French Horn · treble clef
French Horn Scales
All 12 major scales for french horn, one octave each, with the fingering for every note. Each scale is named by its concert key, with the written key you read beside it.
Concert C major written G major
Open, no valves. On a double horn this is usually played on the F side.
Open, no valves.
Open, the same fingering as the C below and the G above. E sits between them: buzz faster than for C but slower than for G.
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
Concert F major written C major
Open, no valves.
Open, the same fingering as the C below and the G above. E sits between them: buzz faster than for C but slower than for G.
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
Open. Up here the notes sit close together, so hear the pitch before you play it.
Concert B♭ major written F major
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
Open. Up here the notes sit close together, so hear the pitch before you play it.
Open fingering. Listen carefully; nearby open notes are easy to land on by mistake.
Concert E♭ major written B♭ major
Open, no valves.
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
Concert A♭ major written E♭ major
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
Open. Up here the notes sit close together, so hear the pitch before you play it.
Concert D♭ major written A♭ major
Open, no valves.
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
Concert G♭ major written D♭ major
Open. Up here the notes sit close together, so hear the pitch before you play it.
Concert B major written F♯ major
Low note. On a double horn this is usually played on the F side, as shown.
Concert E major written B major
Open, the same fingering as the C below and the G above. E sits between them: buzz faster than for C but slower than for G.
Concert A major written E major
Open, the same fingering as the C below and the G above. E sits between them: buzz faster than for C but slower than for G.
Open fingering. Listen carefully; nearby open notes are easy to land on by mistake.
Concert D major written A major
Open, the same fingering as the C below and the G above. E sits between them: buzz faster than for C but slower than for G.
Concert G major written D major
Open, the same fingering as the C below and the G above. E sits between them: buzz faster than for C but slower than for G.
Open. Many double-horn players switch to the B♭ side from G♯ upward.
About these scales
Band directors usually call scales by their concert name, so the whole band plays the same pitches. On french horn the note you read is different from the concert pitch, so each scale shows both.
For the full range and alternate fingerings, see the french horn fingering chart.