Oboe Fingering Chart

How to read this chart

Filled circles are pressed, open circles are not. The diagram runs top to bottom: the first octave key on the back at the top left (left thumb) and the second octave key to the right (side of the left index finger), then the left hand’s three plates, the right hand’s three with the F key beside the ring finger, and the little-finger clusters at the bottom — G♯, left F, low B and low B♭ on the left; E♭, low C♯ and low C on the right.

The left index plate is drawn as a pair of circles because it has two states. Both filled means the plate is fully covered; the outer circle open means the half-hole — the finger rolled down to uncover the small vent in the plate for C♯5, D5 and E♭5.

Half-hole and octave keys: how the oboe changes register

The oboe overblows the octave, so the second octave repeats the first octave’s fingerings with something extra to make the higher harmonic speak. What that something is depends on the note. From written B♭3 to C5 nothing is needed — the plain first octave. C♯5, D5 and E♭5 are the half-hole notes: finger low C♯, D or E♭ and roll the left index finger to open its vent. From E5 to G♯5 the vent gives way to the first octave key under the thumb; from A5 to C6 the second octave key at the side takes over.

Getting the switch points right is most of learning the oboe’s second octave. D5 is the note beginners try to play with the octave key — it needs the half-hole and no thumb key at all. On oboes with an automatic octave mechanism the change between the two octave keys happens by itself, but the half-hole never does.

Regular F, forked F and left F

F is the oboe’s awkward note, and there are three ways to play it. The regular F is left hand down, right index finger, and the F key pressed by the right ring finger instead of hole 6. The forked F keeps the ring finger on hole 6 and leaves the F key out — right index and ring fingers, with the E♭ key added on oboes that lack an F resonance key — and it is the one to use when the note before or after is D, E♭ or C, where the right ring finger is already committed. The left F lever, on instruments that have it, plays F from the left little finger and sidesteps the problem entirely.

All three are in the chart above and the same three apply an octave up at F5 with the thumb octave key. Choosing by context rather than habit is what makes F–E♭ and F–D passages stop feeling clumsy.

Full oboe fingering chart — all notes

The standard two octaves, written B♭3 to C6, chromatically. The oboe is a concert-pitch instrument, so there is no separate sounding-pitch column: the note you read is the note you hear.

The same chart, written out

Every fingering in words — handy for copying into lesson notes, and it reads aloud properly on a screen reader.

Alternate oboe fingerings

Alternates aren’t “better” fingerings — each one earns its place in a specific musical situation. Select any of these notes in the chart above and switch variants to compare them.

• F4 (F4) — Forked F (right index and ring fingers, with the E♭ key): Left index plate + Left middle plate + Left ring plate + Right index plate + Right ring plate + E♭ key (right little finger). Approaching from or moving to D, E♭ or C, where the right ring finger is free and the regular F key would be awkward. The E♭ key can be left off on oboes with an F resonance key. — Left F (left little-finger F lever): Left index plate + Left middle plate + Left ring plate + Right index plate + Left F lever (left little finger). When neither the regular nor the forked fingering fits — F next to E♭ or D♯, for example — on oboes fitted with the left F key.
• F5 (F5) — Forked F (right index and ring fingers, with the E♭ key): First octave key (left thumb) + Left index plate + Left middle plate + Left ring plate + Right index plate + Right ring plate + E♭ key (right little finger). Approaching from or moving to D, E♭ or C, where the right ring finger is free and the regular F key would be awkward. The E♭ key can be left off on oboes with an F resonance key. — Left F (left little-finger F lever): First octave key (left thumb) + Left index plate + Left middle plate + Left ring plate + Right index plate + Left F lever (left little finger). When neither the regular nor the forked fingering fits — F next to E♭ or D♯, for example — on oboes fitted with the left F key.

Common oboe fingering mistakes

• Lifting the finger for the half-hole. The left index finger rolls down to open the vent; it never comes off the plate. Lifting it gives a different, wrong note.
• Using the octave key on D5. D5, C♯5 and E♭5 are half-hole notes. The thumb key belongs to E5 and above.
• Always playing regular F. Next to D, E♭ or C the forked F (or left F) is the fingering that connects. Learn all three and choose by context.
• Blaming yourself for low B♭ and B. The bottom two notes are the first to fail when a reed is tired or the bell key is not seating. Check the instrument and the reed before changing your embouchure.

Frequently asked questions