Recorder - Buying tips and guidelines
or coming back to it after many years, there is the whole recorder family to consider. Find out more by clicking on the tile below. The most common sizes are the soprano (descant), alto (treble) or tenor recorder.
Both the soprano and tenor have a bottom note of C though the tenor sounds an octave lower than the soprano. They play in the same way, except the tenor is much bigger! These are the most common choice with many younger players starting with the soprano/descant recorder at school.
The alto has a bottom note of F. Although the finger patterns/positions are the same, they produce different notes. It's best to get comfortable with a soprano or tenor recorder before considering taking on the alto recorder. The alto is an excellent choice if you want to play primarily baroque pieces and are playing solo.
Recorders can be made out of plastic or wood. Plastic Recorders are generally much cheaper than wooden ones; starting with a plastic recorder is best. When you improve, you could buy a wooden Recorder. That said, plastic Recorders block up frequently with moisture which affects play. The wooden Recorder usually sounds better and is easier to play but requires a little more looking after.
The standard modern fingering used on most Recorders is Baroque fingering (sometimes called English). Baroque-style Recorder is the standard choice these days. German and Renaissance fingering recorders are the other choices only rarely selected in exceptional circumstances.
Standard pitch recorders are the default choice. Other Baroque-pitched instruments are available for more advanced/specialized players.
There are many makes and models available, so the best place to start is to set a budget. The recommendation is to try several recorders before making a decision. Some Recorders will feel comfortable instantly, so the kinetic feel can play a big part in helping decide on the make/model. Each make and model has different strong points – some are louder, some have more substantial bottom ranges, some play easier in the upper register etc.
Both the soprano and tenor have a bottom note of C though the tenor sounds an octave lower than the soprano. They play in the same way, except the tenor is much bigger! These are the most common choice with many younger players starting with the soprano/descant recorder at school.
The alto has a bottom note of F. Although the finger patterns/positions are the same, they produce different notes. It's best to get comfortable with a soprano or tenor recorder before considering taking on the alto recorder. The alto is an excellent choice if you want to play primarily baroque pieces and are playing solo.
Recorders can be made out of plastic or wood. Plastic Recorders are generally much cheaper than wooden ones; starting with a plastic recorder is best. When you improve, you could buy a wooden Recorder. That said, plastic Recorders block up frequently with moisture which affects play. The wooden Recorder usually sounds better and is easier to play but requires a little more looking after.
The standard modern fingering used on most Recorders is Baroque fingering (sometimes called English). Baroque-style Recorder is the standard choice these days. German and Renaissance fingering recorders are the other choices only rarely selected in exceptional circumstances.
Standard pitch recorders are the default choice. Other Baroque-pitched instruments are available for more advanced/specialized players.
There are many makes and models available, so the best place to start is to set a budget. The recommendation is to try several recorders before making a decision. Some Recorders will feel comfortable instantly, so the kinetic feel can play a big part in helping decide on the make/model. Each make and model has different strong points – some are louder, some have more substantial bottom ranges, some play easier in the upper register etc.