Recorder Hero › Fingering chart › B
How to play B on the recorder
The fingering for B on a soprano (descant) recorder, with baroque fingering: Left thumb on the hole at the back, and your left pointer finger on hole 1 (the top hole). Nothing else.
B
Thumb hole covered, hole 1 covered
How to play it
- B is the first note almost everyone learns: one hand, two fingers, and it sounds easily.
- Hold the recorder with your left hand on top, and rest your right thumb under the recorder, between holes 4 and 5, to support it.
Why it squeaks or sounds wrong
- A squeak usually means too much air: blow gently, like saying "doo".
- If it sounds airy, the thumb isn't sealing the back hole: press with the soft pad, not the tip.
Free, in your browser: it listens as you play and shows which finger to fix.
Songs with B
- Hot Cross BunsG, A, B
- Au Clair de la LuneG, A, B
- Mary Had a Little LambG, A, B, high D
- Lightly RowG, A, B, high C, high D
- Ode to JoyG, A, B, high C, high D
- Jingle BellsG, A, B, high C, high D
- When the Saints Go Marching InG, A, B, high C, high D
- Old MacDonald Had a Farmlow D, low E, G, A, B
- Amazing Gracelow D, low E, G, A, B, high D
- Yankee Doodlelow D, low E, F#, G, A, B, high C
- Happy Birthdaylow D, low E, F#, G, A, B, high C, high D
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Starlow D, low E, F#, G, A, B
- London Bridgelow D, low E, F#, G, A, B
- Frère Jacqueslow D, G, A, B, high C, high D, high E
- Brahms' LullabyA, B, high C, high D, high E, high F#, high G
- Silent Nightlow C, low D, low E, F, G, A, B, high C, high D, high E, high F
- Joy to the Worldlow D, low E, F#, G, A, B, high C#, high D
Other recorder notes
low C · low C# · low D · low E♭ · low E · F · F# · G · G# · A · 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 · top D