Buying a new instrument is very exciting but it can also be a confusing process. It is important to buy a good quality instrument which is suitable for your playing level. This guide will hopefully answer your burning questions and give you some more information on how to choose a recorder.
Types of Recorder
Recorders come in all shapes and sizes! The recorder society lists ten different members of the recorder family, but most beginners start with a descant recorder or a tenor recorder. However, there are lots of other options if you want to play a more unusual member of the recorder family. You can of course buy a full range of different sized recorders if you like!
Common recorder sizes:
- Descant Recorder
- Soprano Recorder
- Alto Recorder
- Tenor Recorder
Two very important questions when shopping for a recorder are “how small are your hands?” and “how long are your arms?”. For smaller players, a descant or treble recorder will be more comfortable than tenor or bass recorders, because they will be easier to play for small hands. Very small players could even try a soprano recorder.
Who will you be playing your recorder with? If you are hoping to join a recorder ensemble then it might be a good idea to find out whether they have spaces for a particular member of the recorder family, such as an alto or bass recorder. Or they might have too many soprano recorder players. This might affect your instrument choice.
Wooden Recorder v Plastic Recorder
Know your audience! Recorders are a popular musical instrument choice for young children because it can be a great introduction to playing a woodwind instrument. If you are buying for a child then a plastic or resin recorder is a good buy, because they are very resilient to being accidentally dropped or knocked.
If you are buying for an adult or for more experienced recorder players then you may want to consider wooden recorders, because the sound quality is much better!
- These can be a good option for smaller players as they are lighter and more sturdy.
- You can get plastic recorders in a wide range of colours and finishes which can be fun.
- Can be great if you are buying for a recorder group or class at school - very easy to sterilize between uses!
- You sacrifice some sound quality and they are more difficult to play with good intonation and a wide range of dynamics.
- You can have problems with moisture in plastic recorders as it is not breathable like wood.
- Some are poor quality, always go with a familiar brand such as Yamaha.
Recorders made of hardwood offer the best tone quality but are also more expensive. A good middle ground between plastic and hardwood recorders are softwood recorders. These are made from cherry, maple or pear wood. These are still affordable but offer a much better tone than plastic instruments, and can be a great instrument to learn to play as a beginner.
It is also good to decide a budget before you start shopping for instruments, because they can vary in cost dramatically. Recorders can range from just a few pounds to thousands of pounds. I think this is good advice for buying anything, not just musical instruments!
Styles of Recorder
Pitch:
A440HZ or standard pitch: This means that the recorder will be at concert (modern) pitch. This is best for beginners.
A415HZ or Baroque pitch: This instrument will be in tune with other baroque instruments but not modern pitch instruments (like a piano). Great for playing with baroque strings or harpsichord.
A392HZ or French Baroque: This is even lower than standard Baroque pitch but works well for French baroque recorder music (as the name suggests!)
Fingering Systems:
German Fingering System: The German system is sometimes used for beginners, but it can be a little restrictive as you progress because there are limited fingering patterns.
Baroque fingering system: Most recorders use the Baroque (sometimes called English) finger patterns and it makes sense to use this if possible because it is so widely used.
Renaissance fingering system: This is used for earlier music and has a wide range of fingering combinations so can be quite complicated for a beginner.
Stained or unstained wooden instruments? This doesn’t affect the sound so you can choose whichever you think looks nicest!
What are Double Holes? – Some starter models will only have single finger holes for certain keys. Double holes make it possible to play all the possible notes on the recorder in tune so it is a good thing to look out for
Recorders best for beginners
The Yamaha 20 Series recorders are designed with new recorder players in mind and the straight wind way offers an ideal amount of resistance which makes sound production a breeze with great playability.
COMES WITH: Starter package
FEATURES: Made from ABS resin for durability. Loads of colours available
Yamaha YRS20BB
Soprano Recorder
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Made from ABS resin
- Come in a variety of bright colours which can be very appealing for younger players and adults alike
- Can be dismantled into 3 parts (head joint, body and foot).
- Comes with a handy carry case and fingering chart.
- These are definitely budget range soprano recorders.
- Sound quality can be a little harsh.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
COMES WITH: Starter package
FEATURES: Adjustable thumb rest and curved windway for extra comfort
Aulos 503B Symphony
Descant Recorder
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Made from hard wearing ABS resin.
- Ivory coloured mouthpiece, rings and footjoint are visually appealing.
- Free blowing sound
- Excellent tuning for a starter model
- The concave bell helps to produce a clear and resonant sound. This is a step up from a budget recorder but is still a very affordable option.
- Can look a little serious for kids
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The Moeck 4200 Rottenburgh recorders are named after the Belgian recorder maker Jean-Hyacinth-Joseph Rottenburgh, and were designed by Friederich von Huene. If you want to invest in a high quality and reliable wooden instrument then this is the model for you. It will last for years of music making, and you can tell it’s been crafted by experienced wooden recorder makers.
COMES WITH: Starter package
FEATURES: Great dynamic range and a beautiful tone across all registers
Moeck 4200
Rottenburgh Soprano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Comfortable silicone keys.
- Plastic body is durable and completely washable so great for classroom music lessons.
- Available in several colour options as the silicone keys come in pink, green and blue which offer a lovely contrast to the black body.
- Not a traditional recorder!
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Nuvo are famous for producing innovative and stylish instruments which push the boundaries of what is expected. The Nuvo recorder is no different because it is a fully keyed instrument which makes squeaky recorders a thing of the past! Although traditionalists may not be able to get on board with this new design I believe it is worth considering, because they only cost fractionally more than a budget keyless plastic recorder, but offer a much better sound.
Definitely not a recorder for the traditionalists so could be a disadvantage depending on your teacher or audience. However I think they can be exciting for those who want something different from their new recorder though.
Make your mind up on this controversial instrument after watching this fun video of the Nuvo recorder + in action!
COMES WITH: Starter package
FEATURES: Great dynamic range and a beautiful tone across all registers
Nuvo Recorder+
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Available in a variety of woods to suit different budgets.
- Great value for wooden recorders
- Well respected design.
- Excellent tuning for a starter model
- Great for ensemble and solo performances due to their resonant sound.
- Pricey for new starters
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Upgrading your recorder
If you decide the time is right to upgrade your recorder then it is definitely time to go for a hardwood recorder. This will be a quality instrument which will last you for years of music making.
You could also decide to try a different size of recorder. Perhaps if you started playing a descant recorder then now is the time to try some tenor recorders.
Ask your recorder player friends what instrument they play on and whether they like their instrument. Talk to your teacher about instruments they would recommend and the advantages and disadvantages of different models.
Most retailers offer a returns policy so you can try out the instrument before you commit to buying it.
How to choose a recorder
Summary
With so many makes and models or recorders out there in the world it can be a challenge working out how to choose a recorder to buy for your needs.
First pick a material to suit your needs and budget. Wooden recorders are the most expensive so resin or plastic recorders might be a good option for you. This is especially true if you’re buying for children because they are sturdier. Then decide what kind of music you want to play! Remember that recorders have different pitches for baroque and modern playing.
Think about whether you would like to play a high or low instrument. Descant, Soprano, Alto and Tenor are all popular. If you are buying for a child don’t forget to check how big their hands are! If you can’t choose just one instrument why don’t you buy a few different ones? That way you’ll have a brilliant instrument whatever style of music you want to play!
BEST RECORDER FOR BEGINNERS
Yamaha YRS20B Soprano Recorder
It’s great to be able to buy a first instrument from such a reliable and world famous maker such as Yamaha.
BEST RECORDER FOR SCHOOLS
Nuvo Recorder+
The Nuvo is a practical and innovative instrument. It will make your school recorder club stand out from the crowd!
BEST RECORDER FOR ADULTS
Moeck 4200 Rottenburgh Soprano
The Moeck 4200 is a quality instrument made from traditional wood, perfect for solo or ensemble playing.
This article made my daughter very happy. Best Dad Ever!
Hi Peter aka Best Dad! Glad it helped…