Ever needed a recorder fingering chart because you lost the one that came with your recorder?
My six-year-old daughter has been asking to learn to play the recorder this week, so we pulled out my husband's old recorder, dusted it off, and let her practice on it. But when I checked online to find a good fingering chart to print off for her, I only found ones that were either interactive (i.e. not printable), too simple (only the natural notes), too complicated (multiple fingerings for each note), or too many pages.
So, as I've often done before, I decided to make my own.
Some Caveats About the Chart
The chart I designed does not include every fingering possible for each pitch; nor does it include all the notes that can be played on a standard recorder (it covers only the octave and a half from middle C up), but it's all my daughter will need for now.
Additionally, the fingerings I chose may not necessarily be "official" since I used the fingerings that would work best for her little fingers and still produce a good pitch. But if you know me, I like to buck the system a bit, so if the fingering works, why not use it. Right?
Download
You're welcome to downoad the free PDF Recorder Fingering Chart here for your personal use. You can also click on the image below to view the JPG full size and print from that, but you'll get a better-quality print with the PDF.
Your talents never cease. What a gift you are to your children. Awesome.
Thanks for the chart. I was just having the same problem. I couldn't find an easy to understand printable chart. This is perfect.
Thank you!! Leave to a great mom — not only to make her own, but to share it with others!! Exactly what we needed :o)
thank you so much for this. My oldest whated to learn to play and had even picked up some songs by ear. I, like you, was looking all over the place for an easy to read chart. Your's was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a bunch
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Thanks! I was having the same problem until I found your website!
Hi. This is fantastic. I was having the same problem. I have to teach a class of varying adult ages students the recorder. I need to keep it simple, as they are all at different levels. This is exactly what I need. Thank you so much.
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Thanks. Playing the woodwinds for more than 30+ years, I was kind of lazy to learn new fingerings for another instrument. Glad I finally learned. Now I can play the recorder parts to 'Stairway To Heaven." I mean, come on' doesn't anyone who plays recorder yearn to play the parts to that great song? Well, I have, for the past 20 years.
I found your chart very helpful. I needed a printable chart as well and could not found one until I found this site!
I just found my recorder from 40 years ago to play at a 'pick up' Christmas concert orchestra this week. Your fingering chart saved the day for me….couldn't quite remember all of the fingering and the chart is perfect. Thank you!!!
@Jeanne Landin, So glad it came in handy for you!
Thank you so much for the easy-to-read fingering chart! Just what I needed, and could not find anywhere else.
Yes…thankyou…I also searched high & low & found lots of interactive ones, but wanted a printable one for easy access to my daughter if she needed a hint to where to put her fingers. The recorder came with one but dont know where it is!!! Thanks again
Thank you for the chart. I got a recorder recently but did not get a chart.
Thanks again,
Ken
thanks!
With everyone else, Mom, the kids and I say, Thanks! Even after a year, yours is STILL the only printable fingering chart available on all the billions of pages out there… thanks for taking the time to do this! And I especially like the right hand/left hand color scheme touch too! Ad rem! (ha!)
Thank you so much for this! I was having the same problem finding a printable chart for a boy at the family homeless shelter I work at. He was very bravely throwing himself into the instrument but I don't know if our ears could have handled it much longer! He was very excited when I gave him the chart along with a few simple songs to start out on. I can hardly wait to see where he takes it. Thank you again for the effort you put into this and for sharing it with the world 🙂
Thanks! I just started teaching Art/Music and the 5th grade includes teaching recorders, which I pretty much haven't done since grade school! The chart I have for them is pretty basic, so this will be great if they get it quickly.
Super my 6yr old is learning recorders at school & since i have not played since i was about 10 i thought i best brush up on my know how lol we will both has sooooo much fun learning to play recorders together xxx Many thanks for your upload, Pinky xx
Thank you so much! This is the perfect child/mom friendly version I was hoping for! 🙂
I've scanned the comments for this but no one has noticed that you have inadvertently flipped the fingerings for low F and high F … we DO use the pinky for low F, but not with high F. It's such a beautiful chart – I thought you'd like to correct it.
many thanks Joy – Rob in Thunder Bay ON
@Rob, Thanks for pointing that out! I've corrected the chart and reposted it in place of the old one.
I love your recorder fingering chart. I'm teaching a song to my Grade 8 band class that has recorder and I'm printing it off for them.
How did you make the fingering? I often want to show fingerings for various instruments and I'm stuck doing them by hand even though we have Sibelius software.
Dave
@David McPherson, I used Adobe Illustrator to design the chart. I had to lay out the staff and notes by hand which wasn't terribly fun, but it got the job done.
This is so great! You saved me just in time for the concert is next week! Now i can practice!:)))))))))))))))))
Waht a relief to find your generous site! We've been frustratedly surfing for 40 minutes…….THANK YOU!
thanks a lot friend…it was a great relief finding the chart…
Great chart, but how old is your husband's 'old' recorder? Fingering patterns appear to be changing. I recognise your pattern from my own school days, but the Yamaha I recently bought (in Brazil) has a different pattern. I assume Yamaha does not produce variations of recorder for different countries, but, for instance, F is all the left-hand, but only the first finger of the right-hand. this seems strange, but maybe is a modern simplification. What do you think?
OK, just discovered mine has GERMAN fingering. OK that explains that. Might be useful info for other ex-pats looking for finger charts.
Sorry about the confusion.
I feel I've found GOLD and cant thank you enough. I couldn't find a site that came anywhere near what I needed. Wont let you go now and best of luck with all you do. Marie
Thanks for the chart. I just printed it out and tried the notes. It's very helpful.
thanks my 7 year old wants to give it a try, I believe this will be the perfect chart to use.
Wonderful! I am 28 and have always messed around with a recorder and never knew what a complex musical instrument it can be. I played Clarinet for five years and this chart is such a help in transitioning to playing colonial music. Thank you for your time with this!
Thank you so much for this fantastic resource. I've been teaching elementary general music for several years, and your chart is the clearest and most visually appealing of those I've encountered. My students will really appreciate it!