Fingering Charts
Would a sheet music site be complete without a fingering chart? Of course not. To save your time, we have tried our best to create the most clear and easily readable fingering charts available on the Net!
In the following pages you will also find useful information and answers to questions like “When shall I use the B-flat lever”?
Modern Flute, Piccolo, Alto and Bass Flute
- Basic fingerings — All the notes up to the fourth octave.
- Trill fingerings — Includes instructions on how to play trills.
Octave numbering
The numbers written in subscript after the notes refer to the octave number, according to the so-called scientific pitch notation. In this system, C4 is the C right below the staff (middle C on the piano), and A4 is the A right above that, also known as A440 because it is assigned a standard frequency of 440 Hz. On the modern piano, the leftmost key corresponds to A0, while the rightmost key corresponds to C8. If you wonder where this numbering system comes from, it was chosen so that C0 is in the region of the lowest possible audible frequency.
The standard range of the modern C flute is about from C4 to C7. Therefore, the three most commonly played octaves will be numbered 4 (low register), 5 (middle register), and 6 (high register).
Advanced Readings
The most reliable reference for flute fingerings is probably A Modern Guide to Fingerings for the Flute by James Pellerite. It is one of the most complete guides for the flute ever published. In its 64 pages it covers basic fingerings, trills, tremolos (thirds through octaves), and even quarter-tones and multiphonics! And the best thing is that everything, from dynamics to intonation, is duly explained, so that you will always know which fingering best fits a given passage.