Trill chart for one-key flutes

Every flute is different. Choose the fingerings that work best on your instrument, after making a serious attempt to understand those recommended in 18th century sources. We do not give all possible fingerings here, but just our favorites—the ones we use or like. We include E# and B#, but not Cb or Fb, and omit all double sharps and flats.

The trills on a baroque flute are one of its charms. They should be graceful, but clear and distinct. A trill fingering that gives just a wobbling sound or a narrow interval is wrong. Click here for more thoughts on trills.

Trills often end with a turn. It is important to practice these turns when practicing the trills. In a few instances, an alternate fingering for the lower auxilliary is suggested below. We always give the fingering for the appoggiatura even though it is almost always the regular fingering.

= trill on this or these holes
Unless otherwise specified, start (after the appoggiatura!) and finish the trill with these holes closed.

= close the hole
= open the hole
= half or partially closed
= depress the key (open its hole)

Not2Hi = try not to lift the trilling finger(s) too high

LowBP = lower breath pressure, after the appoggiatura

e'b
+ d'
Not2Hi. Many players use the key for this trill. Hole 6 is more historical, and better.

e'
+ d'

e'
+ d'#

e'#
+ d'#
Not2Hi.

f'
+ e'b

f'
+ e'
Not2Hi.

f'#
+ e'
Not2hi. LowBP. Some players use finger 5 for the trill, but every 18th century flute method written before 1791 indicates finger 4.

f'#
+ e'#

g'b
+ f'
Not2Hi. LowBP.

g'
+ f'
The trill, if short and quick, can be done with only finger 4, leaving hole 6 closed.

g'
+ f'#

g'#
+ f'#
Not2Hi. Try to keep the f'# sharp enough.

a'b
+ g'b
Not2Hi. LowBP.

a'b
+ g'
Not2Hi.

a'
+ g'

a'
+ g'#
Not2Hi. LowBP.

a'#
+ g'#
LowBP.

b'b
+ a'b
LowBP.

b'b
+ a'
Not2Hi.

b'
+ a'

b'
+ a'#
Not2Hi. LowBP. This is a hard trill to control, in part because finger 1 is not the best finger for trills, but it can be mastered.

b'#
+ a'#
Not2Hi.

c''
+ bb
Not2Hi.

c''
+ b'
Not2Hi.

c''#
+ b'

d''b
+ c''
LowBP. Stress the appoggiatura and use only a few oscillations. Start and end the trill itself with finger 4 up or with the regular c'' fingering.

d''
+ c''
Start and end the trill proper with the regular c'' fingering or with finger 4 up.

d''
+ c''#
Keep breath pressure up. Start and end the trill proper with the regular c''# fingering or with fingers 2 and 3 up.

d''#
+ c''#
Keep up breath pressure. It can help to keep finger 1 near its hole, or to lower the key a bit, while trilling.

e''b
+ d''b
Same fingering as above, but both notes should be a comma higher.

e''b
+ d''
Not2Hi. Many players use the key for this trill. Hole 6 is more historical, and better. Leak hole 1 if desired.

e''
+ d''
Cover most of hole 1 for the best quality.

e''
+ d''#

e''#
+ d''#
Not2Hi.

f''
+ e''b
Same fingering as above, but both notes should be a comma higher.

f''
+ e''
Not2Hi.

f''#
+ e''
Not2Hi. Some players use finger 5 for the trill, but every 18th century flute method written before 1791 indicates finger 4.

f''#
+ e''#
Not2Hi. LowBP after the appoggiatura.

g''b
+ f''
Not2Hi.

g''
+ f''
The trill, if short and quick, can be done with only finger 4, leaving hole 6 closed.

g''
+ f''#

g''#
+ f''#
Not2Hi. Try to keep the f'# sharp enough.

a''b
+ g''b
LowBP.

a''b
+ g''
Not2Hi.

a''
+ g''#
Not2Hi. LowBP.

a''#
+ g''#
LowBP.

b''b
+ a''b
LowBP.

b''b
+ a''
Not2Hi.

b''
+ a''

b''
+ a''#
Not2Hi. Many players trill on hole 3, but trilling on hole 1 is much better. Also see below.

b''
+ a''#
Both notes of the trill are sharp; try to keep the pitch down. Better as a c'''b over b''b trill.

b''#
+ a''#
Or use the c''' over b''b trill fingering.

c'''
+ b''b

c'''
+ b''
Not2Hi. Also try the following fingering.

c'''
+ b''
For a slow trill, this may be better than the fingering above. Both the c''' and b'' tend to be sharp; shading with finger 2 is good if one has a lot of time.

c'''#
+ b''
This is the most common trill, but it is narrow and does not sound so well when sustained. Try the two fingerings below. Use any c'''# fingering for the appoggiatura.

c'''#
+ b''
This trill sounds b'' as a harmonic of e', and it tends to be sharp. Use any c'''# fingering for the appoggiatura.

c'''#
+ b''
Awkward because of the two trilling fingers, but may be good for a slow trill. The b'' tends to be a little sharp. Use any c'''# fingering for the appoggiatura.

c'''#
+ b''#
Or use finger 4.

d'''b
+ cb
Or use finger 5.

d'''
+ c'''
b''

The trill is best with part of hole 1 covered. The exact amount to cover is also critical for the b'' in the turn to speak and be in tune. LowBP for the b''. If it doesn't work for you, use a normal b'' for the turn.

d'''
+ c'''#
Hotteterre's fingering.

d'''
+ c'''#
b''

The trill is best with part of hole 1 covered. The exact amount to cover is also critical for the b'' in the turn to speak and be in tune. LowBP for the b''. If it doesn't work for you, use a normal b'' for the turn.

d'''#
+ c'''#
The trill is best with part of hole 1 covered. Since two fingers on different hands are involved, it can be tricky.

e'''b
+ d'''b
Same as the above trill, but cover hole 1 less.

e'''b
+ d'''
The trill works best with part of hole 1 covered.

e'''
+ d'''
The trill works best with part of hole 1 covered. The trill is narrow, so don't prolong the alterations of E and D, if possible. See below for another fingering.

e'''
+ d'''
This may be found preferable to the above fingering in the case of a long trill. It is awkward because one must move fingers on different hands. The trill works best with part of hole 1 covered.

f'''
+ e'''b

f'''
+ e'''

f'''#
+ e'''
A narrow trill. Try not to prolong the F#/E alterations. On some later flutes, the fingering below works.

f'''#
+ e'''
May be preferable to the above fingering. It is better in tune, if it speaks, but three finger trills are awkward.

f'''#
+ e'''#
You may prefer another f'''# fingering for the appoggiatura. Shade or cover part of hole 5 to keep the pitch of e'''# down.

g'''b
+ f'''
Same as above, but shade or cover part of hole 5 a bit less.

g'''
+ f'''
There is no good trill. Try the one below too.

g'''
+ f'''
There is no good trill.

g'''
+ f'''#

g'''#
+ f'''#

a'''b
+ g'''b
Or see below.

a'''b
+ g'''b
Also see above.

a'''b
+ g'''
Also see below.

a'''b
+ g'''
Cover most of hole 4.

e'b + d'		Not2Hi. Many players use the key for this trill. Hole 6 is more historical, and better.
e' + d'
e' + d'#
e'# + d'#		Not2Hi.
f' + e'b
f' + e'		Not2Hi.
f'# + e'		Not2hi. LowBP. Some players use finger 5 for the trill, but every 18th century flute method written before 1791 indicates finger 4.
f'# + e'#
g'b + f'		Not2Hi. LowBP.
g' + f'		The trill, if short and quick, can be done with only finger 4, leaving hole 6 closed.
g' + f'#
g'# + f'#		Not2Hi. Try to keep the f'# sharp enough.
a'b + g'b		Not2Hi. LowBP.
a'b + g'		Not2Hi.
a' + g'
a' + g'#		Not2Hi. LowBP.
a'# + g'#		LowBP.
b'b + a'b		LowBP.
b'b + a'		Not2Hi.
b' + a'
b' + a'#		Not2Hi. LowBP. This is a hard trill to control, in part because finger 1 is not the best finger for trills, but it can be mastered.
b'# + a'#		Not2Hi.
c'' + bb		Not2Hi.
c'' + b'		Not2Hi.
c''# + b'
d''b + c''		LowBP. Stress the appoggiatura and use only a few oscillations. Start and end the trill itself with finger 4 up or with the regular c'' fingering.
d'' + c''		Start and end the trill proper with the regular c'' fingering or with finger 4 up.
d'' + c''#		Keep breath pressure up. Start and end the trill proper with the regular c''# fingering or with fingers 2 and 3 up.
d''# + c''#		Keep up breath pressure. It can help to keep finger 1 near its hole, or to lower the key a bit, while trilling.
e''b + d''b		Same fingering as above, but both notes should be a comma higher.
e''b + d''		Not2Hi. Many players use the key for this trill. Hole 6 is more historical, and better. Leak hole 1 if desired.
e'' + d''		Cover most of hole 1 for the best quality.
e'' + d''#
e''# + d''#		Not2Hi.
f'' + e''b		Same fingering as above, but both notes should be a comma higher.
f'' + e''		Not2Hi.
f''# + e''		Not2Hi. Some players use finger 5 for the trill, but every 18th century flute method written before 1791 indicates finger 4.
f''# + e''#		Not2Hi. LowBP after the appoggiatura.
g''b + f''		Not2Hi.
g'' + f''		The trill, if short and quick, can be done with only finger 4, leaving hole 6 closed.
g'' + f''#
g''# + f''#		Not2Hi. Try to keep the f'# sharp enough.
a''b + g''b		LowBP.
a''b + g''		Not2Hi.
a'' + g''#		Not2Hi. LowBP.
a''# + g''#		LowBP.
b''b + a''b		LowBP.
b''b + a''		Not2Hi.
b'' + a''
b'' + a''#		Not2Hi. Many players trill on hole 3, but trilling on hole 1 is much better. Also see below.
b'' + a''#		Both notes of the trill are sharp; try to keep the pitch down. Better as a c'''b over b''b trill.
b''# + a''#		Or use the c''' over b''b trill fingering.
c''' + b''b
c''' + b''		Not2Hi. Also try the following fingering.
c''' + b''		For a slow trill, this may be better than the fingering above. Both the c''' and b'' tend to be sharp; shading with finger 2 is good if one has a lot of time.
c'''# + b''		This is the most common trill, but it is narrow and does not sound so well when sustained. Try the two fingerings below. Use any c'''# fingering for the appoggiatura.
c'''# + b''		This trill sounds b'' as a harmonic of e', and it tends to be sharp. Use any c'''# fingering for the appoggiatura.
c'''# + b''		Awkward because of the two trilling fingers, but may be good for a slow trill. The b'' tends to be a little sharp. Use any c'''# fingering for the appoggiatura.
c'''# + b''#		Or use finger 4.
d'''b + cb		Or use finger 5.
d''' + c''' b''		The trill is best with part of hole 1 covered. The exact amount to cover is also critical for the b'' in the turn to speak and be in tune. LowBP for the b''. If it doesn't work for you, use a normal b'' for the turn.
d''' + c'''#		Hotteterre's fingering.
d''' + c'''# b''		The trill is best with part of hole 1 covered. The exact amount to cover is also critical for the b'' in the turn to speak and be in tune. LowBP for the b''. If it doesn't work for you, use a normal b'' for the turn.
d'''# + c'''#		The trill is best with part of hole 1 covered. Since two fingers on different hands are involved, it can be tricky.
e'''b + d'''b		Same as the above trill, but cover hole 1 less.
e'''b + d'''		The trill works best with part of hole 1 covered.
e''' + d'''		The trill works best with part of hole 1 covered. The trill is narrow, so don't prolong the alterations of E and D, if possible. See below for another fingering.
e''' + d'''		This may be found preferable to the above fingering in the case of a long trill. It is awkward because one must move fingers on different hands. The trill works best with part of hole 1 covered.
f''' + e'''b
f''' + e'''
f'''# + e'''		A narrow trill. Try not to prolong the F#/E alterations. On some later flutes, the fingering below works.
f'''# + e'''		May be preferable to the above fingering. It is better in tune, if it speaks, but three finger trills are awkward.
f'''# + e'''#		You may prefer another f'''# fingering for the appoggiatura. Shade or cover part of hole 5 to keep the pitch of e'''# down.
g'''b + f'''		Same as above, but shade or cover part of hole 5 a bit less.
g''' + f'''		There is no good trill. Try the one below too.
g''' + f'''		There is no good trill.
g''' + f'''#
g'''# + f'''#
a'''b + g'''b		Or see below.
a'''b + g'''b		Also see above.
a'''b + g'''		Also see below.
a'''b + g'''		Cover most of hole 4.

Trill chart for one-key flutes

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