to G sharp trill on flute
To play a G natural to G sharp trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for G natural and G sharp while holding down the G natural fingering.
G to A flat trill on flute
To play a G natural to A flat trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for G natural and A flat while holding down the G natural fingering.
G to A trill on flute
To play a G natural to A natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for G natural and A natural while holding down the G natural fingering.
G sharp to A trill on flute
To play a G sharp to A natural trill on the flute, alternate between the fingerings for G sharp and A natural while holding down the G sharp fingering.
