Dulcian fingerings
A standardized dulcian fingering system does not exist, that
is the bad news. The good news is that with a few exceptions
the fingerings for the first two octaves of the dulcian follow
a general pattern that can be used on instruments from most makers.
In the table given here, I have tried to put the most common
fingerings first, and then give alternatives that sometimes can
improve the sound quality and/or the pitch. For the highest
notes, I have simply put fingerings that work for me, or that
have been reported as working well by other people. Don't
expect that the highest notes from this table can be played on
every instrument, by all players, with all reeds. The fingering
and availability of the highest notes depends heavily on both
the player, the reed, the instrument and the bocal.
For the only(?) surviving original fingering chart for dulcians,
see the information on Daniel Speer.
Fingerings for dulcians with
two keys
Bass |
Tenor |
F-Alto |
G-Alto |
Soprano |
|
Finger positions |
g#' |
eb" |
|
|
|
- |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
(7) |
- |
- |
- |
g' |
d" |
|
|
|
1 |
- |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
(7) |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
f#' |
c#" |
|
|
|
- |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
f' |
c" |
f" |
g" |
|
1 |
- |
- |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
- |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
(6) |
7 |
8 |
- |
(10) |
e' |
b' |
e" |
f#" |
|
1 |
- |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
3 |
- |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(6) |
7 |
8 |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
eb' |
b' |
eb" |
f" |
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
(6) |
7 |
8 |
- |
(10) |
d' |
a' |
d" |
e" |
a" |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
(6) |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
c#' |
g#' |
c#" |
eb" |
g#" |
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
(6) |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
c' |
g' |
c" |
d" |
g" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
b |
f#' |
b' |
c#" |
f#" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
bb |
f' |
bb' |
c" |
f" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
a |
e' |
a' |
b' |
e" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
(8) |
- |
(10) |
g# |
eb' |
g#' |
bb' |
eb" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
/ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
9 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
g |
d' |
g' |
a' |
d" |
/ |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
f# |
c#' |
f#' |
g#' |
c#" |
- |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
(9) |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
- |
10 |
f |
c' |
f' |
g' |
c" |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
(5) |
(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
e |
b |
e' |
f#' |
b' |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
9 |
- |
eb |
bb |
eb' |
f' |
bb' |
1 |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
- |
3 |
- |
(5) |
(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
d |
a |
d' |
e' |
a' |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
9 |
- |
c# |
g# |
c#' |
eb' |
g#' |
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
c |
g |
c' |
d' |
g' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
9 |
- |
B |
f# |
b |
c#' |
f#' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
(9) |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
(7) |
8 |
9 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
- |
- |
8 |
9 |
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
9 |
(10) |
Bb |
f |
bb |
c' |
f' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A |
e |
a |
b |
e' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
(8) |
- |
(10) |
G# |
eb |
g# |
bb |
eb' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
/ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
8 |
9 |
10 |
G |
d |
g |
a |
d' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
F# |
c# |
f# |
g# |
c#' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
- |
10 |
F |
c |
f |
g |
c' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
/ |
E |
B |
e |
f# |
b |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
Eb |
Bb |
eb |
f |
bb |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
/ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
- |
10 |
D |
A |
d |
e |
a |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
C# |
G# |
c# |
eb |
g# |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
/ |
C |
G |
c |
d |
g |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
Notes: |
- 1..10 Indicate closed holes.
- - Indicates an open hole.
- / Indicates a partially closed hole.
- (n) Indicates an optionally closed hole.
- Holes 1..3 are for the left hand fingers, 4..6 for the right
hand. Key 7 is for the right hand little finger. Key 8 and hole
9 are for the right hand thumb. Hole 10 is for the left hand
thumb. This all for right handed fingering.
- Dulcians exist where position 8 is a hole, and position 9
is a key.
|
Fingerings for dulcians without
keys
G-Alto |
Soprano |
|
Finger positions |
f" |
|
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
(6) |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
e" |
a" |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10) |
eb" |
g#" |
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
d" |
g" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
c#" |
f#" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
c" |
f" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
b' |
e" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
bb' |
eb" |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
a' |
d" |
/ |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
g#' |
c#" |
- |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
g' |
c" |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
f#' |
b' |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
f' |
bb' |
1 |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
e' |
a' |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
eb' |
g#' |
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
d' |
g' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
c#' |
f#' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
c' |
f' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
b |
e' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
bb |
eb' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
a |
d' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
g# |
c#' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
- |
8 |
- |
- |
g |
c' |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
f# |
b |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
/ |
- |
- |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
- |
9 |
- |
f |
bb |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
- |
- |
e |
a |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
eb |
g# |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
/ |
d |
g |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
Notes: |
- 1..10 Indicate closed holes.
- - Indicates an open hole.
- / Indicates a partially closed hole.
- (n) Indicates an optionally closed hole.
- Holes 1..3 are for the left hand fingers, 4..7 for the right
hand. Hole 8 is for the right hand thumb, hole 9 for the left
hand little finger and hole 10 for the left hand thumb. This
all for right handed fingering.
|
Back to the main Dulcians page.
Remarks and comment to: Hans
Mons
© Copyright 1998-2004 by Hans Mons.
Last updated on 31 July 2004