First 5 Notes

Oboe Fingering Chart

Every note from low B-flat to high C (written B♭3 to C6). 27 notes, each with its staff notation and its fingering. Free to view, no sign-in.

New players: start with the five notes marked First 5.

Notes are shown as written for oboe. Concert pitch: sounds as written.

Teachers: you may print and copy this chart for your students.

Check my note

Pick any note, play it, and the page tells you if you got it. Nothing is recorded.

Download PDFPractice these notes

How to read the chart

Oboe notes, low to high

    1. B♭3

      Oboe fingering for B-flat 3 (B♭3): All six + low B♭ and C keys

      All six + low B♭ and C keys

      B-flat 3. Also written A♯3 (A-sharp 3).

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down, plus the low B♭ key with the pinky.
      • Right hand: first, second, and third fingers down, plus the low C key with the pinky.
      Check it

    2. B3

      Oboe fingering for B3: All six + low B and C keys

      All six + low B and C keys

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down, with the low B key pressed.
      • Right hand: first, second, and third fingers down, with the low C key pressed.
      Check it

    3. C4

      Oboe fingering for C4: All six + low C key

      All six + low C key

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Keep all six main fingers down.
      • Add the low C pinky key.
      Check it

    4. D♭4

      Oboe fingering for D-flat 4 (D♭4): All six + low C♯ key

      All six + low C♯ key

      D-flat 4. Also written C♯4 (C-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Keep all six main fingers down.
      • Use the low C♯ pinky key for D♭.
      Check it

    1. D4

      Oboe fingering for D4: All six fingers

      All six fingers

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      Check it

    2. E♭4

      Oboe fingering for E-flat 4 (E♭4): All six + right E♭ key; alternate uses left E♭ key

      All six + right E♭ key; alternate uses left E♭ key

      E-flat 4. Also written D♯4 (D-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • Use the full D fingering with all six fingers down.
      • Primary option (shown first): add the right-hand E♭ key.
      • Alternate option: use the left-hand E♭ key instead.
      Check it

    3. E4

      Oboe fingering for E4: All six with right 3 lifted

      All six with right 3 lifted

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: first and second fingers down; right third finger up.
      Check it

    4. F4

      Oboe fingering for F4: Left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2 + F key; alternate forked F + E♭

      Left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2 + F key; alternate forked F + E♭

      Step by step
      • Primary option (shown first): all three left-hand keys, right 1 and 2, plus the F key.
      • Alternate option: forked F with right 1 and 3, plus the right E♭ key.
      • First-octave key stays off.
      Check it

    1. G♭4

      Oboe fingering for G-flat 4 (G♭4): All six with right 2, 3 lifted

      All six with right 2, 3 lifted

      G-flat 4. Also written F♯4 (F-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      Check it

    2. G4

      Oboe fingering for G4: Left 1, 2, 3 only

      Left 1, 2, 3 only

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    3. A♭4

      Oboe fingering for A-flat 4 (A♭4): Left 1, 2, 3 + G♯ key

      Left 1, 2, 3 + G♯ key

      A-flat 4. Also written G♯4 (G-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down, then add the G♯ key.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    4. A4

      Oboe fingering for A4: Left 1, 2

      Left 1, 2

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first and second fingers down; third finger up.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    1. B♭4

      First 5

      Oboe fingering for B-flat 4 (B♭4): Left 1, 2 + right 1

      Left 1, 2 + right 1

      B-flat 4. Also written A♯4 (A-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first and second fingers down; third finger up.
      • Right hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      Check it

    2. B4

      Oboe fingering for B4: Left 1

      Left 1

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    3. C5

      First 5

      Oboe fingering for C5: Left 1 + right 1

      Left 1 + right 1

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off.
      • Left hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      • Right hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      Check it

    4. D♭5

      Oboe fingering for D-flat 5 (D♭5): L1 half-hole + all six + low C♯ key

      L1 half-hole + all six + low C♯ key

      D-flat 5. Also written C♯5 (C-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Use an L1 half-hole.
      • Keep left 2 and 3 down with all three right-hand fingers down.
      • Add the low C♯ pinky key.
      Check it

    1. D5

      First 5

      Oboe fingering for D5: L1 half-hole + left 2, 3 + right 1, 2, 3

      L1 half-hole + left 2, 3 + right 1, 2, 3

      Step by step
      • First-octave key off; uncover half of the L1 tone hole.
      • Left hand: L1 half-hole, with second and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      Check it

    2. E♭5

      First 5

      Oboe fingering for E-flat 5 (E♭5): D half-hole fingering + right or left E♭ key

      D half-hole fingering + right or left E♭ key

      E-flat 5. Also written D♯5 (D-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Use the D half-hole fingering: L1 half-hole, left 2 and 3, and all three right-hand fingers.
      • Add either the right-hand E♭ key (shown first) or the left-hand E♭ key.
      • First-octave key stays off.
      Check it

    3. E5

      Oboe fingering for E5: First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Step by step
      • Press the first-octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: first and second fingers down; third finger up.
      Check it

    4. F5

      First 5

      Oboe fingering for F5: First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2 + F key; forked F uses right 1, 3 + E♭

      First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2 + F key; forked F uses right 1, 3 + E♭

      Step by step
      • Press the first-octave key and all three left-hand keys.
      • Standard F (shown first): right first and second fingers down and the F key pressed.
      • Forked F alternative: right first and third fingers down plus the right-hand E♭ key, with the F key left open.
      Check it

    1. G♭5

      Oboe fingering for G-flat 5 (G♭5): First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      G-flat 5. Also written F♯5 (F-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Press the first-octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      Check it

    2. G5

      Oboe fingering for G5: First octave + left 1, 2, 3

      First octave + left 1, 2, 3

      Step by step
      • Press the first-octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    3. A♭5

      Oboe fingering for A-flat 5 (A♭5): First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + G♯ key

      First octave + left 1, 2, 3 + G♯ key

      A-flat 5. Also written G♯5 (G-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Press the first-octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers down, then add the G♯ key.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    4. A5

      Oboe fingering for A5: Second octave + left 1, 2

      Second octave + left 1, 2

      Step by step
      • Use the second-octave key.
      • Left hand: first and second fingers down; third finger up.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    1. B♭5

      Oboe fingering for B-flat 5 (B♭5): Second octave + left 1, 2 + right 1

      Second octave + left 1, 2 + right 1

      B-flat 5. Also written A♯5 (A-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Use the second-octave key.
      • Left hand: first and second fingers down; third finger up.
      • Right hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      Check it

    2. B5

      Oboe fingering for B5: Second octave + left 1

      Second octave + left 1

      Step by step
      • Use the second-octave key.
      • Left hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      • Right hand: all three fingers up.
      Check it

    3. C6

      Oboe fingering for C6: Second octave + left 1 + right 1

      Second octave + left 1 + right 1

      Step by step
      • Use the second-octave key.
      • Left hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      • Right hand: first finger down; second and third fingers up.
      Check it

Practice these notes

The oboe learning path takes these notes a few at a time: name the note, find the fingering, then play it into the microphone. The first five notes are free to practice, with no account. The microphone only listens while you play, and nothing is recorded.

Start the oboe learning path

More charts