SWITCHING FROM SOPRANO TO ALTO (transposing)

Recorders come in a range of different keys, and for recorder players that means: TRANSPOSING! Or, learning a new set of fingerings and reading the music in a different way, depending on the recorder you are playing.
But how? Why? Which keys will I encounter? How can I tackle this seemingly monumental task? I will try and explain everything and give you some hints and tips for easier transposition!
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Note: Recorders come in different tunings too (442 Hz modern pitch, 415 Hz baroque pitch etc) - and these do not need to be transposed, they will just sound higher or lower :)
Resources mentioned:
- 'Altblockflötenreise' by Daniel Hellbach
- 'Der Fluyten Lust Hof' by Jacob van Eyck
- Renaissance consort music can be downloaded for free at www.imslp.org
In this video I play on a 440 soprano by Yamaha (mine sounds more like 438, haha), a 440 G alto by Stephan Blezinger, a 440 F alto by Yoav Ran, and a 415 voiceflute by Tim Cranmore.
Oooh SUBSCRIBE to my channel for weekly videos on all aspects of recorder playing! I love to hear from you guys too, so leave me a comment, and tell me if you have a request for a video.
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Website: www.sarahjeffery.com
Twitter/Instagram @sockmyshoe
Go #teamrecorder

[@RolfLunheim]

I often "cheat" when playing alto recorder: I look for a score on Musescore and use the software to transpose the alto recorder part down 5 semitones and play soprano fingering according to the transposed score (remember to only transpose, and then mute, the recorder part if the score has other instruments and you are using that as accompagnement). If the score is written for soprano, I transpose 5 semitones up and use the soprano fingering on my alto. It is a lazy approach, but useful when you are are a casual alto player.

[@samanthathompson9812]

I need something like this; i cant adjust my mind to the alto fingerings. What software do you use?

[@RaabStephan]

@@samanthathompson9812 MuseScore

[@maurmi]

I cheat by rewriting the music in a manuscript book in the different key eg when the piece is in c major, I rewrite it in g major if I want to play my Alto recorder

[@suzecruze1]

You are brilliant. I started on tenor and am now boiling my brain with alto. What a journey you have sent me on, lovely girl. Lock down is becoming an absolute joy. You have really helped me. Thank you xxx

[@ericeng9663]

Thank you, Sarah, for the excellent videos. I started practising on the soprano and alto(because I bought it out of curiosity, 30yrs ago) diligently 3 mths ago. And with the current lockdown all over the world, your tutorials have been most helpful and encouraging. Your infectious enthusiasm has definitely rubbed off on me. You're definitely a great help to us beginners. Thank you. :)

[@mmuchela]

we mercy (that means yes thank you )

[@paulagreen8639]

Hi Sarah, I use your videos occasionally while teaching music to 250 Elementary school students from Grades 1-8 (sometimes I have kindergarten too), here in Canada. I appreciate your work. I've been teaching music for many moons. I love recorders for all the obvious reasons that music teachers love recorders. I start students at the age of 7 on soprano and keep them playing soprano for the first couple of years until their fingers are big enough for alto recorder and keep them playing alto until the age of 12, when I switch them over to ukelele and guitar during their teen years. When I first started teaching altos, I made a BIG decision. I decided then and there to rewrite (transpose) all my piano and guitar accompaniment music instead of reteaching my young students different fingering. So I transpose my music. It's a lot of work on my part. We play songs from musicals, pop songs, celtic and baroque music, country, spirituals, etc... Sometimes I can find a piece of music that I don't have to transpose on piano, sometimes I have tenors and altos (and some bass and soprano) all in the same class, usually grade 6 or 7 students, in which case I write the "parts". I enjoy writing arrangements. It's kind of like reinventing the wheel, but I have been doing it for so long now that I have a repertoire of recorder music in SATB, written so the kids don't have to relearn new fingering. This improves their confidence, enjoyment and sound quality, as they progressively get better and better each year and I enjoy listening to their sound. I admire teachers who can reteach alto fingering to young students after they've been playing soprano for a few years. And I admire students who can do it. But I made the "call" years ago not to do this. And this method of pedagogy has been working for me.

[@allencheung7144]

I will work hard.

[@steynbergart]

Hi Sarah! Could you maybe do a video on alternative fingerings? Why and when you should use them? Amazing videos!!!

[@marrisasmakeup8084]

You never stop making me laugh. Never stop making recorders look so cool!

[@KrisHughes]

I played both the clarinet and other reed woodwinds before I took up the recorder. So I basically switch from low-register clarinet fingerings (F recorders) to "normal" woodwind fingerings (C recorders).

[@brumm3653]

- How to learn to transpose? - PRACTICE! - Umm, okay, never mind...

[@Maxncheesey4]

Lol

[@barcher]

This is video I've been looking for. Your genius lies in your ability to explain things simply. Thank you so much!

[@argonwheatbelly637]

Love this!!! I remember transposing the performers' sheets from my orchestral score in jazz band in college. Definitely: Practice, Practice, Practice. It will come naturally.

[@sierra6649]

This is a super excellent video. I love the suggestions for the orientation note when transposing on the fly.

[@coldfusionmusical]

Great tips and inspiration! even for me as a string player, I think I really need to learn from you guys the skill of transposing, I realized that it's actually very helpful and necessary when playing with a contemporary band. Also gives me a greater appreciation for my oboe as well! Love your videos, thanks.

[@jcmartins_music]

It's a pleasure to watch you: the contents, the accent, the sympathy. Well done! :)

[@mulberrygarden]

I was at this workshop. Great fun and some lovely sounds. Thanks Sarah.

[@Team_Recorder]

It was lovely to have you there Marianne - and thank you for all of your organisation!

[@muddygobeille]

Thanks SO much. I'm going to need to watch this probably 100 more times. But, you got me on the right track!

[@RudiSchmitt]

Yes, it was very helpful. Thank you very much!

[@mrbrown6421]

Excellent. Thank you ma'am. I'm shifting away from fiddle and can read music, so everything you said was... ...music to my ears! And as usual... THanks for THinking!

[@derpybeardeddragons4funand244]

I love your videos! Thank you for sharing a non judgemental love of music with much needed info!!!!!

[@monitonia]

Awesome! Just got into the Recorder world and your videos have been quite helpful!

[@herb2968]

hi Sarah. i discovered the recorder about a month ago. Your videos have been most helpful and, at the same time, entertaining. im preparing to move on to an alto recorder (from a soprano) and have been sweating transposition. this video gives me an optimistic outlook on that, for which im grateful. thank you and may God bless you. presently waiting for my aulos (haka) alto to arrive. 8 )

[@m1m5yp28]

Liked the tip about finding a note then moving up and down (the stairs) from that. Love your videos.

[@benoitpiche1076]

You're very instructive. And lovely. Cheers from Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.

[@cnewtonc]

I use the same fingering for all recorders. I simply transpose the music instead of learning a new key. This is an old way of transposition but is very effective. Good video.

[@SauliusTheBlack]

this is also the way my wife, who plays horn in F, plays her music. Which is what I do for my Alto as well, since it is easier to do :D

[@cnewtonc]

@@SauliusTheBlack I really don't understand why would people use a different fingering for the different types of recorders. That would be like making all instruments in the world be in the *KEY of C* than telling everyone you must learn the different fingerings for the SAME INSTRUMENT. For example, The E-Flat Alto Sax, B-Flat Tenor Sax, and the C Natural Tenor Sax WOULD ALL HAVING DIFFERENT FINGERINGS. Same thing would happened for the French Horns and Clarinets. It would really get crazy. *For this reason the ART of transposing is a much better option*

[@SauliusTheBlack]

@@cnewtonc Ah, but there is an issue as well with only transposing. It becomes hard to play together without sheet music that is tailored to your instrument..

[@cnewtonc]

@@SauliusTheBlack True but remember that a good conductor, teacher, or band leader that is teaching would always take that into consideration. I play many instruments including teaching the recorder (for beginners). For 3 years I conducted a 9 piece recorder group. I always took the responsibility of transposing the music for the ALTO and BASS recorders in F. This way once the student learn to play the soprano or alto recorder they can then play all the others without learning any new fingering. Here is the best part: Once they are done with the recorders. They can use similar fingerings for the Saxophones and Flutes/Oboes. As you know the Clarinet is the only one that requires additional fingering depending on the octave. This is a great time saver for the student.

[@CarmellaNYC]

@@cnewtonc I have just learnt to read music and play the saprano, I would love to play the Alto so my question is can I still play the Alto with the same sheet music and play it exactly the same as I would the saprano, I would be playing solo.

[@hannatenzijthoff8032]

Heel duidelijk uitgelegd ! I can follow the english instructions quite well. Now on to some practice !

[@hakonsoreide]

I do exactly what you mention towards the end: I play the alto, but I transpose my sheet music to do the fingering as if it was in C. It just makes it easier since I know the soprano-fingerings so well already, and as a hobbyist torn between several creative activities, I just can't seem to make the time and effort to learn to sightread in F. I could still play with other instruments, I would just have to transpose my sheet music accordingly.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Here's a transposed alto recorder method that comes w/ a Plastic alto recorder: www.maciepublishing.com/transposed-alto-recorder-package-includes-be-a-recorder-star-transposed-alto-recorder-method-book-play-along-compact-disc-alto-recorder-with-zipper-bag-cleaning-rod-and-adhesive-coin.html

[@jonathanhutchinson4081]

CircuitsAndStrings 2 Mr Stern ljhgay Erfhhbnvxasdx

[@mayabaroom4046]

ME TOO!!!

[@hakonsoreide]

Maya Baroom It’s so much easier, isn’t it? Other brass and woodwind players get their sheet music transposed, so why not recorders? I’m quite happy just to be able to sightread and play as if it were in C. Some musicians can’t sightread at all...

[@philipbengtson7066]

Hakon Soreide )

[@lys2303]

I love your vid, you have great humour and make me laugh. And your advice is excellent, I shall definitely look into those books. I can transpose for my alto but not as fast as reading soprano which makes alto sightreading difficult so your video gave some great tips. Also my alto is German so different fingering to baroque, which is another headache! But I love my German alto dearly. Thank you for your video, sending smiles and happiness your way 💚

[@edwardblair4096]

The big advantage to having all the parts in "concert pitch" and adjusting your fingerings to match the recorder, vs. having separately transposed music so you can use the same fingerings all the time, can be seen in renaissance consort music. Depending on how it is composed, you often find a part that fits on two adjacent sizes of recorder. For instance it could either fall in the lower range of a soprano, or the upper range of an alto. If you are doing the transposition, then from the same set of printed music you can try playing it both ways to determine which sounds better. It is also very useful to learn to transpose at the octave. While most common with the alto, it can come in handy when you play an alto part written in the upper octave (i.e. the same clef as the soprano but going below C) on a tenor recorder.

[@norwoodbaybridge761]

This wonderful video was very helpful. Thanks.

[@TheMtnmamma]

I have been debating and Finally decided for a number of reasons to try to learn the fingerings for the alto recorder, in F as I already have 2 And I feel like it’ll be good for my old brain.Thank you so much for your encouragement.

[@hectoraguilar770]

Hi Sarah. It really works the same fingering in the alto recorder as in the soprano recorder. This is fantastic!! Now I'm interested to get the bass recorder and the tenor recorder. So far I've got the soprano recorder played in the D clef and the alto recorder played in the G clef. Maybe when I get the tenor recorder, I'm gonna try first in C clef and the bass recorder in F clef. Also there is a Cleine (small) recorder (highest notes) may be played in the D clef or A clef. Greetings from Tijuana!!

[@communityband1]

Your videos are really awesome! As a thinking point though, this is one thing I've never liked about how recorder is treated. Instead of learning alternate fingerings for each recorder, I prefer to think of it as a transposing instrument, like other woodwinds, where the bottom note always has the same name and simply sounds at a different pitch. I then do the mental adjustments at the sheet music, learning to read the notes at a transposed interval (or in a sense thinking of it as a different clef). I've found this to be useful for me because the skill can then be applied to any instrument when there's a need to play in a different key to match pitch with an accompaniment or other players.

[@estellecote2247]

Soooo helpful! Thank you!

[@brianrichards5538]

Fun and helpful video. Having first learned on a soprano, I'm most "at home" on that and my tenor. When the ranges force me to use the alto (or rarely sopranino), I have two options -- 1) practice carefully with the correct F fingerings, or 2) for important and/or complex parts when practice time is limited, transpose the score so I can play my alto as though it were a soprano. Computer scoring software makes this easy (well, easier than handwriting and transposing as you go) -- simply copy the C part into the software, then transpose the whole thing with a couple keystrokes, and finally adjust the key signature and accidentals.

[@RolandHutchinson]

The more you do (1), the better and quicker you'll get at it. As a pianist friend of mine used to say, "practice makes better." But, yeah, the computer is a godsend for transposing any kind of part without errors! A lot of the available software will even adjust the key signature and accidentals correctly for you if you ask it the right way. (I know this is true of Sibelius, Finale, and Lilypond, for example.)

[@thomaskrauspe2884]

very helpful & useful!! Thanks a Lot👍🙏🙏❣

[@billelliott4217]

Thank You. This helps a lot!

[@NucleicWit]

Magnificent. Thank you.

[@1cleandude]

Awesome and inspiring my sweet!🙏🙏🙏

[@innyswiat5905]

Thanks a lot. You are amazing! :)

[@mmuchela]

i like the way you got on the newspaper so you are the news of the month

[@grumpygoat4515]

Hah! The very things that have been driving me nuts just lately! I downloaded Mozart's Requiem and attacked the vocal parts of the Introit and Kyrie with a variety of recorders. I've sung the Bass, and I think I know it reasonably well, so tried this with an Alto recorder (because I don't own a Bass on account of cost and availability) and quickly discovered the problems of trying to sight-read an F instrument in the bass clef. The tenor part, attacked and beaten into submission with my Tenor is a lot easier. This is primarily because I can turn the treble clef dots directly into fingering without all that tiresome translating the notes into names and then translating the names into fingering. Definitely take your point about learning to play by ear. Reading music is, of course, the proper way to do it (and my sight-reading is truly appalling!) but being able to pick up an instrument and jam along is a skill that I try so hard to have.

[@neilphilpott9750]

Genius as usual, thanks ++

[@robertoituporanga1152]

Wonderful!

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

Hi Sarah - love your tutorials! I started playing alto about 8 years ago, after playing soprano from the age of eight (with a huge gap of over 30 years), and found it very difficult. I tried all sorts of ways to cheat, including just pretending it was a sop., but eventually decided to learn the alto properly as though it was a completely new and different instrument: it was hard but now it's automatic (most of the time!) You are correct that we should make the effort to learn the different fingerings because ultimately it makes life easier (says the woman who only knows F and C lol)

[@jimbrownza]

Spend time with your recorder and not worry about dots on the page... I loved that part. (Possibly because it's the only part I understood?)

[@hectoraguilar770]

Hi Sarah! Now I have 5 different recorders. I develop for each recorder a different key signature. Yes, this is a new stuff for the music new staffs!! And, I'd like to show you these new key signatures that are fitting accordingly in the complete voices to each recorder you can think of!! well, I didn't know it was a G alto Recorder (wich would the one I'd love to get now!) And I know for sure in what key signature could be played right on! I will show you these new key signatures, but it would be in another better time. Just let me to put all these straight up! and I will show you later about the new key signatures I've got so far! These are awesome inventions for the good of the Recorders. And besides Sarah, I've found new high sounds in each of all the recorders. 38 sounds in each recorder! Well, I hope to write next time over these discoveries pretty soon. 21st century, is the newest formidable era for the recorder instrument performance! Greetings from Tijuana!

[@pukalo]

When I use an F recorder I finger the notes like a clarinet playing in the chalumeau register but I apply that fingering to the first 2 octaves.

[@celloefra]

I learned on how to transpose to the alto or F recorders I think of the clarinet/basson middle to low register fingering and it works for me 🤷‍♂️. The other ones i use the movable C clef

[@the_testudine]

Hi Sarah! I just want to say that your videos have been so helpful to me! It's great to have a resource like your channel when I don't really have a teacher. I have come across transposition in some pieces I want to play. I realized that some recordings I have found play pieces in different keys!? Is it common to transpose renaissance music like this? And do you have any tips to help figure out weather a piece is transposed or meant to be played in baroque pitch vs. modern pitch? I hope this makes sense haha. Thanks!!

[@rusty728]

Wow, this girl is amazing... playing two recorders at the same time in different keys and with both hands. Oh, and I love the accent.

[@astershairclip6284]

I'm a fan!

[@willemkossen]

Helpful episode! I started in my youth with a clarinet in b-flat. I transposed a lot to play with others. Interestingly, its not the lowest note thats a b-flat. Then there is this scenario: i want to play a piece but the recorder is missing a low or high note or two. A few times I have transposed the piece to another key to make it fit the recorder (or any instrument including voice). I use musescore for that...

[@andreacareless4141]

Well, it's called a B flat instrument, but the B flat you play on a clarinet is really a C, right? Or something like that. I should Google it, but I'm too lazy. :-) And,, yes, the lowest note is an F.... Oh, I'm all confused.

[@willemkossen]

Its quite simple. If everyone plays c, the clarinet plays d which sounds like c.

[@berenicesaxon6136]

What a wonderful series you provide . . . thank you! Question: The F is a bit hard on my hand. Where can I find an Alto recorder in the Key of G?

[@Derek-xf3eu]

This is exactly what I was wondering about while rethinking what recorder to buy.

[@andreacareless4141]

Actually, forget all that stuff I wrote about the clarinet, it only makes sense to me! I find it has helped me to just think that each recorder is a different instrument and then I don't get all fussed. They have different fingering, just like a clarinet and flute and oboe. But the nice thing, as with those woodwinds, is the fingering is similar. Sort of. I know what key they're in, as with a B flat clarinet and a C flute, but I don't need to be aware that they're different in terms of intervals.

[@obivincent6289]

Great!

[@rodrigopelaez5927]

I love you!

[@victoriaeagle]

As a saxophone player I cannot understand why recorders do not use same fingering. It would make life so much easier! Saxophones come in Eb and Bb but fingering for all notes is the same for all types of saxophones. Someone has to make revolution in recorder fingering!

[@RolandHutchinson]

Short answer: what do you do when you have to play music that was written for voices or for strings or for unspecified instruments? That is the music that forms the backbone of the recorder consort repertoire. It would be a horrible pain (yeah, I know, sax players are into suffering, whatevs!) to have to copy out parts in a different key for music that recorders play, when concert-pitch parts are already available. (Well, its relatively easy if there's a computerized version of the score and it is in a file format for a program that you have or in MusicXML, but that is nowhere near to being always the case.) Sax ensembles sound great on much of the same repertoire. Too bad you couldn't read it if you wanted to play (say) all of Holborne or all of Praetorius's Terpsichore, or all of Gabrielli's canzonas or Gesualdo's madrigals. But can't advanced sax players read at concert pitch, too? What happens if you are confronted with, say, a lead sheet in concert pitch?

[@allanjmcpherson]

Another great exercise is to figure out the same melody starting on different notes on the same instrument. For example, you could start by playing hot cross buns starting on a C, then starting on a D, then an E, then F, then G, etc.

[@robinparkes9]

My daughter was one of only two in her class who were able to switch between descant to treble recorders without having to transpose. That was in primary school.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UCtrtCvRBjJgqZaD17FDg64Q Recorders come in all 12 Keys (Sharp keys are Renaissance variants while Flat keys are Baroque variants) & having the whole family of recorders in every key is great cause it makes it easier to transpose on the fly to match the ranges of other instruments, vocalists, or even both especially on a church gig.

[@Horsefly77]

A very helpful video indeed.... I just bought my first alto- in f- and spent the afternoon experimenting with it. I will definitely take your suggestions and advice into conideration next time I practise. Btw I noticed that my tonguing was very clearly audible, like in a rather annoying way. What do you think I should do?

[@Team_Recorder]

+Vritomartis Hmm, it sounds like you are moving too much of your tongue- try moving only the tip of the tongue when articulating, and always hit the same point in your mouth!

[@Horsefly77]

Thanks a lot!!!! I' ll try it and I' ll let you know!

[@guitarradicto]

Sarah !! Hello, your videos have been helpful for me. Thank you. Could you make a video about your recorder in g? I just bought one because I like old music but where I live it is difficult to obtain teaching materials. Saludos fromo Chile :D

[@guitarradicto]

sorry for my english

[@Team_Recorder]

Hi Rafael, good idea! I'll add it to my list of video topics - stay posted :)

[@Trumpophone7]

fromo lol

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Sarah Jeffery / Team Recorder Speaking of alto recorder w/ Soprano fingerings get this package right here & review it, it comes w/ a plastic alto recorder that's easy to clean:www.maciepublishing.com/transposed-alto-recorder-package-includes-be-a-recorder-star-transposed-alto-recorder-method-book-play-along-compact-disc-alto-recorder-with-zipper-bag-cleaning-rod-and-adhesive-coin.html. BTW although Recorders come in all 12 keys there's a catch to writing music for them, the recorders in sharp keys like C-sharp & F-sharp transpose up a half step from concert pitch (like renaissance recorders), while the flat key recorders in B, F-flat (or E) transpose down a half step (like baroque recorders). The Tim Cranmore D tenor recorder was in Baroque pitch, so it's really a C-sharp Tenor recorder & it transposes down a half step from concert pitch. If you're reading alto recorder music w/ soprano fingerings from this Transposed alto recorder method book, it would transpose up a perfect fourth.

[@steverocksyo]

Can you point me to a B flat concert pitch recorder (or something that can be tuned half note lower)? Thanks!

[@hectoraguilar770]

Hi Sarah. My brother and I just got our alto recorder, we are happy. Today I ordered the sopranino. Tonight I'm gonna try to find out some more sounds using the same fingering I did with the soprano recorder, in order to add more high new notes. My intention is to get the highest F. I found out in the soprano the highest C (2) and I'm writing the music in the D cleft. So my intention now is to find out if the alto it's possible to be played in the C clef. Maybe I'll keep it in the G clef but putting the first E (012345678) under the third additional line below. And the F (01234567) over the third additional below the G clef. Or start working in the C clef somehow. Anyways, my intention is to get more sounds high pitches in my alto recorder as I did in my soprano recorder. Later on, I will let you know what i have discovered so far for the good if the recorders. Greetings from Tijuana!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UCtrtCvRBjJgqZaD17FDg64Q 5:36 That's actually a C# Tenor Recorder & it transposes down half a step from Concert Pitch. Recorders pitched in Sharp & Flat keys (cause they're either Renaissance or Baroque Recorders) are much more common these days cause you can now use them for coverings songs by Guns & Roses.

[@emilylyon8906]

Hi great video. When you said about playing an alto with the soprano fingering is fine do you think it will pass for my gcses cause im wanting to get a plastic bass for my bday and i think its in f but i was worried that playing it as if it was in c would ruin the results i get. Im wanting to get the thomann bass recorder.

[@Team_Recorder]

Hi Emily! Hmm, to be honest for these exams I would recommend learning the proper fingerings. You will need that anyway if you play with an accompaniest, and even if you play solo, you may have an eagle-eared (is that a thing?) adjudicator who wonders why you're playing in a dfferent key than the score. In any case. it takes a bit of effort to learn a new transposition, but it's a really worthwhile skill you'll have forever! The exception is - bass and alto are both in F, so if you can already play the alto, it's fine to read the bass in treble clef, you don't *have* to learn bass clef too :) Good luck with your GCSEs!! (and hopefully an encouraging story: my GCSE music teacher messed up and sent THE WRONG COMPOSITION off to be marked; instead of the one I'd spent months on, she sent the very first sketch I'd ever tried. It was bad. Like, just a keyboard backing track with a 5 note melody. And I passed! So you'll be great :)

[@emilylyon8906]

Aww thanks that did really make me laugh 🤗 Thx for the advice it really helped

[@2000konnie]

It might be an idea to remake this video to just reference C and F keys. I guess you would say the "dumbed down" version for people who will (probably) never buy a custom made instrument. Just a thought.

[@DeePorterfield]

Sarah, - Your videos are so, so helpful to those of us not near a recorder group or teacher. I just started trying to learn the alto recorder in "F" after playing the soprano recorder initially. I accidentally discovered that I could take my french horn music with piano accompaniments, play the horn music on the alto, using the soprano fingerings for the notes and it will work beautifully with the accompaniment. Go figure. I guess it is because both instruments are "F" instruments. I figure that is cheating though, so I'm making myself learn the F and the C fingerings. One question - is there a source you would recommend to order the Hellbach book for those of us in the States? I haven't found a U.S. source yet.

[@RolandHutchinson]

The publisher may or may not have a US distrubutor (you can send email them and ask). If so, any music shop (including your favorite recorder or early-music specialists) should be able to obtain the book for you. If not, you can usually order direct from the publisher and certainly order from a retailer in Europe who carries their titles (such as Broekman & v. P.). It pays to shop around for the cheapest shipping from Europe--actual rates charged to the vendors vary by country. You can also ask about exemption from VAT/MwSt/etc. if applicable.

[@EverettCDavis]

When I was in second grade, I got to take this recorder class and at the end of the year, class got to try tenor and alto recorders. I played alto recorder, but I never learned how to transpose and we kept using the same book as before. Kinda weird.

[@sleepydrJ]

Do you find you play your G alto more often using actual G fingerings, or as a transposing instrument to play 6 foot pitch etc???

[@jeayae4941]

What keys can the Alto (F) recorder also play in? Thanks! Enjoy your videos!

[@Michael-ig8ih]

When I was in high school I played F recorders as if they were on C, ignoring any transposition. A few years ago I tried to learn them correctly, and somehow I picked up on it right away.

[@astershairclip6284]

Thx

[@andreacareless4141]

If you play clarinet (B flat, that is) it can (might?) be easier to learn the fingering for alto. It is for me, anyway. That's because the fingering for the notes are the same. Well, kind of sort of. Anyway, it works for me, haha. My problem is if I'm playing alto and then suddenly switch to soprano, my mind can forget and I switch to using alto/clarinetish fingering. And, of course, when I'm alto, sometimes I start reading in soprano. And if I'm playing tenor and suddenly switch to soprano, my stretched out fingers have to adjust to being on a smaller instrument. And on and on..... :-)

[@soumyaduggirala9186]

Andrea Careless for me both soprano and alto fingerings are easy knowing b flat clarinet fingerings. The lower register of the clarinet is similar to alto, and the upper register is similar soprano. There are still differences though which is causes occasional confusion.

[@soumyaduggirala9186]

Actually not just b flat clarinets, but all clarinets, since no matter what key the clarinet is in, the fingerings are all the same

[@lesliefranklin1870]

A difference between a clarinet and a saxophone is that a clarinet overblows a 12th whereas a saxophone overblows an octave. The clarinet upper register fingerings are similar to saxophone or C recorder fingerings. The clarinet lower register fingerings are similar to F recorder fingerings.

[@lesliefranklin1870]

Note that I played bass clarinet for a while and often had play parts written for bassoon. Transposing from C bassoon in bass clef to Bb bass clarinet in treble clef is challenging, but doable.

[@SeekerLancer]

@@soumyaduggirala9186 That's because the sheet music for clarinets and most instrument families is transposed to concert pitch fingerings.

[@wizardofthevalley4767]

When writing for alto recorder, should It be written in concert pitch or transposed?

[@Team_Recorder]

Concert pitch! (but it’s still written an octave lower than it sounds)

[@RolandHutchinson]

​@@Team_Recorder I respectfully beg leave to disagree. Surely most modern music for alto recorder (including but by no means limited to that avant-garde literature that you play with such aplomb) is written in concert pitch in the octave it sounds, with the lowest note on the alto is written as first-space F. Is not the octave-lower convention basically for music that we have to share with voices or with "'viols, violins, or other wind instruments" as that nice Mr Holborne put it? (I write "we" reluctantly or perhaps figuratively --- small-time recorder player, big-time violist da gamba here, who incidentally still remembers having to learn to read alto clef on a tenor recorder in a big hurry, once upon a time.)

[@rafaelserrano404]

Can we just learn one finger in and write it on the paper differently like clarinets and trumpets or saxophone

[@asukalangleysoryu6695]

@Arigato Cat Forbidden recorder techniques

[@RolandHutchinson]

We could, but did you ever notice how sax quartets are restricted to playing music that has been especially written or arranged for sax quartet? Recorder players could not live with that sort of restriction.

[@petefromdownthestreet680]

This was pretty confusing to me, and I just have one question. I don't have much experience on the soprano recorder, but I am getting a basset(I plan to stick with the basset). Do I have to learn to transpose, per sē, or will a learning book with fingerings already be in basset key(F)?

[@belindahunt9365]

How well should someone know one size of recorder before learning the next size in a different key? Is it possible for a beginner to learn two simultaneously?

[@espr7564]

Sarah is amusing !!!!

[@marcydoyle9279]

Hello Sarah (and anyone else who can help) I am a soprano and am about to record my own version of Pie Jesu (Lloyd-Webber) and as I don’t have a soprano boy hiding in my cupboard; I am wondering if I can play the mezzo soprano part as it is written with an alto recorder or should I use a tenor recorder?

[@Eloise007]

For alto recorders, how can I place my fingers lower than F? Like notes E, D and C for soprano

[@Dron008]

You cannot. That's a problem. In the video there was actually nothing about transposing. You need to move each note up or down to the equal number of semitones not forgetting that there is only one semitone between 1) E and F; 2) B and C. So if you have melody D-E-C you may transpose it 2 semitones higher and play it as E-F#-D. Yes I know it is much more complicated, you cannot name the note F#, it depends on key signature. But if you just play these notes is will be the same melody transposed. The problem is that it may be very hard to play so choosing the transposition you may take into account not only how it sounds but also how easy is fingering. So long story short just count the same number of semitones for each note in this sequence: C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C...

[@hezarfen777]

E, d and c on the alto are in fact the same pitch as the low e, d,c on the soprano (the soprano sounds one octave higher than written). But that's not what you wanted to know. The easiest trick to use if you want to play music written for the soprano or the flute on an alto is to pretend you are holding a soprano in your hands and use the note-fingering relationships of the soprano, that is, you transpose the piece a fourth upwards. Works fine if you play by yourself.

[@voyager8148]

If you want to play this music in the same key as everyobe else, you play the whole piece an octave higher than it is written (still using F fingering). This is tricky at first, but after a little practice, it's not very hard.

[@lulachthesimple]

I'm new to ALTO recorder. Let me get this right - we play our (transposed) manuscript parts as written, exactly the same fingerings etc as the descant recorder, but obviously a lower note comes out. We only need to transpose if we're reading an untransposed part, say a voice part..? Happy for anyone to reply, not asking Sarah specifically.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@rahBlokfluit @UCtrtCvRBjJgqZaD17FDg64Q Some of the Recorders are at 520 HZ (which Transpose up a minor third from Concert pitch) because he didn't want to waste keys. I've just found the Renaissance recorder Database:www.recorderhomepage.net/renaissance/instrumentslist.php?pageno=1&t=Instruments&recperpage=ALL & it shows me that alot of those recorders are pitched in Sharp Keys like C-sharp, F-sharp, G-Sharp, A-sharp, D-sharp. Renaissance recorders are pitched in sharp keys, but they actually transpose up a half step.

[@ShawnSlapsDaBass]

The alto recorder either transposes down a fifth (coming from C fingerings), or sounds down an octave from the F fingerings?

[@RolandHutchinson]

It always sounds a fifth lower than the same fingering on the soprano (which is the same a fourth higher than the same fingering on the tenor). The trick is that we read alto recorder parts in one of two octaves. For baroque solos and chamber music (sonatas, etc.) and orchestral parts, we read C just above the middle of the treble staff (third space C) as our first octave C and the C above the staff (two ledger lines, "high c") as our second octave C. That is to say, respectively as fingered 123 --- - with the thumb on and with the thumb "pinched" to vent the upper octave. The other notes are of course read correspondingly. These are the actual pitches. This is also how most music that is edited specifically for recorders and modern music composed for alto recorder will be notated for the instrument. When, however, we play the alto line in vocal polyphony, or a part that might otherwise be played on a second violin or viola for instrumental music, etc. then we read C just below the staff (one ledger line, middle c) as our lower octave C and C in the staff (fourth space) as our upper octave C, and the other notes of course correspondingly. Here the alto recorder is sounding an octave above the notation. The other recorders also sound an octave above where voices or stringed instruments would sound. A recorder consort playing a madrigal, hymn, or dance will thus normally (unless it's a group of HUGE recorders from tenor down to contrabass!) by playing an octave above the score -- though this may not be obvious to the listener unless there are really high soprano parts! Way back around the year 1600, no less a figure than the great Michael Praetorius commented that people often regard the recorders as sounding an octave lower than they actually play. Nowadays, we explain this as a psychoacoustical effect of the relatively small number of overtones in the recorder's sound spectrum.

[@jeayae4941]

I’m still confused😐 what keys are the alto recorder made for?

[@agnesness925]

Is it a good idea to learn them together? I am only in the first 3 months with learning the soprano may be could add the alto as well now. is it a good idea?

[@stefaniedecoster2772]

Hi, I hope you did add an alto early on! I added alto much later on and started off playing very simple excesises and 'saying' the name of the note in my head as I was playing it with alto fingering. It didn't take long for it to feel natural.

[@samanthathompson9812]

I started on transverse flute (many years of study) and the soprano recorder fingerings were so similar. I want to play the alto recorder but my mind simply can't deal with the oh-so-familiar fingerings being totally different notes. I just can't adjust. It's frustrating.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@rahBlokfluit @UCtrtCvRBjJgqZaD17FDg64Q Recorders come in all 12 keys, but there's a catch, recorders in sharp keys transpose up a half step, while the recorders in flat keys (Baroque Pitch) transpose down a half step.

[@ghostmoon94]

So would something written in G on a soprano be transposed to the key of D on an alto? If you are using sheet music, shouldn't the fingerings be pretty much the same? Like if you see a C on the page of a sheet that has already been transposed for alto, wouldn't you play it with the thumb and 2nd finger? Is it more beneficial to just memorize the notes or to be transposing on the sheet? Sorry for all the questions! lol

[@tristanvarsovia]

Hi Sarah, I played the soprano recorder back in high school and college as a hobby, and now that Im retired, Im interested in playing the recorder again, but this tume in alto in f (the soprano soinds too high for me). How do I play the middle c, d and e on the alto in f if I use the alro fingeeing? Can I just use the soprano fingering and transpose the notes instead?

[@communityband1]

Yes, you can definitely use the soprano fingerings and instead transpose the music, either physically or mentally. And this is actually by far the best way to do it! If you learn new fingerings for each recorder, you'll pick up a skill that's useful for recorder playing. But if instead you learn to read the notes on the staff at a transposed interval, you will have a skill that applies to any instrument you ever play. It will also make you more versatile even when the music is already written to match the key of your recorder. You may for example find yourself in a situation where someone wants to play along with you on a different instrument, but they don't know how to transpose. You'll be able to adapt to their needs. Or you may be playing along with a recording that was done in a different key, or with a singer whose vocal range doesn't fit the music. There is also crossover here with learning to play by ear since learning to read music transposed forces us to think a little about music theory. If we think about it, music clefs already show the value of this technique. When we read different clefs, we convince our minds that the name of a pitch on a 5 line staff is different depending on the clef. It's really no different when learning to read music at a transposed interval. We even saw an example in this video of how easily this becomes a useful skill in unexpected ways. Sarah talked about how for one of her fingering changes, she thinks of the music as if it's actually in bass clef with a different key signature. That's the sort of tool that opens up for us when we learn to read the music itself in a different way rather than learning new fingerings.

[@voyager8148]

Most alto players learn to play sheet music an octave higher than written if the melody goes below F. This technique actually makes you in unison with a soprano playing the same piece, as the soprano automatically plays an octave higher than written.

[@WuMbLicALZiPPeRs]

Can you play suprano sheet music on a alto recorder because I like the sound of alto better but their are more tutorials and visual fingering for sopranos but I don't know if the same fingering makes different noises on each?

[@xDarkenPixie]

Was trying to figure out the same thing. :/

[@ErnestoValt]

@@xDarkenPixie As far as I know, of course, such fingering produces different sounds in a soprano than in an alto recorder. If you cover all the holes in a soprano you have a C, whereas in an alto is an F. You can check it in the fingering chart included when buying your recorder, or available on the internet in many sites for free.

[@brumm3653]

It's not illegal (but check your local law :D). It would just sound lower, in a different key.

[@eleonorer.6861]

In fact, she answers to your question at 14:26... You can play on your alto as if it were a soprano... it will sound perfectly fine as long as you don't play with other people... so alone in your backyard is ok..

[@CarmellaNYC]

I I used to play the recorder many moons ago at school, I was thinking of taking it up again but really like the alto recorder sound as it's not so shrill. Can I play this with sized fingers? Also the funds I know on basic school recorder can I still play this on the alto? I'm assuming I have to learn completely different.

[@RolandHutchinson]

You can certainly play the tunes you already know with the fingerings you know for them -- they will just come out in a different key. On alto they will come out four notes -- a "fifth" -- lower. (We count both the first and the last note when we name intervals, so for instance the note with thumb and three fingers of the left hand on their holes, produces G on the soprano, but [counting down: G - F - E - D - C] C on the alto.) Its not hard to learn the "F fingerings" for alto. Since you already have your basic recorder skills learned on the soprano at school, you could just go through any method book for alto recorder (Sarah has a great video on these; see also the comments on it for additional possibilities). This will teach you where the notes are on the alto -- you will start to think of that three-finger note as C when you are playing alto. The three-finger "Go tell Aunt Rhody" will now start E E D C C instead of B B A G G as on soprano. It's really easier than my attempt to explain it sounds!!! Just go bit by bit and I bet it will go faster than you think. Almost all teens and adults have hands that are large enough to play alto, and most can play tenor comfortably. If not, there are some altos with keys for the lowest note (only wooden, I think, so more expensive than plastic instruments). Sarah also has a video or two on getting your hands to be as flexible and comfortable as possible. The main idea is a basic relaxed, natural hand position without forcing the fingers (and especially the thumbs!) into a strained position. If you are in NYC as your screen name suggests, there is no lack of recorder teachers and recorder classes if you want advice, instruction, and/or company. You might start here with the local recorder society: www.nyrg.org/ For instrument purchases one should turn to a specialized vendor rather than a general music shop. They will have both a better line of products to choose from and better advice for you to benifit from. Possibilities include: - These friendly and helpful folks used to be very convieniently located in Manhattan: courtlymusicunlimited.com/ - Now they are about as far away as these other friendly and helpful folks just outside of Boston: vonhuene.com - And on the internet, these friendly and helpful folks are just about as close as anyone: bems.com - Lower down the Left Coast: lazarsearlymusic.com Full disclosure: I have no connection or interest in any of these businesses, except that a very good friend of mine works for Von Huene, and last time I looked I was on friendly terms with all of them. I have done business with all of them, and can personally attest to their honesty and helpfulness. And greetings from across the Hudson. (I'm in NJ.)

[@CarmellaNYC]

@@RolandHutchinson wow thank you for all your advices!!!

[@RolandHutchinson]

@@CarmellaNYC One is pleased to have been of service. Welcome back to the recorder and early-music world.

[@Arczii1337]

I have F key recorders as first flute instruments (I like sopranino and alto sounds). I can read treble clef sheet music. A lot of songs is in range of middle C. I really want to play with background music. Would you please show tutorial what do you do with alto recorder when there come middle C-E notes? I would like to see if you go octave higher just phrase or whole song or maybe use other notes in harmony. I'm sorry for my English.

[@voyager8148]

If you want to play music on your alto that goes below F, then you play the whole piece an octave higher than it is written. When you first attempt to do this, it is frustrating, but it doesn't take long before you get the hang of it. Then you can play anything!

[@vladimirkievtorres2233]

Does a recorder can play notes lower than C? I have music sheets and there's A and B there below the staff, sometimes G. I only have soprano and Alto F recorder

[@lianadoyle8933]

Hi Sarah or anybody else, (Steve Wolf?) I have just spent the last 4 months learning the alto recorder and l notes. I have played the soprano for the last two years after picking it up after decades of not playing it. My problem is that I have lost so much speed on the soprano and mix up the notes and fingers a lot.My automatic brain to fingers has slow way down. Am wondering it there is away to over come this quickly. I have a concert in 3 weeks time with the soprano recorder but still want to play my alto to keep it up but am scary I will mix it up on the night if I continue to play the alto for now.

[@RolandHutchinson]

How did the concert go? I bet you are all sorted out on both instruments by now! (and if not, soon!!!)

[@azneaavengers926]

B tone recorder is available? My recorder back side in notated for letter B

[@stefaniedecoster2772]

That B most likely means that the recorder has Baroque fingering. If you've bought a soprano recorder it will be in the key of C. If you've bought an alto recorder it will be in the key of F.

[@sivfsivf8767]

Hello! Why the recorders are not transposers like saxophones?

[@jeffgaines8358]

I have just started to learn Alto recorder but I'm struggling to find music that doesn't go below its lowest note (F). Any suggestions as to where I can find sheet music for the Alto which doesn't go outside its range please?

[@voyager8148]

Most alto players just play the song an octave higher than it is written. With a little practice, this isn't very difficult.

[@guloguloguy]

WOW!!!! THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, FOR THIS VERY INTERESTING, AND HELPFUL MUSIC LESSON!!!.... ["SHARED" ON GAB.AI ]