Piper's SongbookHow to play high E on recorder
Pinch the thumb hole, leaving a narrow crack. Cover holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Leave holes 6 and 7 open.
high E is written in the top space of the staff. It is also called E′. The fingering shown is for a soprano (descant) recorder with Baroque fingering.
Which finger goes where
| Hole | Finger | For high E |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb hole (back) | left thumb | pinched |
| Hole 1 | left index finger | covered |
| Hole 2 | left middle finger | covered |
| Hole 3 | left ring finger | covered |
| 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 E
High E is the first note with a thumb pinch. Bend the thumb so its nail opens a small gap at the top of the back hole, then cover holes 1 to 5. Blow a little faster than for D.
This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.
Songs that use high E
Oh! Susanna6 notes: B, A, G, C′, D′, E′Swan Lake6 notes: B, G, D′, E′, C♯′, F♯′Angels We Have Heard on High7 notes: B, A, G, C′, D′, D, E′Auld Lang Syne7 notes: B, A, G, D′, E, D, E′Frère Jacques7 notes: B, A, G, C′, D′, D, E′God Save the King7 notes: B, A, G, C′, D′, F♯, E′Sakura Sakura7 notes: B, G, C′, F♯, E′, G′, F♯′See, the Conquering Hero Comes7 notes: B, A, G, C′, D′, E′, G′
Learned before it: low D · Next note to learn: high G · Half step down: high E♭ · Half step up: high F · Full fingering chart