How to play high A on recorder

Pinch the thumb hole, leaving a narrow crack. Cover holes 1 and 2. Leave holes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 open.

high A is written on the first ledger line above the staff. It is also called A′. The fingering shown is for a soprano (descant) recorder with Baroque fingering.

Which finger goes where

Hole	Finger	For high A
Thumb hole (back)	left thumb	pinched
Hole 1	left index finger	covered
Hole 2	left middle finger	covered
Hole 3	left ring finger	open
Hole 4	right index finger	open
Hole 5	right middle finger	open
Hole 6	right ring finger	open
Hole 7	right little finger	open

Tips for a clean high A

With the thumb pinched, cover holes 1 and 2, like low A. It needs firm, fast air.

This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.

Songs that use high A

Danny Boy12 notes: B, A, G, C′, D′, F♯, E, E′, G′, F♯′, A′, B′Pachelbel's Canon12 notes: A, G, C′, D′, D, E′, G′, F, B♭, F′, A′, C″Rondeau from Abdelazer12 notes: A, C′, D′, D, E′, G′, C♯′, F, B♭, F′, A′, B♭′Wedding March12 notes: G, C′, D′, E, E′, G′, F♯′, F′, A′, C, B′, C″

Learned before it: high F · Next note to learn: high B♭ · Half step down: high G♯ · Half step up: high B♭ · Full fingering chart