Two fingering systems
German fingering recorder chart
German recorders were invented to make low F easier for young beginners — and they moved the problem onto F♯ instead. Here is what actually differs, how to tell which system you own, and who a German recorder is really for.
The two systems
Baroque or German? Look under the thumb hole
Recorders are built in two fingering systems, and they are not interchangeable. Most instruments carry a single letter stamped near the thumb hole: B for Baroque (also called English), G for German. Nearly all recorders sold today, and nearly all method books, are Baroque.
| Baroque / English | German | |
|---|---|---|
| Marking | B under the thumb hole | G under the thumb hole |
| Hole sizes | Small hole 4, large hole 5 | Large hole 4, small hole 5 |
| Low F | Fork fingering — hole 5 opens, but 6 and 7 close again 0 1 2 3 4 6 7 | In sequence — just lift one more finger off E, nothing below comes back down 0 1 2 3 4 |
| F♯ | Hole 4 opens and stays open 0 1 2 3 5 6 | The fork lands here instead — hole 4 opens, but 7 comes back down 0 1 2 3 5 6 7 |
| Sharps and flats | Simpler, and in tune across keys | Awkward — the fork fingerings move onto F♯ and the other accidentals instead |
| Moving to alto or tenor | Same fingerings carry over | Fingerings have to be relearned |
| Best for | Anyone who will keep playing | Very young beginners playing only in C major |
Which notes are the same, which differ
The two systems share the fingerings for C, D, E, G, A and B — the differences live around the forks. On a Baroque recorder, F needs the fork (0 1 2 3 4 6 7) and F♯ is comparatively simple (0 1 2 3 5 6). A German recorder does the reverse: F is the simple sequential fingering (0 1 2 3 4) and the fork moves onto F♯ (0 1 2 3 5 6 7). The accidentals — C♯, E♭, G♯ and B♭ — differ as well, and this is where German tuning gets difficult.
The two systems trade the same difficulty back and forth. German makes low F easy — you lift one finger off E and that is the whole story — but the awkward fork fingerings do not disappear, they simply move onto F♯ and the other accidentals. Baroque puts the fork on F and keeps everything above it tidy. That is why method books past the first year assume Baroque.
A quick test: play the simple F fingering against a piano. If your recorder sounds sharp, it is a Baroque instrument and needs the fork. If it matches, it is German. Playing German fingerings on a Baroque recorder is the single most common reason a class sounds out of tune.
Why we don't list a full German grid here
This page explains the differences rather than publishing a complete German fingering chart, because German fingerings are comparatively rare and we have not yet verified every note against a printed German chart. The notes we are confident about — the fork F and F♯ above — are the ones that matter for deciding which system you own. For the widely used system, see the Baroque soprano fingering chart.
Common questions
Questions about German recorders
How do I know if my recorder is German?
Look for the letter stamped near the thumb hole: G means German, B means Baroque (English). If there is no letter, play the simple F fingering against a piano — if it is in tune, the recorder is German; if it sounds sharp, it is Baroque.
Can I play German fingerings on a Baroque recorder?
No. The hole sizes are drilled differently, and the resulting notes are out of tune. Playing German fingerings on a Baroque recorder is one of the most common reasons a class sounds out of tune.
Why were German recorders made at all?
To simplify low F for very young beginners — the fork fingering was the hardest thing in the first year. The design gave up in-tune F♯ and the accidentals to get it, which is why the system never spread beyond the classroom.
Should I buy a German recorder?
Almost certainly not. German recorders only make sense for a child who will play nothing beyond a few C-major songs. If the player will continue at all, a Baroque recorder is the instrument every method book and every later recorder assumes.