Piper's SongbookHow to play very high C on recorder
Pinch the thumb hole, leaving a narrow crack. Cover holes 1, 4 and 5. Leave holes 2, 3, 6 and 7 open.
very high C is written on the second ledger line above the staff. It is also called C″. The fingering shown is for a soprano (descant) recorder with Baroque fingering.
Which finger goes where
| Hole | Finger | For very high C |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb hole (back) | left thumb | pinched |
| Hole 1 | left index finger | covered |
| Hole 2 | left middle finger | open |
| 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 very high C
One of the highest notes on a soprano recorder. Pinch the thumb, cover holes 1, 4 and 5, and blow firmly. Many recorders sound this note only with practice.
This fingering is the same on Baroque and German recorders.
Songs that use very high C
Half step down: high B · Half step up: very high C♯ · Full fingering chart