Recorder Hero
Made by Head Arcade ›Recorder Hero › Fingering chart › top D
How to play top D on the recorder
The fingering for top D on a soprano (descant) recorder, with baroque fingering: Thumb pinched (half open), the left pointer and ring fingers on holes 1 and 3, the right pointer finger on hole 4, and the right ring finger on hole 6. Holes 2, 5 and 7 are open.
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 3 4 6 covered
How to play it
- Top D is the highest note in the usual range of a soprano (descant) recorder: two octaves above low D.
- From top C, put your left ring finger on hole 3, lift your right middle finger off hole 5 and put your right ring finger on hole 6. Use your fastest, steadiest air, and don't worry if it takes many tries.
Why it squeaks or sounds wrong
- If nothing sounds or it cracks, check that holes 1, 3, 4 and 6 are completely sealed: one small leak stops it.
- If you hear a lower note, the thumb gap is too small or the air too slow.
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 C