Fingering Chart printable pdf download

Fingering Options 159

Fingering Options

Horn fingerings do vary from style to style and teacher to teacher. I am going to attempt to explain some of my

theories about fingerings.

I do believe that initially it is a good idea to start out with a single set of fingerings– one for each note– a “chosen

set” if you will. After you or your student has mastered this concept, it is time to move on to a more advanced

knowledge of possibilities beyond the realm of “correct” fingerings. Every other instrument uses various finger-

ings according to the situation, but I find that often amongst horn players and teachers, there is an almost archaic

clinging to the idea that there is really only one fingering for each note, and to use anything else is “cheating. ” If you

have not been exposed to this medieval thought, count yourself lucky and move on with me to learn more about

your horn. If you have been so infected, give yourself a chance to see other possibilities.

Unfortunately, on horn you cannot just press down a valve and assume you will get the right note, let alone the

best pitch or tone for that note. Horn fingerings have as much to do with pitch and tone as they do with the note

itself. We have choices. In my chart I discuss some of the reasons I like certain fingerings over others. Additional

reasons and explanations will manifest themselves in other parts of this book.

The “chosen, ” or regular fingering is in bold type. Other alternates follow. Sometimes these are just for lip trills

or other special use. Anything in parentheses is pretty obscure, or has a special use. Assuming that I can’t cover

every possible type of horn or valve system, I’m going to stick with the full double horn pitched in F/Bb.

The regular double horn can be divided into different ranges and the associated fingering patterns:

The usual F horn range.

This range is normally played on the F horn (in the US anyway) because we tend to favor the sound of the F horn

in this register. It is a more covered, less “honky” sound than that of the Bb horn, although a good Bb horn player

could fool you. Also, some of the Bb fingerings are really bad in this range and the F ones are nice and convenient.

As I have stated earlier, it is important to use both horns in this register and to try and get the Bb horn to sound as

much like an F horn as possible.

A nice big fat open note, more

23 on F horn is standard. Add-

or less in tune with the other

ing the Bb valve is another

2nd valve on the F horn. Very

open harmonics. What more

possibility and we might need

likely, you will never have to play

could you ask for? T13 on Bb

it sometimes. These are very

this note any other way. T123

horn is way sharp. On a Bb

large slots on the Bb horn so

is a possibility, but why? Only if

horn with a stop valve, SV23 is

care must be taken to center

you just have a single Bb horn.

a good choice and can generate

the note and play with a non

See the Intonation section about

all the open F horn harmonics.

“tubby” sound.

multiple valve fingerings.

! A " A

! A

2, (T123, 123)

0, SV23 (13, T13)

23, T23

Normally 12 on the F horn. Since this is

bound to create a sharp note, you should

learn to play this on 3rd valve at times, de-

1st valve on F or Bb

pending on how you have your horn tuned.

horn. Again, this is a

12 is more convenient for speed. Both finger-

very wide note on Bb

ings are possible on Bb horn too, with the

horn and should be

2nd valve on F and Bb

usual caveats about tone and intonation.

played with care.

horn.

" t

" |

! |

12, 3, T12, T3

1, T1

2, T2

Fingering Chart

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