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NoteAtlas

C4 on the Oboe

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

Full chart
Back / thumbOctave keysLeft handRight handL pinkyR pinkyFirst octave key (left thumb): open8Second octave key (left index side): open8bLeft index plate: pressed1Left middle plate: pressed2Left ring plate: pressed3Right index plate: pressed4Right middle plate: pressed5Right ring plate: pressed6F key (right ring finger): openFG♯ key (left little finger): openG♯Left F lever (left little finger): openFLow B key (left little finger): openBLow B♭ key (left little finger): openB♭E♭ key (right little finger): openE♭Low C♯ key (right little finger): openC♯Low C key (right little finger): pressedC
Now showingBeginner note
Low CC4
Left hand: 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + low 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
  • Left index plate
  • Left middle plate
  • Left ring plate
  • Right index plate
  • Right middle plate
  • Right ring plate
  • Low C key (right little finger)
Tip · Low C

Start it with a gentle tongue and plenty of air; the low register stops speaking the moment the air slows.

B♭3Low B♭B3Low BC4Low CC♯4Low C♯D4E♭4E4F4F♯4G4G♯4A4B♭4B4C5C♯5D5E♭5E5F5F♯5G5G♯5A5B♭5B5C6High C
Practice this
Speed72BPM
Tip · Low C

Start it with a gentle tongue and plenty of air; the low register stops speaking the moment the air slows.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteLow BLeft hand: 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + low B keyNext noteLow C♯Left hand: 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + low C♯ keyFull chartAll 27 oboe notesThe whole fingering chartScaleConcert B♭ majorWritten B♭ major, fingering under every noteTrainerNote trainerRead treble clef notesPrintPrintable PDFLetter · A4 · blank

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More for advanced players

Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

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

All six fingers plus the low C key for the right little finger — the first bottom note most beginners get reliably. Start it with a gentle tongue and plenty of air; the low register stops speaking the moment the air slows.

  • Primary fingering: Left index plate + Left middle plate + Left ring plate + Right index plate + Right middle plate + Right ring plate + Low C key (right little finger)
  • Written pitch: C4
  • Sounding frequency: 261.63 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Left index plate
  • Left middle plate
  • Left ring plate
  • Right index plate
  • Right middle plate
  • Right ring plate
  • Low C key (right little finger)

Questions

How do you play Low C on oboe?

To play Low C (C4) on oboe: Left hand: 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + low C key. Low C sounds C4 (the oboe reads at concert pitch). Press: Left index plate, Left middle plate, Left ring plate, Right index plate, Right middle plate, Right ring plate, Low C key (right little finger).

Is Low C written or concert pitch?

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

Oboe 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.