Instrumental Funeral Songs: 150+ Peaceful Pieces Without Words

Sometimes words are just too much. When you’re sitting in a funeral home or a church a song with sad or poignant lyrics can tip you over the edge when you’re struggling to keep it all together. Instrumental music avoids this and is more likely to let people think about the loss and not be overwhelmed with emotions.

It’s also the music that does most of the work at a funeral. It plays while people find their seats, while photos move across the screen and as everyone leaves at the end. Choosing it well makes the day feel calmer.

This page has over 150 instrumental funeral songs. You’ll find classical and piano pieces, film themes, hymns played without singing, bagpipes, guitar and jazz. There are also lists for each part of the service so you know what fits when people are walking in, reflecting or leaving.

If you also want songs with lyrics our main list of funeral songs has lots of both. And there are tips at the end on live musicians, recordings and timing.

The Most Popular Instrumental Funeral Songs

These are the pieces funeral directors and musicians get asked for the most.

Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. Gentle and steady. It suits almost any service.
Air on the G String by Johann Sebastian Bach. From his third Orchestral Suite, and calm from the first note to the last.
Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber. Deeply sad and slow. People often call it the saddest piece of music ever written.
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. Soft piano, like moonlight on water.
Nimrod from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Played at the Cenotaph in London every Remembrance Sunday. It builds slowly to something very moving.
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert. Beautiful on violin, cello or organ even without the words.
Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie. Simple, quiet piano that never feels rushed.
Amazing Grace. Traditional, and especially powerful on bagpipes.
Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone. From the film The Mission. Tender and hopeful.
Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi. A modern piano piece that a lot of younger families choose.
Theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams. A solo violin that says more than words could.
Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar. Written as a fiddle tune and made famous by Ken Burns’ documentary series The Civil War.

Classical Funeral Music

Classical pieces have been played at funerals for generations so they rarely feel out of place. Most work well on organ, piano or a small string group.

Gentle and Peaceful

These are calm rather than heavy. Good for a service where you want people to feel comforted.

Air on the G String by Johann Sebastian Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze by Johann Sebastian Bach
Pavane by Gabriel Fauré
The Swan from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. Usually played on cello. Lovely for a grandmother.
Méditation from Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs. A violin solo that feels like a deep breath.
Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. A flute melody that suits a gentle soul.
The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams. A violin rising like a bird. For someone who loved the countryside.
Largo by George Frideric Handel. From his opera Serse, and often played on organ or trumpet.
Morning Mood from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt. Like the sun coming up. Good for a hopeful start.
Intermezzo from Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana
Salut d’Amour by Edward Elgar. He wrote it as an engagement present for his future wife, so it’s a sweet choice for a husband or wife.
Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt. Just piano and violin, very slow and very still.

Sad and Reflective

These don’t try to cheer anyone up. Sometimes everyone just wants to feel sad.

Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber
Adagio in G Minor, credited to Tomaso Albinoni. Most of it was actually written by the Italian musicologist Remo Giazotto, but it’s still listed under Albinoni’s name.
Nimrod from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations
Adagietto from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5
Allegretto, the second movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Slow and haunting despite the name.
Largo from Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 (From the New World). The melody was later given words as the song Goin’ Home.
Åse’s Death from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt. Written for the death of a mother in the play.
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Elegy for Strings by Edward Elgar
Funeral March by Frédéric Chopin. The third movement of his Piano Sonata No. 2. Everyone knows the opening, but it can feel very heavy, so think about whether it suits the mood you want.

Hopeful and Uplifting

For a service that is more like a celebration of life or for when people walk out.

Jupiter from Gustav Holst’s The Planets. The slow middle section is the tune used for the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country.
Ode to Joy from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9
Spring from Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke. Also known as the Prince of Denmark’s March.
Hornpipe from George Frideric Handel’s Water Music
Variation 18 from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Romantic and sweeping.
Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. The quiet hymn-like section is the tune for Be Still, My Soul.

Piano Pieces for a Funeral

Solo piano feels personal, like someone playing in the living room. If the person you’ve lost played piano or loved to listen to someone else play these are lovely choices.

Classic Piano Pieces

Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. The slow first movement of his Piano Sonata No. 14.
Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven. Familiar and tender, especially for someone who learned it as a child.
Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin
Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4 by Frédéric Chopin. Short and quietly sad.
Träumerei from Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen. The title means “dreaming”.
Liebestraum No. 3 by Franz Liszt. The title means “dream of love”. Beautiful for a spouse.
Arabesque No. 1 by Claude Debussy. Light and flowing.

Modern Piano Pieces

These newer pieces are popular at funerals for people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Many families find them on streaming playlists and fall in love with them.

Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi
Una Mattina by Ludovico Einaudi
I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi
Experience by Ludovico Einaudi. Starts simply and grows into something big. Good for the end of a service.
River Flows in You by Yiruma
Kiss the Rain by Yiruma
Comptine d’un autre été by Yann Tiersen. From the film Amélie.
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Despite the title, it’s not a Christmas song. It’s gentle and wistful.
Thanksgiving by George Winston. From his album December.
Mia and Sebastian’s Theme by Justin Hurwitz. From La La Land.
Dawn by Dario Marianelli. From the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice.

Instrumental Film and TV Themes

Film scores are written to make people feel something without saying a word so it’s not a surprise they work at funerals. A theme from their favorite movie can be a lovely personal touch.

Theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams
Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone, from The Mission
Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone and Andrea Morricone
Married Life by Michael Giacchino, from Up. If you’ve seen the film you’ll know why this one is so popular for a husband or wife.
Feather Theme by Alan Silvestri, from Forrest Gump
Cornfield Chase by Hans Zimmer, from Interstellar
Time by Hans Zimmer, from Inception. Slow and building. Very powerful in a big room.
For the Love of a Princess by James Horner, from Braveheart
Main Title by John Barry, from Out of Africa
Somewhere in Time by John Barry. The main theme from the 1980 film.
Theme from Love Story by Francis Lai
Chariots of Fire by Vangelis. For a runner, an athlete or someone who never gave up.
Concerning Hobbits by Howard Shore, from The Lord of the Rings. Cozy and warm, for someone who loved a quiet life at home.
Cavatina by Stanley Myers. Best known from The Deer Hunter, played on guitar by John Williams.
Hymn to the Fallen by John Williams, from Saving Private Ryan. It has a wordless choir rather than lyrics. A good choice for a veteran.

Hymns Played Without Singing

Not everyone feels up to singing at a funeral and some families worry no one will join in. Having the organist or pianist play a hymn instead lets people hum along or just listen. For hymns with full lyrics see our funeral hymns.

Amazing Grace
How Great Thou Art
Abide with Me. Usually played to the tune Eventide by William Henry Monk.
It Is Well with My Soul
The Lord’s My Shepherd. Most often played to the tune Crimond.
Be Still, My Soul. Set to the melody from Sibelius’ Finlandia.
Nearer, My God, to Thee
In the Garden
Be Thou My Vision
Morning Has Broken
The Old Rugged Cross
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
Ave Maria by Charles Gounod, set over Bach’s Prelude in C Major

Catholic Funeral Music Without Words

Many Catholic parishes have guidelines about music during Mass so check with the priest or music director first. These pieces are commonly played before or after the service. There are more ideas in our Catholic funeral songs.

Panis Angelicus by César Franck
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
On Eagle’s Wings by Michael Joncas, played on organ or piano
Ave Verum Corpus by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Pie Jesu by Gabriel Fauré, from his Requiem
Be Not Afraid by Bob Dufford

Bagpipe and Celtic Funeral Music

Few sounds stop a room like a lone piper. Bagpipes are a tradition at Scottish and Irish funerals and also for police officers, firefighters and veterans. A piper often leads the casket in or plays at the graveside. If you’re honoring Irish roots our Irish blessings for funerals go well with these.

Amazing Grace. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards had a hit record with their pipes version in the 1970s.
Flowers of the Forest. A traditional Scottish lament, often played at funerals and at Remembrance services.
Danny Boy, also known as the Londonderry Air. Just as moving without the words.
Highland Cathedral. Despite sounding ancient, it was written in the 1980s by two German musicians, Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb.
Going Home. A pipe arrangement of the Goin’ Home melody from Dvořák’s New World Symphony.
The Skye Boat Song
Mist Covered Mountains
The Water Is Wide
Scotland the Brave. More rousing than sad, good for leading people out.
Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar. Usually on fiddle, but it has a Scottish feel.
She Moved Through the Fair. A traditional Irish melody, beautiful on tin whistle or uilleann pipes.

Military and Patriotic Instrumental Music

For a veteran, a military funeral often includes its own music. If the family requests military honors, Taps is usually played by a bugler or on a recording. You can add other pieces around it. Our funeral poems for a veteran may help with readings too.

Taps. The short bugle call played at US military funerals.
The Last Post. The bugle call used at military funerals and memorials in the UK, Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries.
Eternal Father, Strong to Save. Known as the Navy Hymn. Lovely for anyone who served at sea.
America the Beautiful
Nimrod by Edward Elgar
Hymn to the Fallen by John Williams
Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar
Amazing Grace on bagpipes
Jupiter by Gustav Holst

Instrumental Guitar Songs for a Funeral

A single guitar can feel very intimate. These work well if a family member or friend plays and wants to perform or if the person you’ve lost was a guitar lover.

Cavatina by Stanley Myers
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega
Romance, often called Spanish Romance. A classical guitar piece by an unknown composer.
Albatross by Fleetwood Mac. Dreamy and slow, like waves on a beach.
Sleep Walk by Santo and Johnny. A steel guitar classic for someone who loved the 50s.
Samba Pa Ti by Santana
Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile) by Santana
Little Martha by The Allman Brothers Band. Short, sweet and gentle.
Bron-Yr-Aur by Led Zeppelin. An acoustic piece for a rock fan.
Mood for a Day by Yes
Classical Gas by Mason Williams

Jazz Instrumentals for a Funeral

Jazz can be slow and tender or full of life which makes it a good fit for someone with a bit of both. In New Orleans a jazz funeral traditionally starts with slow hymns and ends with a joyful march.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Traditional, and a New Orleans funeral standard.
When the Saints Go Marching In. Traditional. The classic upbeat ending.
Peace Piece by Bill Evans. Quiet solo piano, just as the name suggests.
Blue in Green by Miles Davis
In a Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
Naima by John Coltrane. Written for his wife and named after her.
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus. Written as an elegy for the saxophonist Lester Young.
‘Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk
Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller. A favorite for grandparents who grew up with big band music.
Cast Your Fate to the Wind by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. For a jazz lover who’d want something cool rather than sad.

Modern and Pop Instrumentals

Not every instrumental has to be classical. These are calm, modern pieces that suit someone with more contemporary taste.

Watermark by Enya
On the Nature of Daylight by Max Richter. Slow strings that build and build.
Your Hand in Mine by Explosions in the Sky
Song for Guy by Elton John. Written after the death of a young man who worked at his record label. It’s almost entirely instrumental, with just one repeated sung line near the end.
Albatross by Fleetwood Mac
Chariots of Fire by Vangelis
Cornfield Chase by Hans Zimmer
Experience by Ludovico Einaudi

Instrumental Versions of Popular Songs

Sometimes you want their favorite song but the lyrics don’t quite fit a funeral or you know you won’t get through it with someone singing. An instrumental cover can be the answer. Groups like Vitamin String Quartet, The Piano Guys and 2CELLOS have recorded string and piano versions of a huge number of pop and rock songs and most local musicians can play these on request.

These songs are especially popular as instrumentals:

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz
What a Wonderful World, best known by Louis Armstrong
My Way, best known by Frank Sinatra
Wind Beneath My Wings, best known by Bette Midler
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel
Let It Be by The Beatles
Yesterday by The Beatles
Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
Fix You by Coldplay
Fields of Gold by Sting
Time to Say Goodbye, best known by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
You Raise Me Up, best known by Josh Groban
The Rose, best known by Bette Midler
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Danny Boy

Upbeat Instrumental Songs for a Celebration of Life

If the person you’ve lost would hate a sad send off then a bright instrumental can lift the room without anyone needing to sing. These work best at the end of the service or at the reception.

The Entertainer by Scott Joplin
Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin
In the Mood by Glenn Miller
Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman
Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio. The Peanuts theme. For someone who never really grew up.
Jessica by The Allman Brothers Band
Green Onions by Booker T. and the M.G.’s
Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Rondo alla Turca by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9

SEE MORE: Songs for a Celebration of Life

Instrumental Music for Each Part of the Service

It helps to think about where each piece will go. This is a quick guide to what usually works when.

Prelude: While Guests Arrive

Guests can take 20 or 30 minutes to arrive and settle so you’ll want several pieces or a playlist. Keep it quiet enough that people can talk.

Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
Air on the G String by Johann Sebastian Bach
River Flows in You by Yiruma
Peace Piece by Bill Evans
Una Mattina by Ludovico Einaudi
Sheep May Safely Graze by Johann Sebastian Bach
Watermark by Enya

Processional: Walking In

This is when the family and the casket or urn come in. Pick something slow and steady with a clear beat to walk to.

Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
Largo by George Frideric Handel
Amazing Grace on bagpipes
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
Nimrod by Edward Elgar
Highland Cathedral
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach

Reflection or Slideshow

A moment of quiet music after the eulogy gives everyone a chance to sit with their memories. If you’re showing photos choose something that lasts about as long as the slideshow.

Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone
Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi
Married Life by Michael Giacchino
Theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams
The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns
Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar
Feather Theme by Alan Silvestri
Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone and Andrea Morricone

Recessional: Walking Out

The last piece sets the mood people carry with them to the graveside or reception. Something a little more hopeful usually feels right.

Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke
Jupiter by Gustav Holst
Experience by Ludovico Einaudi
Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven
Chariots of Fire by Vangelis
When the Saints Go Marching In
Scotland the Brave on bagpipes

Graveside, Committal or Scattering Ashes

Outdoors or as the curtains close at a crematorium, short and simple pieces work best. A single instrument often sounds better than a full orchestra.

Taps on bugle
Flowers of the Forest on bagpipes
Danny Boy on violin or pipes
Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt
The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Cavatina by Stanley Myers
Going Home on bagpipes

Tips for Choosing Instrumental Funeral Music

Think about who they were. The best choice is often linked to something real. A piece from their wedding, a film they watched every Christmas or a tune they played on the piano.
Ask about live musicians. Many churches have an organist and funeral homes can often recommend a pianist, violinist, harpist or piper. Ask about fees early as they vary a lot.
Check the length. Some classical pieces run 10 minutes or more. Musicians can usually shorten a piece and with recordings you can fade out at a natural point.
Test the sound system. Play your recordings on the venue’s speakers before the day if you can. Quiet piano can get lost in a big church.
Check with the church or venue. Some churches only allow sacred music during the service itself. If so save film themes and pop covers for the prelude, the slideshow or the reception.
Think about livestreams. If the service is being streamed online, some platforms may mute copyrighted recordings. Ask the funeral home how they handle music in the stream.
Mix instrumentals with a song or two. An instrumental prelude and recessional with one meaningful song in the middle often feels balanced.
List the pieces in the program. People often ask afterward what was playing. Our funeral program wording examples show how to include music titles.