Piper's SongbookHow to play high E♭ on recorder
Leave the thumb hole open. Cover holes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Leave holes 1 and 7 open.
high E♭ is written in the top space, with a flat. It is also called high D♯. 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 | open |
| Hole 1 | left index finger | open |
| 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 | covered |
| Hole 7 | right little finger | open |
Tips for a clean high E♭
High E♭ is an unusual fingering: thumb off, hole 1 open, holes 2 to 6 covered. Check it against a chart for your own recorder, since makers differ on the high notes.
This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.
Songs that use high E♭
Half step down: high D · Half step up: high E · Full fingering chart