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NoteAtlas

Low C on the Flute

To play Low C (C4) on flute: Left hand: B key, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + foot C key.

Full chart
Back / thumbLeft handTrill keysRight handE♭ keyFoot jointThumb B key: pressedBThumb B♭ lever (Briccialdi): openB♭Left index (key 1): pressed1Left middle (key 2): pressed2Left ring (key 3): pressed3G♯ key (left little finger): openG♯Right index (key 4): pressed4Right middle (key 5): pressed5Right ring (key 6): pressed6First (D) trill key: opent1Second (E♭) trill key: opent2E♭ key (right little finger): openE♭Foot C♯ key: openC♯Foot C key: pressedCFoot B key: openB
Now showingBeginner note
Low CC4
Left hand: B key, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + foot C key
Written
C4
Sounds
C4
C4 on the treble staff

Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.

Press or cover
  • Thumb B key
  • Left index (key 1)
  • Left middle (key 2)
  • Left ring (key 3)
  • Right index (key 4)
  • Right middle (key 5)
  • Right ring (key 6)
  • Foot C key
Tip · Low C

It needs slow, warm, generous air and a slightly more open embouchure — faster air just cracks it up to the octave. Low C is habitually flat and stuffy on student flutes, so aim the air lower across the lip plate instead of blowing harder.

C4Low CC♯4Low C♯D4Low DE♭4Low E♭E4Low EF4Low FF♯4Low F♯G4Low GA♭4Low A♭A4Low AB♭4Low B♭B4Low BC5C♯5D5E♭5E5F5F♯5G5A♭5A5B♭5B5C6C♯6D6High DE♭6High E♭E6High EF6High FF♯6High F♯G6High GA♭6High A♭A6High AB♭6High B♭B6High BC7High C
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Tip · Low C

It needs slow, warm, generous air and a slightly more open embouchure — faster air just cracks it up to the octave. Low C is habitually flat and stuffy on student flutes, so aim the air lower across the lip plate instead of blowing harder.

Sound and display

Next moves

Next noteLow C♯Left hand: B key, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + foot C♯ keyFull chartAll 37 flute notesThe whole fingering chartScaleConcert B♭ majorWritten B♭ major, fingering under every noteTrainerNote trainerRead treble clef notesPrintPrintable PDFLetter · A4 · blank

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Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

Low C sounds C4 (the flute reads at concert pitch).

The lowest note on a C-foot flute: everything down, with the right little finger reaching past the E-flat key to the long C lever. It needs slow, warm, generous air and a slightly more open embouchure — faster air just cracks it up to the octave. Low C is habitually flat and stuffy on student flutes, so aim the air lower across the lip plate instead of blowing harder.

  • Primary fingering: Thumb B key + Left index (key 1) + Left middle (key 2) + Left ring (key 3) + Right index (key 4) + Right middle (key 5) + Right ring (key 6) + Foot C key
  • Written pitch: C4
  • Sounding frequency: 261.63 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Thumb B key
  • Left index (key 1)
  • Left middle (key 2)
  • Left ring (key 3)
  • Right index (key 4)
  • Right middle (key 5)
  • Right ring (key 6)
  • Foot C key

Questions

How do you play Low C on flute?

To play Low C (C4) on flute: Left hand: B key, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + foot C key. Low C sounds C4 (the flute reads at concert pitch). Press: Thumb B key, Left index (key 1), Left middle (key 2), Left ring (key 3), Right index (key 4), Right middle (key 5), Right ring (key 6), Foot C key.

Is Low C written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. It sounds C4.

Flute fingering chart: Low C
How to play Low C (written C4) on the Flute: Thumb B key + Left index (key 1) + Left middle (key 2) + Left ring (key 3) + Right index (key 4) + Right middle (key 5) + Right ring (key 6) + Foot C key.

Flute fingering data last updated . Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.