Recorder Notes for Beginners
These are the first recorder notes to learn, in the order most beginners play them: B, A and G with the left hand, then high C and D, then the low notes. Each note shows where it sits on the staff and which holes to cover, and the easy songs below only use notes you have already learned.
The first recorder notes
Black means covered. The hole on the left of each picture is the thumb hole on the back. Fingerings are for a soprano recorder with baroque (English) fingering; where a German recorder differs, the card says so.
Step 1: B, A and G (left hand)
Left hand only, with the thumb covering the hole on the back. Add one finger at a time.
Thumb and hole 1
Thumb and first finger. Blow gently, as if saying "doo".
Thumb and holes 1-2
Add the second finger. Keep the right hand resting on your leg or the recorder.
Thumb and holes 1-2-3
Add the third finger. Cover the holes with the pads of your fingers, not the tips.
Step 2: high C and high D
Two notes above B. They use fewer fingers, but the thumb rule changes for high D.
Thumb and hole 2
Thumb and second finger only. It feels strange at first: lift the first finger.
Hole 2
Second finger only, thumb off. Use a little more air than for C.
Step 3: the right hand
Now add the right hand below the left. Low notes need the softest, slowest air.
Thumb and holes 1-2-3-4-5
All of the left hand plus the first two right-hand fingers.
Thumb and holes 1-2-3-4-5-6
Add the right ring finger. Check every hole is sealed if it squeaks.
Thumb and holes 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
Every hole covered, including both small holes at the bottom. Very gentle air.
Step 4: F♯, F and B♭
Notes with a gap in the fingers ("forked" fingerings). F depends on which recorder you have.
Thumb and holes 1-2-3-5-6
Left hand down, then the right second and third fingers, leaving the right first finger up.
German fingering: thumb and holes 1-2-3-5-6-7
Thumb and holes 1-2-3-4-6-7
Baroque recorders: a forked fingering. German recorders: just the right first finger. Check which one your recorder is.
German fingering: thumb and holes 1-2-3-4
Thumb and holes 1-3-4
Thumb, first finger, and the third finger of the left hand plus the right first finger.
Easy recorder songs
Each song only uses notes from the steps above. A dash means hold the note for one more beat, and a bar line groups the beats. Tap Play to hear the tune at soprano recorder pitch, then play along.
Hot Cross Buns
BAG –BAG –GGGGAAAABAG –
Notes: B, A, G
Au Clair de la Lune
GGGAB –A –GBAAG – – –
Notes: B, A, G
Mary Had a Little Lamb
BAGABBB –AAA –BDD –BAGABBBBAABAG – – –
Notes: B, A, G, high D
Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
BBCDDCBAGGABB –AABBCDDCBAGGABA –GG
Notes: G, A, B, high C, high D
Lightly Row
DBB –CAA –GABCDDD –DBBBCAAAGBDDG – – –
Notes: G, A, B, high C, high D
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
CCGGAAG –FFEEDDC –GGFFEED –GGFFEED –CCGGAAG –FFEEDDC –
Notes: low C, D, E, F, G, A
Tips for good recorder notes
- Gentle air. The recorder needs far less breath than you think. Too much makes notes sharp and squeaky.
- Tongue each note with a soft "doo" so notes start cleanly instead of with a puff.
- Seal the holes with the flat pads of your fingers. A tiny gap is the most common cause of squeaks, especially on low notes.
- Keep fingers close to the holes when they are up, so they are ready for the next note.
When these notes feel easy, the full recorder fingering chart has every note up to high C, for soprano, alto and tenor, and the recorder tuner shows whether your notes are in tune.
Recorder notes FAQ
What are the first notes to learn on recorder?
B, A and G, using only the left hand. They are the notes most school recorder books start with, and you can play Hot Cross Buns and Au Clair de la Lune with just those three.
Which hand goes on top on a recorder?
The left hand goes on top, nearer the mouthpiece, with the left thumb on the hole at the back. The right hand goes below it. This is the same on every recorder, whether you are left- or right-handed.
Why does my recorder squeak?
Usually a hole isn’t fully covered or you are blowing too hard. Use the soft pads of your fingers, press gently but completely, and blow as if you were whispering "doo". Low notes need the gentlest air.
Is my recorder baroque or German?
Look at holes 4 and 5 (the first two holes of the right hand). On a baroque (English) recorder, hole 4 is smaller than hole 5. On a German recorder, hole 5 is smaller. The fingering for F is different between them.
Are these songs written for soprano recorder?
Yes. The note names are for soprano (descant) recorder, the usual school recorder, which sounds an octave higher than written. Tenor recorder uses the same fingerings an octave lower.