How To Choose A Recorder
Congratulations! You are about to buy your first Recorder...
Deciding on which Recorder to buy can be exciting, although slightly challenging. In our ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning The Recorder’ series, this segment will assist you in starting your journey the right way.
Which Recorder Should I Buy?
The recorder family is made up of lots of different instruments in all shapes sizes! Many recorder players own several different recorders but most children start off with a descant and most adults begin on a treble recorder.
These are all the members of the recorder family in size order:
- Garklein
- Sopranino
- Descant
- Treble (Alto)
- Tenor
- Bass
- Great Bass
- Contra Bass
- Sub-Great Bass
- Sub-Contra Bass
What Should My Recorder Be Made Out Of?
Plastic
Wood
Plastic
When first learning how to play the recorder a plastic one is recommended and there is a wide range of plastic instruments available. The extra cost of a better one is money well spent. We recommend the Yamaha plastic recorders, which feature good intonation and easy playability. It can also be fun to buy plastic recorders in bright colours!
Wood
Wooden instruments can make a more beautiful sound and you can find them in a wide range of colours and styles. There are a few well-known makes, mostly German and Swiss like Moeck, Mollenhauer and Küng.
Wooden recorders start from around £160. For that you get a basic model, in a softwood like Maple, Pear and Cherrywood. The softer wood means it is not a forever instrument but would be fine for the first few years of learning. If you want durability, go for harder wood, such as box or ebony.
Do I Need Keys On My Recorder?
Some recorders come with the option of adding extra keys to make it easier to play certain notes. The most common keys to add are:
- C/C sharp
- F/G comfort key
You can also buy recorders with a Knick which is a little kink to make it easier to reach all the keys.
About the Author
Chloë Vincent
Chloë is a graduate of the Guildhall School and concert highlights include the BRIT awards with Billie Eilish, The Who at Wembley Stadium and performing for the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Chloë regularly records at studios such as Abbey Road, working for artists such as Kanye West, Madonna and Michael Kiwanuka as well as film sessions. Orchestral work covers tours of China and Japan and performing at the Musikverein in Vienna. Chloë lives in Oxfordshire with her trumpeter husband and enjoys cooking and playing board games in her spare time.
Twitter - @chloeflute
Other posts by this author
Twitter - @chloeflute
How To Choose A Recorder - Summary
Recorders hold their value pretty well so it is possible to sell on your current instrument if you want to upgrade after a few years. How big are your hands? Some of the larger recorders may be difficult to play if your fingers can’t reach the keys easily. Booking your recorder in for a service with a woodwind repairer every 18 months will keep your instrument in peak working order.
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