Recorder · treble clef
Recorder Scales
All 12 major scales for recorder, one octave each, with the fingering for every note. Tap a note to see it larger, or play the whole scale.
C major
Cover every hole completely and blow very gently.
Like low C with the pinky lifted.
Fork fingering: lift only the right middle finger.
F major
Fork fingering: lift only the right middle finger.
Skip the left middle finger.
Thumb off; only the left middle finger stays down.
Pinch the thumb: bend it so a small gap opens at the top of the thumb hole.
Like low F with the thumb pinched and the pinky up: right middle finger up, right ring finger down.
B♭ major
Skip the left middle finger.
Thumb off; only the left middle finger stays down.
Thumb and left first finger off; the other fingers stay down, but keep the right pinky up.
Like low F with the thumb pinched and the pinky up: right middle finger up, right ring finger down.
Same as low G with the thumb pinched; blow a little faster.
Same as A with the thumb pinched; keep the thumb gap small.
E♭ major
Cover only the larger of the two holes under the right ring finger.
Fork fingering: lift only the right middle finger.
Left ring finger up; the right ring finger covers only the larger of its two holes.
Skip the left middle finger.
Thumb off; only the left middle finger stays down.
Thumb and left first finger off; the other fingers stay down, but keep the right pinky up.
A♭ major
Left ring finger up; the right ring finger covers only the larger of its two holes.
Skip the left middle finger.
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
Thumb and left first finger off; the other fingers stay down, but keep the right pinky up.
Like low F with the thumb pinched and the pinky up: right middle finger up, right ring finger down.
Same as low G with the thumb pinched; blow a little faster.
D♭ major
Cover only the larger of the two bottom holes.
Cover only the larger of the two holes under the right ring finger.
Fork fingering: lift only the right middle finger.
Like D with the right first finger lifted.
Left ring finger up; the right ring finger covers only the larger of its two holes.
Skip the left middle finger.
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
G♭ major
Like D with the right first finger lifted.
Left ring finger up; the right ring finger covers only the larger of its two holes.
Skip the left middle finger.
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
Thumb and left first finger off; the other fingers stay down, but keep the right pinky up.
Like low F with the thumb pinched and the pinky up: right middle finger up, right ring finger down.
Pinched thumb; only the right middle finger stays down.
B major
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
Thumb and left first finger off; the other fingers stay down, but keep the right pinky up.
Pinch the thumb: bend it so a small gap opens at the top of the thumb hole.
Pinched thumb; only the right middle finger stays down.
E major
Like D with the right first finger lifted.
Left ring finger up; the right ring finger covers only the larger of its two holes.
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
Thumb and left first finger off; the other fingers stay down, but keep the right pinky up.
Pinch the thumb: bend it so a small gap opens at the top of the thumb hole.
A major
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
Thumb off; only the left middle finger stays down.
Pinch the thumb: bend it so a small gap opens at the top of the thumb hole.
Pinched thumb; only the right middle finger stays down.
Same as A with the thumb pinched; keep the thumb gap small.
D major
Like low C with the pinky lifted.
Like D with the right first finger lifted.
Thumb off; first two fingers down.
Thumb off; only the left middle finger stays down.
G major
Thumb off; only the left middle finger stays down.
Pinch the thumb: bend it so a small gap opens at the top of the thumb hole.
Pinched thumb; only the right middle finger stays down.
Same as low G with the thumb pinched; blow a little faster.
About these scales
Each scale is shown in the octave that sits most comfortably on the instrument.
For the full range and alternate fingerings, see the recorder fingering chart.