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NoteAtlas

Low C on the Soprano Recorder

To play Low C (C4) on recorder: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6, 7.

Full chart
Back / thumbLeft handRight hand67Double holesThumb hole: pressedTHole 1 (left index): pressed1Hole 2 (left middle): pressed2Hole 3 (left ring): pressed3Hole 4 (right index): pressed4Hole 5 (right middle): pressed5Double hole 6: pressed6Double hole 7: pressed7
Now showingBeginner note
Low CC4
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6, 7
C4 on the treble staff

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

Cover these holes
  • Thumb hole
  • Hole 1 (left index)
  • Hole 2 (left middle)
  • Hole 3 (left ring)
  • Hole 4 (right index)
  • Hole 5 (right middle)
  • Double hole 6
  • Double hole 7
Tip · Low C

Every hole covered, both double holes too. Use your gentlest breath and lay your thumb flat across its hole.

C4Low CC♯4D4E♭4E4F4F♯4G4A♭4A4B♭4B4C5C♯5D5E♭5E5F5F♯5G5A♭5A5B♭5B5C6High CC♯6D6High D
Practice this
Speed72BPM
Tip · Low C

Every hole covered, both double holes too. Use your gentlest breath and lay your thumb flat across its hole.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteF♯4Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 5, 6Next noteF4Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 6, 7Full chartAll 27 recorder notesThe whole fingering chartFirst tuneFirst tune: B, A, GHot Cross Buns · play along with itTrainerNote trainerRead B, A, G on the staff (stave)PrintFirst notes, large printB, A, G, then C and D

Teaching a class? Class mode keeps Stand mode and Test me on the notes your class is learning (B, A, G).

More for advanced players

Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

Low C is written C4 and sounds concert C5.

Every hole is sealed, including both pairs of double holes — the smallest leak turns low C into a squeak or into nothing at all. It also takes the gentlest breath of any note on the instrument. Lay the left thumb flat across its hole rather than pressing with the tip.

  • Primary fingering: Thumb hole + Hole 1 (left index) + Hole 2 (left middle) + Hole 3 (left ring) + Hole 4 (right index) + Hole 5 (right middle) + Double hole 6 + Double hole 7
  • Written pitch: C4 · Concert pitch: C5
  • Sounding frequency: 523.25 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Thumb hole
  • Hole 1 (left index)
  • Hole 2 (left middle)
  • Hole 3 (left ring)
  • Hole 4 (right index)
  • Hole 5 (right middle)
  • Double hole 6
  • Double hole 7

Questions

How do you play Low C on recorder?

To play Low C (C4) on recorder: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6, 7. Low C is written C4 and sounds concert C5. Press: Thumb hole, Hole 1 (left index), Hole 2 (left middle), Hole 3 (left ring), Hole 4 (right index), Hole 5 (right middle), Double hole 6, Double hole 7.

Is Low C written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On C recorder it sounds concert C5.

Soprano Recorder 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.