Recorder notes · Baroque and German fingering
Recorder fingering chart, note by note
Pick a note and see which holes to cover, with its place on the staff. For the soprano recorder, in Baroque (English) or German fingering. Free, no sign-up, and ready to print.
Full chart
Soprano recorder fingering chart · · Mi Flauta Dulce · apps.clavedemi.com/flauta
CoveredOpenHalfDiffers between Baroque and German: ●
Pick a note to see its fingering. The arrow keys move between notes. Tap a recorder in the chart to see it larger. A colored dot marks the notes that are fingered differently on Baroque and German recorders.
This is the chart. In Mi Flauta Dulce you learn each note with exercises, a tuner and songs.
Try the web appIn three steps
Pick your recorder
Baroque (English) or German. If you are not sure, Baroque is the most common; the guide below explains how to check.
Pick a note
Tap a note in the list or a recorder in the full chart. You see the recorder with each hole covered, open or half covered.
Print it
The full chart fits on one page. Tap “Print chart” to keep it handy while you practice.
How to read a recorder fingering chart
A fingering is the combination of holes you cover with your fingers to play a note. Learning the recorder is mostly learning these combinations, so a chart you can check at a glance is the first thing you need.
The eight holes
The recorder has seven holes on the front and one on the back. The back hole is covered with the thumb of your left hand. On the front, your left hand covers holes 1, 2 and 3 and your right hand covers holes 4, 5, 6 and 7. Holes 6 and 7 are double holes: two small openings side by side. Each hole is numbered in the chart the same way as in the drawing.
What each drawing means
- Filled hole: fully covered with the pad of your finger.
- Empty hole (just the ring): open.
- Half-filled hole: half covered. With the thumb, bend it slightly to leave a small gap (pinching). On the double holes, cover only one of the two openings.
Baroque or German fingering
There are two fingering systems. They agree on most notes and differ on a few. In this chart four notes change: F, F♯, G♯ and the high F. They are marked with a colored dot. The German fingering for F is simpler (you cover only the thumb and holes 1 to 4), while Baroque, also called English, is the most widely used today. To find out which one your recorder is, check whether the maker says so; if not, play F with the Baroque fingering: if it sounds out of tune, your recorder is probably German.
Which octave is each note?
The soprano recorder sounds an octave higher than it is written. That is why the lowest note is written as C4 (middle C) and sounds as C5. This page shows the names of the written note, the one you read on the sheet music, and below it tells you how it sounds. The staff carries a small 8 above the treble clef as a reminder.
Where to start
Most beginners start with B, A and G: thumb and finger 1 give B; add finger 2 for A; add finger 3 for G. With these three notes you can already play your first songs. High C (thumb and finger 2) and high D come next, and later the low E, D and C, which cover almost every hole.
The two most common mistakes
- Blowing too hard: notes come out shrill and out of tune. Your breath should be gentle and steady, and a little stronger on the high notes.
- Not sealing the holes: if there is a gap under your finger, the note sounds airy or does not sound at all. Cover with the soft pad of the finger, not the tip.
The high notes, from the E in the second octave of the chart, use the thumb half covered (pinched). That is the hardest part at first: practice them after the low notes feel solid.
Common questions
How many holes does a recorder have?
Eight: seven on the front and one on the back, for the thumb. The last two holes of the right hand (6 and 7) are double holes.
What is the difference between Baroque and German fingering?
They agree on most notes. In this chart four differ: F, F♯, G♯ and the high F. Use the chart that matches your recorder.
How do I know if my recorder is Baroque or German?
Sometimes the maker says so on the recorder or the box. If not, play F with the Baroque fingering: if it sounds out of tune, it is probably German, and the German fingering will sound right.
What are the lowest and highest notes in this chart?
The lowest is C, with every hole covered. The highest is D in octave 6, just two semitones above the C of that octave. The names are those of the written note: they sound an octave higher.
Why does my note sound shrill or not sound at all?
Almost always you are blowing too hard or leaving a small gap under a finger. Blow gently and check that every hole is sealed with the pad of the finger.
Are C♯ and D♭ fingered the same?
In this chart they are: there is one fingering per note, and C♯ and D♭ share it. The same goes for the other sharps and flats.
Does it work for an alto recorder?
The fingers are the same, but the note that sounds changes: with every hole covered, an alto recorder sounds F instead of C. This chart is made for the soprano.
Can I print the chart?
Yes. The “Print chart” button prepares the full chart for the system you chose so that it fits on one page.
Learn the notes with exercises
This page is just the chart. Mi Flauta Dulce teaches each note with exercises, a tuner and a library of songs. The web version is open now and works in your browser; the mobile app is coming soon to Google Play and the App Store, with no date yet.