French Horn Fingering Chart
An interactive French horn fingering chart for the double horn: tap a written note in F to see the three rotary valves and the thumb valve, with the F side and Bb side fingerings.
Tap a note on the staff or the keys. ← → step, Space plays.
Keys 1 to 4 answer.
How to use the French horn fingering chart
A French horn fingering chart shows which valves and thumb valve to press for each written note, and this one is a double horn fingering chart for the horn in F and Bb from written E2 to C6, with separate F side and Bb side views and the concert note under every written one. Tap a note on the staff or the piano strip. The diagram shows the thumb valve (T) on the left and valves 1, 2 and 3; filled means pressed. The low notes are drawn in bass clef, as horn charts usually do, and everything is written pitch for horn in F, with the concert note shown below.
Pick Double horn for the standard double-horn fingering, or F side or Bb side to see one side only; in double horn mode the chip under the diagram shows the other side as the alternate. ← → step, Space plays, Quiz asks you to name the note for a fingering (keys 1 to 4).
The double horn and the thumb valve
A double horn is two horns in one: a horn in F and a shorter horn in Bb, sharing the mouthpiece and bell. The thumb valve switches between them. The chart follows the usual American setup, where the horn stands in F and pressing the thumb gives the Bb side. The three finger valves then route through shorter slides sized for the Bb horn, so the same valve lowers the pitch by the same interval on either side.
The standard fingerings here use the F side up to written G4 and the Bb side from G#4 up, plus the Bb side for the low range from C#3 to F3. That is the pattern the table shows for the upper range:
| Written | Sounds | Double horn | F side | Bb side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G4 | C4 | Open | Open | T + 1 |
| Ab4 | Db4 | T + 2-3 | 2-3 | T + 2-3 |
| A4 | D4 | T + 1-2 | 1-2 | T + 1-2 |
| Bb4 | Eb4 | T + 1 | 1 | T + 1 |
| B4 | E4 | T + 2 | 2 | T + 2 |
| C5 | F4 | T | Open | T |
| Db5 | Gb4 | T + 2-3 | 2 | T + 2-3 |
| D5 | G4 | T + 1-2 | Open | T + 1-2 |
| Eb5 | Ab4 | T + 1 | 2 | T + 1 |
| E5 | A4 | T + 2 | Open | T + 2 |
| F5 | Bb4 | T | 1 | T |
| Gb5 | B4 | T + 2 | 2 | T + 2 |
| G5 | C5 | T | Open | T |
| Ab5 | Db5 | T + 2-3 | 2-3 | T + 2-3 |
| A5 | D5 | T + 1-2 | 1-2 | T + 1-2 |
| Bb5 | Eb5 | T + 1 | 1 | T + 1 |
| B5 | E5 | T + 2 | 2 | T + 2 |
| C6 | F5 | T | Open | T |
Why the horn needs two sides
The F horn is long, so the notes most horn music uses sit high in its harmonic series, where the partials are close together: written C5, D5, E5 and G5 are all open on the F side, one partial apart. That makes it easy to miss the note. The Bb side is shorter, so the same notes sit on lower partials that are further apart and easier to hit. Below that, the F side is used for most of the middle range. The tool shows which partial each fingering uses, so you can compare: written C5 is partial 8 on the F side but partial 6 on the Bb side.
Written in F: transposition
French horn notes are written for horn in F, which sounds a perfect fifth lower than written. Written C sounds F, written G sounds C, so to play a concert Bb (the band tuning note) you finger written F. The transposition chart converts any concert note or key into horn in F.
Single horns and mellophone
On a single F horn, use the F side view, which works as a plain F horn fingering chart. A single Bb horn uses the Bb side view (the fingerings with T, without pressing anything for the thumb). The marching mellophone in F uses trumpet fingerings instead, see the mellophone fingering chart. Tune each side separately on a tuner, practice slurs with the metronome, and read ledger lines faster with the treble clef notes page. Other charts: trumpet fingering chart, trombone slide chart, tuba fingering chart, euphonium fingering chart and mellophone fingering chart.
Where the fingerings come from
The fingerings follow the single F, double and single Bb horn charts published by hornist John Ericson (Horn Matters). Every valve combination shown is also checked against the harmonic series of the F and Bb horns, so each one really lowers a natural note of the horn to the note named.
More for band instruments: Clarinet Fingering Chart · Saxophone Fingering Chart · Trumpet Fingering Chart · Euphonium Fingering Chart · Mellophone Fingering Chart · Transposition Chart · Tuner
Questions
What does the thumb valve do on a French horn?
On a double horn it switches from the F horn to the shorter Bb horn. In the usual American setup the horn stands in F and thumb down gives the Bb side.
When do you switch to the Bb side?
The standard double horn fingerings in this chart use the Bb side from written G#4 upward, and for C#3 to F3 in the low range. Teachers vary, so follow yours.
Is French horn music written in concert pitch?
No. Horn parts are written for horn in F and sound a perfect fifth lower. Written C sounds concert F.
Are single F horn and double horn fingerings the same?
On the F side they are identical. A double horn adds the thumb valve, so many notes have a second fingering on the Bb side.
Does the mellophone use horn fingerings?
No. The F mellophone uses trumpet fingerings, even though it is written in F like the horn.