Alto Recorder Fingering Chart

This is the finger chart for the alto recorder in F. Explore this widget that offers a fingering chart for an alto recorder in F. To use this widget, simply click on any of the notes with your mouse or trackpad; alternatively, try using your computer keyboard for some extra tactility. Not only it will play the note back for you but also demonstrate precisely which holes to cover for each pitch. This allows for a immediate connection between finger placement and audio result.

To get started select notes from the array of buttons on the left-hand side of the interface. The button are each a note from chromatic scale between low F and high F. If you click on one it will highlight that note and sound out associated note. Alternatively, you can move around the notes with the Tab key on your keyboard and then hit Space or Enter to sound out selected note. This means you don’t have to aim exactly at a note which is useful when selecting individual notes.

How to Use the Alto Recorder Fingering Chart

This visual diagram (on the right), shows an example of a simple recorder model, which has eight hole positions. Holes one to seven is along vertical line at front of instrument and thumb hole is positioned on the left. If there is a filled circle in the position then it’s a hole that needs to be covered fully. If it’s an open circle then it remains un-covered. If there is a half-filled circle, it means you should only cover part of the hole with your finger. This allows some air to pass through. The play note button underneath diagram will allow you to hear selected note again if you want to try and get used to that change. This helps you listen out more carefuly for the intonation of the note.

There is also a volume slider which you can set based off where you are. Dragging it right makes it louder and dragging it left softer. To play through the full chromatic scale from beginning to end, press Play all. The button will then step through each of the notes and play them in turn in time with each other. It’s useful if you wish to show someone what your instrument can do or simply test it out over its complete range. To return it to play mode instead, simply hit the button again.

You can expand the how to play button that opens up a helpful panel on exactly how to read the diagram of holes, what fingers to use etc, and it even gives a full description of the baroque fingering system applied in this case. If you’re not sure where certain fingers should go then leave this panel open as you explore. The Fullscreen button (click it) will expand the widget for clearer viewing on small screens. Surrounding page items is removed, and the fingering details become easier to read in a larger viewing area. Especially good for using the chart on your tablet with limited screen real estate or even projected for performance.

Also note any sharp/flat keys. These feel less natural than simply adding or removing a finger as you go so you will need to use a different fingering. For instance, B flat means playing some holes closed whilst leaving others open (the opposite of what you might expect). Slow practice on these particular combinations would of trained your muscles to where they should be when playing chromatic sections.

The alto recorder sounds at concert pitch but sits lower than the soprano recorder. From this point, this widget focus on the first octave to give you a solid foundation for basic technique. Once you have mastered the fingering it will form the basis for working up through other keys with scales and melodies. Tinker around with note selection, and get a feel for how slight alterations to fingerings can alter tone. Play along to something you know, moving from note to note yourself instead of relying on the auto-play function. It will help you learn by connecting visual prompts to the creation of music. Have fun discovering this unique instrument’s voice as it suits you.