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How to Connect Recorder Holes to Musical Notes

The recorder is an instrument that has been used throughout history to play music. Bach used the recorder in his early compositions before specific instruments were called for in a score. The recorder is a versatile, durable and simple to learn an instrument that is used in elementary and middle school music classes. Recorders have the ability to produce all of the notes in our musical scale. Learning to connect recorder holes to notes is a simple matter of practice.

Step 1 Hold the recorder properly by placing the left thumb underneath the recorder covering the hole on the bottom. The thumb will act to stabilize the recorder and help support the instrument so that the other fingers are free to play.

Step 2 Place the left hand index finger on the first hole, the middle finger on the second hole and the ring finger on the third hole that is slightly off center. The right hand should continue the sequence with the index finger on the fourth hole, the middle finger on the fifth hole, the ring finger on the first double-hole and the pinky on the final double-hole.

Step 3 Learn the names of the notes in the treble clef. The first line starts with an E, then everything continues alphabetically by moving from line to space. The first space will then be F, the next line G, followed by an A space and so on up the staff.

Step 4 Learn to play the notes on the staff. Use a soprano recorder fingering chart to learn which holes should be covered for each note. Middle C beneath the staff should be played with all of the fingers covering holes. The next note D, will have all holes covered except for the pinky on the right hand. E is all of the notes except the pinky and right finger of the right hand.

Step 5 Continue up the scale learning all of the natural keys first. Once you have those notes memorized learn the sharp and flat keys of the scale. Natural keys are represented by a simple letter name such as "C." Sharps and flats will use a sharp symbol "#" or a flat symbol "b" to signify that the note should be a half-step higher or lower.

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