The BEST and Most Frequently Used Alternate Flute Fingerings

When flute players first learn a new note, they are almost always introduced to the standard fingering, which is understandable as they are standard for a reason. However, there are several different fingering options for most notes on the flute and the basic fingering isn’t always the best one to use depending on the context of the music. Here are some reasons why you should consider using alternate fingerings as well as a list of some of the best and most frequently used alternate flute fingerings.

Benefits to Using Alternate Flute Fingerings

So why bother learning multiple fingerings for the same note? Believe it or not, to make your life easier!

Sometimes alternate fingerings are simply easier as they can allow you to play faster and move your fingers more cleanly and fluidly in very technical or super legato passages. They can also help with fixing intonation issues and facilitating dynamic contrast. Frequently, the benefits of using alternate fingerings can vastly outweigh the hassle of having to learn a new fingering.

Top Alternate Flute Fingerings

1. High E

First up is one of the nastiest high notes on the flute, high E (3 ledger lines above the staff). It is generally very sharp and unstable, especially if you do not have a split-E or G disc (for more information on these features and other possible upgrades, please see the free digital course, “Finding Your First or Forever Flute (and How to Make It Last)!”).

However, if you take your right hand pinky off, the pitch won’t be quite as high and the note will be less likely to crack. I really think that this should be the standard fingering for high E, it is just that because the pinky is on for most notes around it, it is frequently just easier to leave it on. But whenever possible, I like to go ahead and take it off.

One situation in particular where it is really beneficial is when you are slurring down to a high E from the high A above it as the high E in that situation is extremely unstable with the pinky on. But make sure that you still keep your pinky on high A like normal or else it will crack.

2. High F#/Gb

Yet another high note that can be particularly nasty is high F#/Gb. Just like high E, it is usually very sharp and pretty unstable, but also like high E, there is an alternate fingering to counteract those tendencies. For most modern flutes, the high F# fingering with your middle finger in your right hand INSTEAD of (not in addition to) your ring finger generally sounds better. This is another fingering that I like to use as often as possible, almost more so than the standard fingering.

In addition to sounding better, one situation where it makes it easier to play is when you are playing B major or minor arpeggios in the high octave. High F# to B is extremely difficult when using the standard fingerings for both notes as your ring finger in your right hand has to move to and from the second trill key. But if you use your middle finger for high F#, your ring finger can just go to the trill key without sliding around. Problem solved and the F# sounds better!

Please note that this fingering should ONLY be used in the high octave, not the lower two octaves (unless you are trilling but that is a whole different subject). And just like the standard fingering, you cannot ever use your Bb thumb key with this alternate fingering because the note will squeak. The Bb thumb key does not make a difference whether it or the B natural thumb key is used for any of the other notes mentioned in this blog post, it is only high F# where it cannot ever be used.

3. High G#/Ab

As you might have already noticed, many high notes on the flute tend to be sharp and unstable. High G# or Ab is no exception. To help solve this issue here, you can ADD (not change anything else) your middle and ring fingers in your right hand to the standard fingering.

As this fingering can be a little clunky, I don’t use it all the time, just whenever possible. One situation where this fingering is actually easier though is when you are going to it from a D#/Eb where those two fingers in your right hand are already down, like you do when you are playing an Ab major or a G# minor arpeggio.

4. C#/Db in the Staff

While most of the worst notes on the flute are in the upper register, there is one MAJOR exception, and that is C# or Db in the staff. It can be extremely sharp and airy sounding without any embouchure adjustment, because the flute is basically an empty tube when you play C# and because the air comes out of the first tone hole, which is disproportionately tiny to the rest of the tone holes.

Fun fact, you don’t actually need your right hand pinky on when playing C#, we usually just have it on to keep from dropping the flute as we would be playing without our fingers pressing any keys. However, if you add other fingers in your right hand, it can help stabilize the flute and make it easier to make embouchure adjustments. And adding fingers can help facilitate awkward transitions to the notes around it, especially D. So my favorite alternate fingering is where you put down all three fingers in the right hand but take the pinky off so when you go to and from D, all you have to do is move your left hand.

But you can really do almost any combination of fingers in the right hand on this note. Two other common alternate fingerings are to finger the C# normally with the pinky on but add the middle and ring finger in the right hand or do the same but also add the pointer finger. Or another one is to have your pointer and middle finger down in your right hand along with the pinky, a good fingering to use when going to and from E. Plus many other variations along the same lines!

5. High F

Compared to some of the high notes previously mentioned, high F really isn’t the worst. However, if you are playing pretty loud, it can easily become quite sharp if you are not careful. So if you will be playing high F in a forte passage, ADD your third finger in your right hand to help bring your pitch down.

6. High A

Playing up high quietly is never fun. Luckily, when you are trying to play high A piano, you can switch your pinky over from pressing the normal D# key to the C# spatula, and your note will come out much more easily. This trick can also be used on some other high notes like F#.

7. High C

If you are unfortunate enough to have to play high C for a while, I recommend you add your gizmo. Yes, that is what it is really called, but if you want to be fancy you can call it your high C facilitator. It is that little key to the right of your rollers on your footjoint. Since it is awkward to get to, I suggest only using it if you have to hold your C out, not if you are just playing a quick note. A word of warning though, it will make your high C a little bit sharper, but high C is usually ridiculously sharp anyway. It is something to consider though-do you prefer a C that is easier to play sound-wise or finger/intonation-wise?

BUT, you have to have a B footjoint as the gizmo (which closes the low B key) is not present on a C foot.

Other Alternate Flute Fingerings

There are many other alternate flute fingerings, these have just been some of the ones I use most commonly. But there are many other situations which can call for a variety of other alternate fingerings.

One time you can use alternate fingerings is when playing a low B or a low C or C#/Db that has come from or goes to any note that has your pinky on the D# key, besides Eb. Because your pinky has to slide from the D# key to the pinky keys on the right, it can be quite difficult to get the transition to sound clean. While it is good to practice the real fingerings, if necessary you can take your pinky off the note that usually requires the D# key to be down. For example, G going to low C, take your pinky off of G so that way you have more time to get down to the low C roller. It is important to note though that while the sound and pitch of the note with the pinky off doesn’t change that much for left hand notes like G and A, the notes do start to sound a little fuzzier and flatter if you take your pinky off right hand notes like F and E. So try to use the real fingering if possible in that situation, but if you cannot, then make sure you adjust with your embouchure. And one more tip for low C: while not really an alternate fingering, you can pop the G key (left hand ring finger) to help get the sound going if you are having trouble playing the low C quickly or loudly.

Other common times to use alternate fingerings includes playing trills and tremolos, using harmonic fingerings for high notes, finding 4th octave fingerings that sound best on your instrument, closing keys while leaving holes open on open-holed flutes especially for microtonal music, and making use of a C# trill key if your flute has one. Also, other instruments in the concert flute family can have some of their own alternate fingerings. But these topics are more than we need to get into here.

Also, please note that there are three ways to finger Bb. None of these fingerings are technically alternate fingerings as they are all equally standard, or at least should be in theory. But if you want more information on the different Bb fingerings and when to use which one, please see the blog post, “All the Ways That the Flute Can B Flat“.

Free Alternate Flute Fingerings Chart

If you would like a free downloadable and printable PDF of the alternate fingerings discussed here, please see the “The Best Alternate Flute Fingerings Chart“.