How can i play the recorder

If breathing slowly through the nose, it is understood that breath enters not only the front of the chest but also both sides of the back. When inhaling breath through the mouth normally, it enters the same locations. When producing sound with a recorder, beginners tend to inhale too much air. While feeling the resistance from the instrument and the pressure rebounding from it, it's best to try and breathe steadily, taking in a moderate volume of air.

Aim for a breathing technique that is controlled, as though singing vocals for a song. It's not necessary to press the finger onto the tone hole with excessive force. Those with large hands or long fingers can cover the holes with the second section of the finger, and it's recommended for each individual to find a playing style that is comfortable and easy for them. When sound is not produced, check whether enough air is being blown into the recorder, or if the breath is being blown into the instrument with too much force.

First, while playing, have another person take a look to see if you are covering the tone holes correctly. Sometimes there are problems such as inadvertently moving the ring finger along with the little finger of the right hand when pressing on the holes, which is difficult to notice by oneself. When blowing the instrument too forcefully, sometimes there is a high-pitched, beep-like sound.

This sound is the harmonic, one octave higher than the intended note, produced because the sound is being forced to rebound onto itself. The problem can be solved by blowing more gently. It is important to control the breath. The fingering chart for an A note is: 0 12 - - - - - To play G: Use the same positioning as for an A note, but this time place your left ring finger on the third hole from the top. The fingering chart for a G note is: 0 - - - - To play C': Cover the back hole with your left thumb, then place your left middle finger on the second hole from the top.

The fingering chart for C' is: 0 - 2 - - - - - To play D': Leave the back hole uncovered and place your left middle finger on the second hole from the top. The fingering chart for D' is: - - 2 - - - - -. Learn the right hand notes. The first notes that you will learn to play using your right hand are E, D and F.

The next two notes that you will learn to play with your right hand are F and C. These two notes can be a little tricky for new players as lot of holes need to be covered at once when playing them. The fingering chart for an E note is: 0 45 - - To play D: Use the same positioning as for an E note, but this time place your right ring finger on the sixth hole from the top.

The fingering chart for a D note is: 0 - To play F : Use the same positioning as for a D note, but this time remove your right index finger from the fourth hole from the top, leaving all other fingers in place. The fingering chart for an F is: 0 - 56 - To play F: Place your left thumb on the back hole, the index, middle and ring fingers of your left hand on the top three holes, the index finger of your right hand on the fourth hole, the ring finger of your right hand on the sixth hole, and the baby finger of your right hand on the seventh hole.

The fingering chart for an F is: 0 4 - 67 To play C: When playing a C, all seven holes are covered. Your left thumb will cover the bottom hole, the index, middle and ring fingers of your left hand will cover the top three holes and the index, middle, ring and baby fingers of your right hand will cover the bottom four.

The fingering chart for a C is: 0 Practice playing simple songs. Part 3. Practice playing high notes. These can become a bit tricky.

To play notes above D', a technique known as "pinching the thumb hole" must be used. Tighten your lips slightly and blow a little harder than usual. Learn the semitones. A semitone is a sound that's halfway between one note and the next, like the sound made by the black keys on a piano. You have already learned one of the most popular semitones - that is, F. Two more semitones that you should learn are Bb and C '. Work on vibrato. Once you have mastered the notes, you can work on your vibrato technique.

A vibrato allows long notes to resonate, creating a nice dynamic effect. There are several ways to accomplish this: Use a diaphragmatic vibrato. Control the flow of air into the recorder by tightening and contracting your diaphragm.

Say, "heh heh heh" but do not cut off the flow of air entirely. Use a tongued tremolo. Say, "yer yer yer yer yer yer" using your tongue to control the airflow.

Use a finger vibrato. While not being a very practical choice for a sustained vibrato, this method is commonly referred to as a trill. Alternately finger the note and the next higher note. Use glissandos. These are created by sliding the fingers off the recorder in quick succession to create a sliding sound.

Part 4. Clean your recorder after each use. It is important to keep your instrument clean both for hygiene reasons and to keep the recorder in good playing condition. Plastic recorders can be washed in the dishwasher or in a sink with warm soapy water.

Take the pieces apart before washing and be sure to rinse all the soap off. The mouthpiece can be cleaned with an old toothbrush or pipe cleaner. Let your recorder dry completely before playing again. For wooden recorders, disassemble the recorder and carefully wipe the moisture off the inside with a soft cloth.

Keep your recorder in a case. Keep the recorder in its case when not in use to prevent chipping or damaging the whistle-like hole at the top, because damage there can render the whole recorder useless. Protect the recorder from extreme temperatures. Protect your instrument against sudden changes of temperature or direct sunlight, and never leave it in a warm car or near a source of heat.

This is particularly important for wooden recorders, but is good practice for any instrument. Learn how to deal with clogging. Condensation of beads of moisture in the windway of the recorder can cause clogging. You can minimize clogging in both plastic and wooden recorders by warming the head joint up to body temperature in your hands, under your arm, or in your pocket before playing.

If water has accumulated in the windway, completely cover the window at the top of the recorder with the one hand and exhale forcefully into the windway. This should clear out any excess moisture. First, try covering the hole with your finger so that it feels closed, then check whether the left hand is moving away from the hole slightly when the right hand is placed on the instrument.

Breathing too fast can also cause this problem. If air isn't blown into the instrument slowly when playing low-pitched notes, the sound waves are prone to rebound on themselves. Try playing while breathing slowly, with the body relaxed. If this can be done, a well-formed low-pitched sound should be produced. Structure Learning the names of its parts How is the sound of a recorder produced?

How to Play Familiar but challenging recorder performances Recorder fingering. Customer service Login. Anyone can learn the recorder by following these 5 easy steps: Learn how to play recorder like a master!

Purchase a recorder. West Music has a wide selection of inexpensive plastic recorders — this is a great place to start — eventually you can move up to a full wood model. They will almost always come with a protective sleeve or pouch and sometimes include an instructional book. Shop Recorders Maintaining a recorder is very simple: wipe it down after playing, disinfect whenever possible, keep it dry, and keep it in its protective case when not in use.

Shop Recorder Accessories Learn how to hold the recorder and make sound. Like all woodwinds, the sound produced is heavily influenced by how the instrument interacts with your mouth and hands.

Your left hand should be positioned closest to your body.