Piper's SongbookHow to play high B♭ on recorder
Pinch the thumb hole, leaving a narrow crack. Cover holes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Leave holes 3 and 7 open.
high B♭ is written just above the first ledger line, with a flat. It is also called high A♯. 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 | covered |
| Hole 7 | right little finger | open |
Tips for a clean high B♭
With the thumb pinched, cover holes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Purcell's Rondeau reaches up to this note.
This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.
Songs that use high B♭
Learned before it: high A · Next note to learn: low C · Half step down: high A · Half step up: high B · Full fingering chart