This section gives advice on the following topics: How To Finger The Note B natural How To Play The Note B natural How To Finger The Note B natural The eighth note we learn, B natural on the treble (alto) recorder, lies on the second line from the bottom of the bass clef. We have added the description natural, although in common usage one could call it just B, except in Germany where B is B flat and H is B natural. This is why Bach could express his name musically - B flat (B), A, C, B natural (H). Click on the play button in the Sibelius score to hear it. Below that we give the standard fingering for this note, the fingering you would use under normal circumstances. Legend: = hole covered = hole uncovered = pinched thumbhole Recorder Thumb 1 2 3 4 5 6b 6a 7b 7a Bell Bass in F Contra Bass   -----left hand------ -----right hand----- B standard B alternative Using the standard nomenclature, the fingering for first octave B natural is written 0 1 2 3 5 6a 6b. An alternative fingering for B natural which adds one of the double holes at the bottom of the instrument, is written 0 1 2 3 5 6a 6b 7a. How To Play The Note B natural Play the note G on the bass. Now lift the first finger of the right hand to give you the fingering for B natural. Once you are happy with that progression try playing from C, with all the left hand fingers down, to B natural, where you add fingers two and three of the right hand. Once you are happy with that progression you are ready to try the next exercise piece 8. There are two points you will need to notice about this note. First, on some recorders the note will have a slightly weaker tone than the notes around it, C or B flat. You need to take care that you do not blow too hard as this will only reduce the volume of sound from your recorder. Later, you will find occasions when you want at a slightly flatter pitch on B natural, for example when tuning with a second recorder playing low G. The interval G to B natural is a major third and, to sound sweet, the B natural is best at a slightly flatter pitch than that produced by the standard fingering above. Covering one of the bottom double holes (hole 7a), you will be able to flatten the pitch enough to give a perfect interval of a major third. For the present, do not worry about this adjustment. We will discuss this again later together with other points of 'fine tuning' when we consider the technique of tuning in ensemble with other instruments.