Learn to Play Recorder

Lesson 14: B-flat and the Key of F Major

  • Play Bb4 and Bb5 with the correct cross-fingerings.
  • Play Eb (in both octaves on your alto staff) with the correct cross-fingerings.
  • Play an F major scale and a Renaissance dance in F.
  • Play a Bb major scale (the alto staff transposition of soprano's F) and a Renaissance dance.

F major is the recorder's home key. Bach knew it; Telemann lived in it.

B-flat is the first flat in our curriculum, and like F-sharp it is cross-fingered. The key of F major contains one flat (Bb) and is the natural key of the alto recorder — which is why so much of the recorder's Baroque repertoire is in F.

Today's lesson sits squarely in the alto's home territory: soprano players are learning F major, which on your alto staff transposes to Bb major (two flats: Bb and Eb). The new cross-fingering soprano calls “Bb” you read as Eb. Most Baroque alto music lives here.

Bb4

Eb (low)

Thumb on, left index DOWN, left middle UP, left ring DOWN, right index DOWN. A cross-fingering: down-up-down with a right-hand finger added.

Thumb on, left index DOWN, left middle UP, left ring DOWN, right index DOWN. A cross-fingering: down-up-down with a right-hand finger added — the same fingering soprano calls Bb.

Bb5

Eb (upper)

The high Bb uses a half-vented thumb and an offset upper-hand pattern. It is the trickier of the two; expect the first attempts to crack.

The upper Eb uses a half-vented thumb and an offset upper-hand pattern. It is the trickier of the two; expect the first attempts to crack.

Bb often pops out louder than its neighbours unless you compensate with breath.

Bb major on your alto staff — the cross-fingered Eb often pops out louder than its neighbours unless you compensate with breath.

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Play: a Renaissance dance in F

A short pavane — the slow processional dance of the sixteenth century. Held notes, gentle motion, with the new Bb inside every phrase.

A short pavane — the slow processional dance of the sixteenth century. Held notes, gentle motion, with the new Eb inside every phrase.

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Now play these

Deck the Halls
Bb throughout — ideal practice.
Pavane: Belle qui tiens ma vie
A slow dance with one flat — the Bb you just learned.
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
The Bb sits inside nearly every phrase.

When the F major scale is even, with Bb sitting at the right pitch and volume relative to its neighbours, move on to Lesson 15.

When the Bb major scale on your alto staff is even, with Eb sitting at the right pitch and volume relative to its neighbours, move on to Lesson 15.

Bb popping out too loud? See troubleshooting.