Recorder Hero
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How to play top C on the recorder
The fingering for top C on a soprano (descant) recorder, with baroque fingering: Thumb pinched (half open), the left pointer finger on hole 1, holes 2 and 3 open, and the right pointer and middle fingers on holes 4 and 5.
Very high notes can need a slightly different fingering from one recorder to another: if it sounds out of tune, check the chart that came with your recorder.
⭐ This high note isn't in the free Recorder Hero lessons: it's in the premium lesson High notes. See the song pack ›
Thumb hole half covered (pinched), holes 1 4 5 covered
How to play it
- Top C is high B with one finger lifted: from high B, lift your left middle finger off hole 2.
- It's one of the hardest notes on the recorder: start with short notes, tongued with a crisp "t", and a fast, steady stream of air.
Why it squeaks or sounds wrong
- If you hear high B, hole 2 is still covered.
- If nothing sounds or it cracks, the thumb gap is too wide or a hole is leaking: seal holes 1, 4 and 5 completely.
Free, in your browser: it listens as you play and shows which finger to fix.
Other recorder notes
low C · low C# · low D · low E♭ · low E · F · F# · G · G# · A · B♭ · B · high C · high C# · high D · high E♭ · high E · high F · high F# · high G · high G# · high A · high B♭ · high B · top D