Oboe · treble clef
Oboe Fingering Chart
Every note on the oboe, from low B♭ to high F♯, with the three F fingerings and the half-hole notes. Tap a note to see it larger and hear it.
Oboe is a concert-pitch instrument: it sounds the note that is written.
Low register
Hold down the low C key with the right pinky as well as the low B♭ key. Some student oboes stop at low B and have no B♭ key.
Hold down the low C key with the right pinky as well as the low B key.
Cover every hole fully; small leaks make low notes crack.
Use the left E♭ key when the right pinky is busy on low C or C♯.
Regular F: the right ring finger presses the F key instead of covering its hole. Next to notes that use the right ring finger (low D, E♭, C, C♯), use forked F, or left F if your oboe has that key.
Second octave
Slide or roll the left index finger to open the half-hole; no octave key.
Half-hole, no octave key; same fingers as low D.
Half-hole, no octave key.
Close the half-hole and press the thumb octave key.
Same F choices as low F, plus the thumb octave key.
Switch from the thumb octave key to the side octave key, pressed with the side of the left index finger.
Top notes
Lift the left index finger completely; no octave key.
Half-hole open, no octave key, right pinky on low C.
Half-hole open with the left pinky on the low B key.
Thumb octave key plus half-hole; G♯ key with the left pinky, E♭ with the right.
Like high E but lift the left ring finger.
Index finger fully closed (no half-hole); like F with the left ring finger lifted, plus the thumb octave key.
Printable chart
How to read this chart
Filled keys are pressed. A half-filled first finger means the half-hole: roll the finger so the small hole at the top of the plate is open.
The thumb octave key (8va) and the side octave key (Side) are drawn at the upper left. Press the side octave key with the side of the left first finger.
The left pinky keys are at the lower left of the top half. The right pinky keys are at the bottom.
Which notes come first
Beginners usually start with A, G and F in the staff, then work down to low D and up through the half-hole notes.
Next: Oboe scales