Learn to Play Recorder

Lesson 1: Your First Notes — B and A

  • Play clear, steady B and A without squeaking.
  • Play clear, steady E and D (on your alto staff) without squeaking.
  • Move between them on tongued quarter notes.

Whisper, don’t blow.

The recorder is a low-pressure instrument. You make a sound by speaking the syllable “too” gently into the mouthpiece while covering the right holes. Today you will learn two notes — B and A — and play a short rocking melody between them.

The recorder is a low-pressure instrument. You make a sound by speaking the syllable “too” gently into the mouthpiece while covering the right holes. Today you will learn two notes — E and D on your alto staff, the same fingerings as soprano B and A — and play a short rocking melody between them.

B

E

Cover the thumb hole with the flat pad of your left thumb and the first front hole with your left index finger. Say “too” and sustain.

Cover the thumb hole with the flat pad of your left thumb and the first front hole with your left index finger. Say “too” and sustain — the note on your staff is E.

A

D

Keep the thumb and first finger where they are, and add the second finger. Only the middle finger moves between B and A.

Keep the thumb and first finger where they are, and add the second finger. Only the middle finger moves between E and D on your alto staff.

By ear, first

Before reading anything on the page, play a long B, then a long A, switching at any pace and listening for whether each note speaks cleanly.

Before reading anything on the page, play a long E, then a long D, switching at any pace and listening for whether each note speaks cleanly.

Two minutes, no page — whatever shape your ear suggests.

Play it

Listen for an even sound from start to finish on each note.

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Tongue each note with a soft “too” and keep the air steady through the bar.

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Now play these

After the next lesson adds G, you can play all five three-note songs in the library — read ahead if you like:

After the next lesson adds the third fingering (soprano G, alto C), you can play all five three-note songs in the library — read ahead if you like:

Hot Cross Buns
The simplest song in the curriculum.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
The same three notes in a longer shape.
Rain Rain Go Away
Sits almost entirely on B and A.

When you can play the rocking melody above three times in a row without squeaking or stopping, move on to Lesson 2.

Stuck on the sound? See troubleshooting.