HORN FINGERING CHART

Scott Pappal Horn Studio

2015

This fingering chart may be used for either F or Bb single horns or the F/
Bb double horn. T fingerings indicate the note is played with the
thumb valve and thus assumes the horn is standing in F with no thumbvalve depressed. If playing a Bb single horn, the player will need to use the
T fingerings, but will of course disregard the T as the thumb-valve on
a Bb single is nearly always a stopping/A-valve. Middle register notes are
listed first, followed by the upper and lower registers. Other alternate
fingerings exists in the upper registers; I have listed only the most common
and (in my opinion) most helpful.

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MIDDLE REGISTER

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F#/Gb

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T123

G#/Ab

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F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T!#"

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T!2"

T123 gives very poor response and is

quite sharp.

T13 gives poor response and is sharp.

A#/Bb

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F Horn: 1#"
Bb Horn: T 1#"

F Horn: !#3
Bb Horn: T !#3

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T !23

Alternates: 3 (flatter)
T3 (flatter)

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F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T 1#3

C#/Db

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F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 123

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F Horn: !#3
Bb Horn: T 1#"

MIDDLE REGISTER (CONTINUED)

D#/Eb

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T !#3

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F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T !23

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 1#3

F#/G

Alternate: T3 (flatter)

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T 123

F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T !#3

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T !23

Alternate: T23 (Gives a richer sound

than T alone.)

Alternate: T3 (flatter)

T1 is quite flat.
Alternate: T13 (sharper)

G#/Ab

A#/Bb

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F Horn: 1#"
Bb Horn: T 1#"

F Horn: !#3
Bb Horn: T !#3

Alternate: T2 (Flat, good for rapid

passage work.)

T12 and 12 are both usually sharp.

Alternates: 3/T3 (flatter), T (flat, good
for rapid passage work.)

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T !23

MIDDLE REGISTER (CONTINUED)

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F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T 1#3

C#/Db

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F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 123

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F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T 1#"
Alternate: 12 (flatter, less responsive)

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D#/Eb

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F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T !#3

F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T !23

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 1#3

Alternates: 1 (flatter, less responsive)

T3 (flatter)

Alternate: T23 (Rare cases - for rapid

passage work.)

Alternates: 12 (Rare cases - trills)

T12 (Rare cases - passagework/trills.)

Notes:

In the typical American approach to the double-horn the octave from G below middle C to
second-line G is usually played on the F horn. The second-space Ab through third-space C is
an area of transition that can be played on either the F or Bb sides of the horn with identical
fingerings. Once the fourth-line Db is reached, most players will switch over to the Bb horn
and remain on it into the upper register. The advantage of both of these switching points (G on open F horn to Ab on T23 Bb horn and C on open F horn to Db on T23 Bb horn) - is
that the horn is shortened exactly one half-step, matching the half-step ascension.

UPPER REGISTER

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F#/Gb

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T 123

F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T 1#3

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 123

Alternate: T1 (Usually slightly sharper

than T alone.)

Alternate: T12 (Useful for trills or

passage work.)

Alternate: T1 (Usually slightly flatter

than T alone.)

G#/Ab

A#/Bb

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F Horn: 1#"
Bb Horn: T 1#"
or T 1#3

F Horn: !#3
Bb Horn: T !#3
or T 123

T23 is a sharper/narrower fingering,

and T2 is flatter/wider.

T12 is sharper/narrower, T is flatter/

wider. Alternate: 3 (flatter.)

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F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T 1#3

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F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 123

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F Horn: !23
Bb Horn: T !23

C#/Db

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F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 1#"
or T !#3
T12 is a 15th harmonic.
Alternates: 2, 12

UPPER REGISTER (CONTINUED)

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D#/Eb

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F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T !#3
or T !23

F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T !23
or T 1#3

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T 1#3
or T 123

T1 is a 15th harmonic.

T2 is a 15th harmonic.

T is a 15th harmonic.

Notes:

Once the 15th harmonic of the F horn (B above the staff) is reached, any note can be taken
with nearly any fingering. On the Bb horn, many players find it helpful to shorten the
fingerings by one half-step above the high C to utilize the 15th harmonics.

LOWER REGISTER

Eb/D#

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F Horn: !#3
Bb Horn: T 1#3

F Horn: 1#"
Bb Horn: T !23

Alternate: 3 (flatter)

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F Horn: !2"
Bb Horn: T !#3
13 is sharp - requires careful tuning
Alternate: T3 (flatter)

Db/C#

F Horn: !#"
Bb Horn: T 1#"

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T !2"

F Horn: 1#3
Bb Horn: T !#"

123 is very sharp and responds poorly.

Most hornists will use T23 for playing
this pitch.

T13 is very sharp.

T123 is very sharp.

Bb/A#

Ab/G#

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F Horn:
Bb Horn:

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!#3
Not available

Must be done on F horn.

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F Horn:
Bb Horn:

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!#3
Not available

Must be done on F horn.

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F Horn:
Bb Horn:

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1#"
Not available

Must be done on F horn.

LOWER REGISTER (CONTINUED)

Gb/F#

F Horn:
Bb Horn:

!2"
Not available

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F Horn:
Bb Horn:

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!#"
Not available

F Horn: Not available

Bb Horn: T 123

Must be done on F horn. Sharp.

Must be done on F horn. Sharp.

Must be done on Bb horn.

Eb/D#

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F Horn: Not available

Bb Horn: T 1#3

F Horn: Not available

Bb Horn: T !23

F Horn: Not available

Bb Horn: T !#3

Must be done on Bb horn.

Must be done on Bb horn.

Must be done on Bb horn.

Alternate: T3 (flatter)

Db/C#

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F Horn: Not available

Bb Horn: T 1#"

F Horn: 123
Bb Horn: T !2"

Must be done on Bb horn.

Fundamental of the open F horn. T13

may be more easily produced.

Notes:

The region from E to C# under middle C can benefit from flexibility in fingerings. The F horn
usually produces a more characteristic tone quality, but the Bb horn responds better in
articulation-heavy and technically-intricate playing. Note the gaps in the bottom octave
where F horn only must be used (Bb to Gb) and Bb horn only must be used (F to Db.)