Piper's SongbookHow to play high B on recorder
Pinch the thumb hole, leaving a narrow crack. Cover holes 1, 2, 4 and 5. Leave holes 3, 6 and 7 open.
high B is written just above the first ledger line. It is also called B′. The fingering shown is for a soprano (descant) recorder with Baroque fingering.
Which finger goes where
| Hole | Finger | For high B |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | covered |
| Hole 5 | right middle finger | covered |
| Hole 6 | right ring finger | open |
| Hole 7 | right little finger | open |
Tips for a clean high B
With the thumb pinched, cover holes 1, 2, 4 and 5. Very high notes vary between makers, so compare this with the chart that came with your recorder.
This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.
Songs that use high B
Half step down: high B♭ · Half step up: very high C · Full fingering chart