Learn to Play Recorder

Lesson 31: High G and Extended Range

  • Play G5 reliably as the top of your extended C major scale.
  • Play the upper C (on your alto staff) reliably as the top of your extended F major scale.
  • Touch A5, Bb5, and the notes that complete the upper range.
  • Touch the upper D, Eb on your alto staff, and the notes that complete the upper range.

The upper register is the recorder showing what it can do.

G5 is the top of the extended C major scale and the highest note in most intermediate repertoire. Beyond it the notes — A5, Bb5, B5, C6, D6 — grow trickier and the fingerings idiosyncratic.

The upper C on your alto staff is the top of the extended F major scale and the highest note in most intermediate repertoire. Beyond it the notes — D, Eb, E, F, G — grow trickier and the fingerings idiosyncratic.

G5

C (upper)

Thumb half-vented; on the front, the same fingering as G4. The simplest of the upper-octave fingerings — if the half-vent is right, it speaks easily.

Thumb half-vented; on the front, the same fingering as the lower C on your alto staff. The simplest of the upper-octave fingerings — if the half-vent is right, it speaks easily.

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The notes above G5

The notes above the upper C

These fingerings vary by maker — check your instrument's chart. A reasonable starting point:

  • A5 · half-vented thumb, no front fingers covered, right index alone.
  • Bb5 · cross-fingered; pattern depends on your instrument.
  • B5 · thumb half-vented, front fingers as for B4 but offset.
  • C6 and above · specialist territory; check your chart.
  • D (upper) · half-vented thumb, no front fingers covered, right index alone. (Soprano: A5.)
  • Eb (upper) · cross-fingered; pattern depends on your instrument. (Soprano: Bb5.)
  • E (upper) · thumb half-vented, front fingers as for the lower E but offset. (Soprano: B5.)
  • F and above · specialist territory; check your chart.
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Now play these

Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho
A comfortable second-octave workout.
Spring (Vivaldi)
Climbs to E5 and beyond.
Vivaldi: Concerto RV 443 (Largo)
Reaches E5 lyrically — pure tone is the goal.

When G5 speaks cleanly on demand and you can play the extended C major scale evenly, move on to Lesson 32.

When the upper C on your alto staff speaks cleanly on demand and you can play the extended F major scale evenly, move on to Lesson 32.