How to Finger D on a French Horn

French hornists use the thumb trigger valve when fingering a double horn.

The french horn has a range that includes four Ds: third line of the bass clef, the space directly above middle C, fourth line of the treble clef and the space above the second ledger line above the treble clef. The double horn can also play the low D, which occupies the space below the first ledger line below the bass clef. Most french hornists play the double horn, using the thumb trigger valve which creates alternate Bb horn fingerings.

Instructions

1. Play the third line of the bass clef (also notated as the fourth ledger line below the treble clef) by pressing the first and third valves. If you are playing a double horn, press the trigger valve with your thumb while pressing the first and second valves. An alternate fingering on the double horn is pressing the trigger valve while pressing just the third valve. Wendell Rider never plays this D without the trigger valve fingerings because the note sounds too sharp with just the first and third valves.

2. Play the D directly above middle C by pressing the first and third valves. An alternate fingering considered to be standard by Wendell Rider is just the first valve, although it will sound flat. He prefers using the trigger valve with the first and second valves or the trigger valve with just the third valve if the D is part of some fast leaps.

3. Play the fourth line in the treble clef by pressing the first valve. The alternate fingering is open, without pressing any valves, but will sound out of tune and should only be used for fast passages. If you are playing a double horn, press the trigger valve and the first and second valves or the trigger valve with just the third valve.

4. Play the space above the second ledger line above the treble clef with the same fingering as the note an octave below it (fourth line of the treble clef). This high D sounds best played on a double horn using the trigger valve combined with the first valve.

5. Play the space below the first ledger line below the bass clef by pressing the trigger valve with the first and second valves. This note is not in the range of the single F horn.

References

• Wendell World: Fingering Options
• Arizona State University: Single F, Double, and Single Bb Fingering Charts Compiled by John Ericson
• The French Horn: Horn Fingering Chart

Resources

• Yamaha Music: French Horn Fingerings
• Two Frequencies: Texas Bandmasters Association Advanced Young Player Series – French Horn
• Conn-Selmer Keynotes: Teaching the French Horn – Why all the Mystery? by William C. Robinson
• Arizona State University: Getting Started on the Horn