Recorder Fingering Chart for Soprano and Alto Recorder

About the Recorder Fingering Chart

A recorder fingering chart shows which holes to cover for each note, and this free tool gives you one right in your web browser. Pick a written note and you see a fingering diagram, the note on a treble staff, its name, its sounding pitch, and a plain-English list of the holes to cover. It covers the soprano (descant) and alto recorder, with English Baroque fingering as the default and German fingering as an option. Each size has 27 written notes, from the lowest note up to D6 on soprano and G6 on alto. You can also play the sounding pitch to hear the note. The tool shows one standard fingering for each note. It does not listen to your playing.

How to use the Recorder fingering chart

Open the Recorder size select and choose “Soprano (descant) in C” or “Alto (treble) in F”.
Open the Fingering system select. “Baroque (English) fingering” is the default. Choose “German fingering” if your music or teacher uses it.
Click a note button under its octave heading, such as “Octave 4”. The octave number refers to the written note. Black-key notes show two spellings, such as C♯4 and D♭4.
Read the diagram and the “Keys and holes” list. Filled circles are covered, and empty circles are open.
If “Fingering options” appears, select an alternate to see a different fingering for that note.
Tick “Play the note when I pick it” to hear each note as you choose it. Or press “Play the sounding pitch” to hear the concert pitch for 1.3 seconds.
Press “Lower note” or “Higher note” to move through the range.

The arrow keys also move the selection: Right and Up go higher, Left and Down go lower, and Home and End jump to the ends of the range. “Print the full chart” opens your print dialog and prints the whole range as small diagrams on about one page. The page address updates as you click, so you can bookmark or share the exact note, size and system you are viewing.

Soprano vs alto recorder fingering: what changes?#

The soprano and alto recorders use the same finger pattern for each note. Only the note names and the octave of the sound change.

The soprano (descant) recorder is a C instrument. Its music is usually written an octave below the sound, so written C4 sounds C5 and written D6 sounds D7. The alto (treble) recorder is an F instrument. Its music is usually written at sounding pitch, so written F4 sounds F4. Some publishers write alto music an octave lower, and the tool notes this when it applies. The tenor recorder uses the soprano pattern, so it is not a separate option here.

How to read a recorder fingering chart#

A fingering is written as a short code that you read from left to right. The first symbol is the thumb, T or t, then a bar (|) separates the left-hand holes from the rest. The three digits before the bar are holes 1, 2 and 3. The four symbols after the bar are holes 4, 5, 6 and 7.

A digit means that hole is covered, and a dash means it is open. T means the thumb hole is covered, and a lowercase t means it is half open. “6½” or “7½” means you cover only the outer small hole of that double hole.

For example, G4 is written T 123|—-. The thumb hole and holes 1, 2 and 3 are covered, and holes 4 to 7 are open. C4 is T 123|4567, with every hole covered, which makes it the lowest note of the soprano. In the diagram, the thumb hole sits on the back, so it is drawn as a dashed circle on the left.

What is the pinch on a recorder?#

The pinch is a half-open thumb hole, shown as a lowercase t and a half-filled circle. On the soprano you use it from written E5 upward. For the highest notes, use a smaller opening, as the page advises. Each note’s diagram shows the exact setting you need.

German vs Baroque fingering: what is the difference?#

The two systems give the same fingering for almost every note. They differ mainly on F and F♯ (on the soprano: F4, F♯4, F5 and F♯5), and The Woodwind Fingering Guide also lists a different G♯4.

For example, lower F4 is T 123|4— in German fingering, with holes 5, 6 and 7 open, while Baroque F4 is T 123|4-67, with hole 5 open and holes 6 and 7 covered. Because every other note is the same, choose German fingering only when your music or teacher asks for it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the recorder fingering chart free, and does it need an account?

Yes, it is free and needs no sign-up. Nothing you enter is uploaded, so you can use it without creating an account.

Can I use it on a phone?

Yes. It runs in the browser on a phone. On a 375 px screen, the note rows scroll sideways inside their own row, but the page itself does not scroll sideways.

Which notes does it cover?

It covers the 27 written notes for each of the soprano (C4 to D6) and alto (F4 to G6) recorders. It does not cover the sopranino, bass or great bass, notes above D6 or G6, altissimo notes, trills or quarter tones.

Does the chart check whether I am playing the note correctly?

No. It shows one standard fingering for each note, plus any listed alternates. Your breath pressure and the make of your recorder affect tuning, so use your ear or a tuner as well.

What do the fingering options do?

Some notes have alternate fingerings. When a note has them, the “Fingering options” buttons appear, and selecting one changes the diagram and the key list. A sentence under “Keys and holes” explains when to use the alternate.

Does the sound match my recorder?

No. The sound is a synthesised tone at the sounding pitch, not a recording of an instrument. It is useful for checking the pitch you should aim for.

Can I bookmark a note or share it?

Yes. The page address updates with the note, recorder size, alternate and fingering system you choose. Open that address later or send it to someone to show the same setting.