Alto recorder fingering chart
The alto recorder’s lowest note is F4, played with the thumb hole and all seven front holes closed. This chart covers F4–F6 in the Baroque system.
Fingering chart
An alto recorder starts at F4: close the thumb hole and all seven front holes to play this lowest note.
| Written note | Finger position |
|---|---|
| F4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| F♯4/G♭4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Partly open: 7 |
| G4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| G♯4/A♭4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Partly open: 6 |
| A4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| A♯4/B♭4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 |
| B4 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 |
| C5 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 3 |
| C♯5/D♭5 | Cover: 0, 1, 2, 4, 5; Partly open: 6 |
| D5 | Cover: 0, 1, 2 |
| D♯5/E♭5 | Cover: 0, 1, 3, 4 |
| E5 | Cover: 0, 1 |
| F5 | Cover: 0, 2 |
| F♯5/G♭5 | Cover: 1, 2 |
| G5 | Cover: 2 |
| G♯5/A♭5 | Cover: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| A5 | Cover: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Partly open: 0 |
| A♯5/B♭5 | Cover: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6; Partly open: 0 |
| B5 | Cover: 1, 2, 3, 5; Partly open: 0 |
| C6 | Cover: 1, 2, 3; Partly open: 0 |
| C♯6/D♭6 | Cover: 1, 2, 4; Partly open: 0 |
| D6 | Cover: 1, 2; Partly open: 0 |
| D♯6/E♭6 | Cover: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6; Partly open: 0 |
| E6 | Cover: 1, 2, 4, 5; Partly open: 0 |
| F6 | Cover: 1, 4, 5; Partly open: 0 |
How to use it
- Check the selected instrument and fingering system; this page opens with the combination named in the title.
- Choose a staff note, list entry or keyboard key. Filled circles show covered holes or pressed keys.
- Use Hear the note to compare pitches; the microphone switches off before playback to avoid feedback.
- Enable the microphone, allow access and play a single note without accompaniment. Let the reading settle.
- Match the A reference to your lesson or ensemble, then use Print / PDF to save the selected chart.
Help and explanations
Alto recorder is also called treble recorder in British usage. Its familiar-looking holes do not produce the same note names as a soprano recorder: all holes closed gives F, rather than C. Read the selected staff note instead of transferring a soprano fingering’s name by habit.
An F recorder is still read at concert pitch
The description “in F” identifies the instrument’s lowest note; ordinary alto-recorder notation is at sounding pitch. You do not need the transposition used for an F horn. Covering 0, 1, 2 and 3 gives C5, where a soprano player might expect G. Practise a short F–G–A sequence to establish the new relationship between finger patterns and note names.
The lower B♭ uses a forked pattern, with hole 5 open while holes below it close. Read those lower holes individually rather than peeling fingers off in a row. High notes may require a small thumb opening, whose size affects response. If a note fails, inspect the seals and the thumb vent before increasing breath pressure. The table gives basic fingerings, not every alternate choice for fast passages.
Tips
- Keep a printed alto chart separate from a soprano chart in your music folder.
- Start with low F, then build a small group of notes you can name confidently.
- Cover larger holes comfortably with finger pads; avoid gripping the recorder.
Frequently asked questions
Is alto recorder the same as treble recorder?
Yes, those names commonly describe the F alto recorder. This page is for that instrument.
What note sounds when all the alto recorder holes are closed?
F4, the lowest note in this chart. It is not the soprano recorder’s low C.
Do I transpose music for an alto recorder in F?
Ordinary alto-recorder parts are written at concert pitch. The F label alone does not call for a transposed tuner setting.
How do I play low B♭ on alto recorder?
Close 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, leaving hole 5 open. Check the forked pattern in the diagram.
How high does this alto recorder chart go?
It reaches F6. Higher extensions and specialised alternate fingerings are outside the supplied table.