Piper's SongbookSoprano recorder fingering chart
This chart shows the fingering for every note on a soprano (descant) recorder, from low C to very high D. Filled circles are covered holes, open circles are open holes, and a half-filled circle is half covered: on the thumb hole that means a pinch. Where German fingering is different, both diagrams are shown. Tap any note for a full explanation.
Hole 0 is the thumb hole on the back, covered by your left thumb. Holes 1 to 3 are covered by your left index, middle and ring fingers. Holes 4 to 7 are covered by your right index, middle, ring and little fingers. Holes 6 and 7 are double holes, drawn as a large and a small circle. Your left hand always goes at the top.
Start with these five notes
Most beginners learn B, A, G, high C and high D first. They only need the left hand, and they are enough for Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb and the Jingle Bells chorus.
All notes
Baroque or German recorder?
Most school and plastic recorders sold today use Baroque (also called English) fingering. German fingering makes low F easier but puts several other notes out of tune, which is why it has become rare. To check yours, look at the front holes: on a Baroque recorder hole 4 is smaller than hole 5. On a German recorder hole 5 is the smaller one. Many recorders also have a B or G printed near the bottom.
The two systems differ only for F, F♯, B♭, high F, high F♯, high G♯ and very high C♯.
Low notes and high notes
Low notes need slow, gentle air and holes sealed with the soft pads of your fingers; most squeaks on low D and low C come from a hole that is not quite covered. From high E upward the thumb pinches the back hole, leaving a small gap at the top, and the air needs to be a little faster.
Fingerings follow the Dolmetsch, American Recorder Society and Yamaha charts, which agree for every note shown here. Makers sometimes recommend alternatives for the highest notes, so check the chart that came with your recorder too.