
In essence, everything is a perfect fifth lower than written. What is fingered as a C will sound an F on a piano. TranspositionĪs we mentioned earlier, the alto recorder is a transposing instrument.
#MUSICAL NOTE C RECORDER HOW TO#
If you want to learn more about the alto recorder and how to play it, let’s take a listen to Zach in his video How to Play the Alto Recorder! Here he compares the two recorders, alto and soprano, as well. But, after you spend some time with the instrument, it should seem just as natural as your soprano. The fingers need to be relaxed and spread out, and one must be careful to make sure the entire hole is covered. In my experience, the alto recorder holes take a bit of getting used to after playing the soprano for so long. When I saw the rack of Angel Altos, I knew I had to try one out. I had my wallet out at the music convention, and I just had to come home with something new and exciting. I recall when I first got my alto recorder. It will also be slightly less prone to squeaks for this reason, but still be sure to go easy on the tonguing. Keep in mind that the alto recorder is a bit bigger than the soprano, so it will require slightly more air. Tongue with a soft ‘tu’ sound, while imagining your tongue is like a finger simply passing through a running faucet or waterfall. The way you play an alto recorder is similar to how you’d play a soprano: use a light airstream, and gently blow into the recorder. Let’s touch base on how to play the alto recorder.

You use the same exact fingerings, and very similar tonguing techniques. First of all, it’s bigger! But not big enough to make it an octave below, so it is indeed a transposing instrument! So, when you play what looks like a C on the page, it would sound a true F.Īside from these few differences, the alto and soprano are quite similar. The alto, however, is a little different.

The soprano recorder is a non-transposing instrument, which means that when you play a note on the page, it sounds that exact note, just like it would on a piano. The alto, on the other hand, is also called the treble.

The soprano recorder is often referred to as the descant recorder. When it comes to range, the soprano and alto recorders are adjacent to each other. Now, let's talk about the main differences between two of the most popular members of the recorder family the alto and the soprano. Back then, entire ensembles comprised of just recorders would play, and people would dance. During this time period, instrument makers began to create a family of recorders, from large to small. Recorders have been around since the middle ages. Let's explore these unique woodwinds! Throwback Recorders are really amazing instruments! Not only are they ancient, but they are also relevant today, which is a feat in and of itself.
