Piper's SongbookHow to play low E on recorder
Cover the thumb hole. Cover holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Leave holes 6 and 7 open.
low E is written on the bottom line 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 low E |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb hole (back) | left thumb | covered |
| 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 low E
Cover the thumb hole and holes 1 to 5, and leave the two double holes open. Blow gently and keep your right-hand fingers flat so the pads seal the holes.
This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.
Songs that use low E
Old MacDonald Had a Farm5 notes: B, A, G, E, DAmazing Grace6 notes: B, A, G, D′, E, DAu Clair de la Lune6 notes: B, A, G, F♯, E, DJolly Old Saint Nicholas6 notes: B, A, G, F♯, E, DLondon Bridge Is Falling Down6 notes: B, A, G, F♯, E, DPop Goes the Weasel6 notes: B, A, G, F♯, E, DRow, Row, Row Your Boat6 notes: A, G, D′, F♯, E, DSwing Low, Sweet Chariot6 notes: B, A, G, D′, E, D
Learned before it: F♯ · Next note to learn: low D · Half step down: low E♭ · Half step up: F · Full fingering chart