A standard bass recorder in F has a lowest sounding note of F3, approximately 174.61 Hz at A4 = 440 Hz. Its basic fingering family is the same as the alto recorder’s, an octave lower, but bass keywork means the correct manufacturer chart still matters.
The chart below is a starting reference for standard Baroque/English F-recorder fingering. It names sounding pitches and covered tone holes, not universal key-lever positions. Use your model’s instructions whenever its keys or alternative fingerings differ.
First-Octave Bass Recorder Fingering Chart
Hole 0 is the rear thumb hole. Holes 1–3 belong to the left index, middle and ring fingers; holes 4–7 belong to the right hand. In the table, a number means that tone hole is fully closed. Omitted numbers remain open.
| Sounding note | Closed holes | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| F3 | 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | Close the complete low-note combination |
| G3 | 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Open hole 7 |
| A3 | 0 1 2 3 4 5 | Open holes 6 and 7 |
| B♭3 | 0 1 2 3 4 6 7 | Forked fingering: hole 5 stays open |
| B3 | 0 1 2 3 5 6 | Different from B♭; holes 4 and 7 open |
| C4 | 0 1 2 3 | Right-hand tone holes open |
| D4 | 0 1 2 | Open hole 3 |
| E4 | 0 1 | Thumb and left index remain closed |
| F4 | 0 2 | Left middle finger remains down |
These basic patterns follow the F-instrument section of Dolmetsch’s Baroque recorder fingering reference. Where holes 6 or 7 are doubled, a full closure here means both parts. A keyed bass may operate the corresponding opening through a mechanism instead of direct finger contact.
This is a first-octave reference, not a complete chromatic chart. Accidentals and upper-register notes need the model’s full fingering chart, especially where separate low-note keys replace split holes.
F3 Sounding Versus F2 Written
Bass recorder music is commonly written in bass clef one octave below the sound. Under that convention, written F2 produces sounding F3. Some scores or learning materials use another presentation, so check their octave instructions.
A tuner listens to the sound. It should therefore identify approximately F3 for the standard instrument’s bottom note, not F2 merely because the staff shows that note.
At A4 = 440 Hz, F2 is approximately 87.31 Hz and F3 is approximately 174.61 Hz. One octave doubles the frequency. The musical note frequency chart helps compare the letter name and octave together.
“In F” describes the recorder’s bottom-note and fingering family. It is not an instruction to transpose every written note by a perfect fifth as you might for a different instrument family.
How to Read Symbols on a Manufacturer Chart
A filled circle generally indicates a closed hole, an empty circle an open hole and a partly filled symbol some form of partial closure. Always read the chart’s legend: a half-filled thumb symbol is not a demand to uncover exactly half the area.
For upper notes, thumb venting uses a controlled small opening. The appropriate opening depends on the note and instrument. Some fingerings use a fully open thumb hole, so “high note equals half thumb” is too simple a rule.
Keys require special attention. A diagram may show a pressed lever rather than a directly covered hole. Pressing a lever can open or close a remote pad depending on the mechanism; do not infer its action from the lever’s location.
The alto recorder fingering guide can help you recognise shared F-recorder patterns, but it should not replace instructions for the bass’s actual keywork.
Why B-Flat Is Not Just the Next Finger Lift
The F-major scale is F–G–A–B♭–C–D–E–F. On standard Baroque fingering, B♭ uses an open hole above closed lower holes. This is a forked or cross-fingering pattern.
Practise A3 to B♭3 slowly: from A, finger 5 lifts while the lower closures at 6 and 7 return. Then move to C4 by opening the right-hand tone holes. Uneven timing can create a brief unwanted pitch between the notes.
B natural uses a different combination. Do not substitute B3 for B♭3 just because both names begin with B. A note finder can provide a second check after you have confirmed the fingering.
A Short Practice Sequence
Start with a supported, comfortable playing position and a gentle G3 or A3. Hold the note briefly, release and repeat. Listen for a clear beginning rather than chasing the tuner during the attack.
Next, alternate G3–A3, A3–B♭3 and B♭3–C4. Work on one transition at a time. Use an online metronome at a pace that allows both notes to speak cleanly.
Play the F-major scale slowly, then return downward. Keep the same relaxed hand position instead of lifting every finger far from the instrument. Low F is useful for checking the full closure, but squeezing harder is not a solution to a poorly seated pad.
Finish with a short phrase using the notes you have learned. The goal is reliable transitions in music, not merely being able to hold each fingering silently.
Troubleshooting Airy Notes, Squeaks and Tuning
An airy low note: Check complete finger coverage, key closure, joint alignment and the instrument’s support. If one keyed note consistently fails, a pad or mechanism may need attention from a qualified repairer.
A note jumps upward: Check for accidental thumb venting, leaks and excessive breath pressure. Return to an easier note and change one variable at a time.
The pitch drifts: Breath and instrument temperature can affect intonation. Compare notes after the recorder has settled into playing conditions. The guide to intonation in music explains why correct fingering and accurate tuning are related but separate tasks.
The display flickers: Play one note in a quiet room and let its start settle. A chromatic tuner measures pitch, but it cannot identify the cause of a leak or tell you which finger moved late.
Is the bass recorder’s lowest note F2 or F3?
F3 is the standard instrument’s lowest sounding note. F2 may appear as its written note under octave-transposing bass-clef notation.
Can I use a soprano recorder chart?
Not by copying note names directly. Soprano uses the C-recorder family; bass uses the F family. Similar finger patterns produce different named notes.
Are alto and bass fingerings identical?
Many standard patterns correspond, but bass keywork, low accidentals and alternative fingerings require a model-specific check. The bass sounds an octave below the alto.
Does a correct fingering guarantee an in-tune note?
No. Air control, leaks, temperature and the instrument’s design also matter. Use the fingering chart together with listening and measured feedback.
Ornella is a music technology writer and vocal tools specialist at Pitch Detector. She creates practical content around pitch detection, note recognition, vocal analysis, and singing education tools for beginners, singers, and audio creators.