Beginner's Guide to the Tenor Recorder
by Howard Fosdick © FolkFluteWorld.com
Are you interested in playing the tenor recorder?
Perhaps you already play the soprano and are looking to branch out. Or maybe you've fallen in love with the tenor's deep, mellifluous voice.
Whatever the case, this article will tell you everything you need to know. It explains the in's and out's of the instrument, which brand to buy, how to play it, and where to get all the resources you need to enjoy it -- for free. Let's get started.
The Versatile Tenor
Before we delve into details, you might want to hear some of the varied sounds of the tenor. Click on a sound sample or two:
Comparison with the Soprano
How is the tenor similar to the soprano? And how does it differ?
The tenor voices exactly one octave lower than the soprano. Its base note -- or lowest note -- is C4, or middle C on the piano. The soprano's base note is an octave higher at C5.
For most brands of recorders, the fingering pattern for notes is identical between the tenor and soprano. You could use a soprano fingering chart for your tenor just fine.
The tenor's range duplicates that of the soprano. It's two full octaves, plus a note or two above that (depending on your skill level and the quality of your flute).
What all this means is that you can read and play any sheet music scored for the soprano. It will just sound one octave lower.
Of course, you can also play any music written specifically for the tenor.
And you can play music for any other key-of-C instrument, for that matter, which is a huge advantage given all the sheet music written for C instruments.
The bottom line is that it's easy to move from soprano to tenor in terms of fingering and reading music. A key difference is that your muscle memory for the relative locations of the holes will be different with a tenor.
Another difference is that many tenors have a key to reach the lowest note(s).
About Those Keys
Tenor recorders are large instruments, typically about 25" long. One question many people have is whether they can reach all the key holes comfortably with their fingers.
You surely don't want to buy a recorder you can't play!
Most tenors have a low-C key to address this problem of reach. A few do not.
For example, here are three tenors. From top to bottom they are the plastic Aulos 511b Symphony, an older Aulos 111, and a maple Adler.
They're lined up to match the location of their topmost fingering hole:
Ensure a Comfortable Fit
Look carefully at the ruler. You can see that the top recorder has a reach of about 9 1/2 inches from the top fingerhole for the left hand, to the bottom key for the right hand.
The bottom two recorders require a tad less reach, at about 9 inches.
You might also notice that the hole spacing differs slightly among the fingers of both hands as well.
Finger spacing differs for several reasons, one of which is the size of the instrument's bore.
The best way -- by far -- to see if your hands fit a particular tenor is to try it in person. You can get an immediate sense of whether the instrument feels comfortable in your hands. But absent that, measurements like these can be helpful (for example, if you're buying online).
Another point to note: look carefully and you'll note that the top recorder has a double key. This allows you to play both low C and low C#.
The bottom two recorders have a simple single key. So you can play low C, but not low C#. Consider this difference when you buy your own tenor.
The low C key does have one downside: it makes a clicking noise when you press it. I've found this true of any keyed tenor I've ever played, though it's important to note that some click louder than others.
You probably won't notice those soft clicks when playing, but you may well recognize them when listening to a recording of yourself. When I've recorded solo, I've used audio editors like Audacity, Ocenaudio, or Wavosaur afterwards to remove the clicking sounds.
If the clicking noise bothers you, you might want to see if your hands are big enough to manage a keyless tenor. These are also less expensive than the keyed versions from the same vendors.
Adding a Thumb Rest
Given their weight, most tenor recorder players prefer a thumb rest on the back side of the instrument for their right hand. This makes it much easier to hold the instrument while playing.
Many tenors don't come with one. You may have to buy it for a few dollars from a music store or online. This photo shows where you place it.
Some thumb rests attach tightly just by pressure. Others may require a touch of glue to hold them in place. Just be sure you're happy you've positioned it in the most comfortable place for your playing style before you glue it!
Adding a Thumb Rest
Selecting an Instrument
Like sopranos, tenors are available in either high-quality ABS plastic or wood. But there's one big difference.
Whereas you can find reasonably priced sopranos in wood, most wood tenors cost many hundreds of dollars. So for both beginners and hobbyists like myself, plastic is more practical.
A quality plastic tenor from a company like Yamaha or Aulos sounds fabulous (as the three sound sample above proved). These instruments make it easy to hit all notes in tune, including those at the top of the second octave. They have a fairly even breath requirement across the scale. They're available in either keyed or keyless configurations.
Both companies score 4.5 out of 5 stars for their tenors on Amazon. Read the user reviews to get a sense of their quality and differences.
From left to right below, here are a keyed Yamaha, a keyed Aulos, a keyless Aulos, an inexpensive maple Adler, and a typical wood tenor that checks in at about $500 USD:
Try a Yamaha or Aulos for your First Tenor
Yamaha or Aulos? For tenor enthusiasts, that's the perennial question. I like them both, but it is true that each has its own slightly different sound. I can tell a Yamaha from an Aulos in a blind sound test. (But I can't tell the difference between different models of Yamaha, or between different models of Aulos.)
Here are a few Youtube videos to help you make up your mind between Yamaha and Aulos:
Do you prefer keyed or keyless? Keyed fits smaller hands, while keyless avoids the soft clicking sound of the key.
Whichever you choose, try it in your hands first to ensure a comfortable fit if possible.
One final consideration: tenors come in two different fingering schemes, just like soprano and other recorders. Baroque fingering (also known as English) predominates. Most experts recommend baroque over the alternative of German fingering.
You can distinguish between baroque and german fingering by inspecting the size of two of the right-hand fingering holes. (If you're interested, this fingering chart shows the exact differences between the two.)
Prices vary for tenors. The keyless Aulos tend to go for under $50 USD, while keyed Aulos or Yamaha are often in the range of $80 USD. You'll have
to check local prices in your area.
Wood?
Most wood tenors go for many hundreds of dollars. They make sense if you develop a high level of skill and crave that special wood sound. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend them.
However, I have discovered one decent wood tenor that typically retails for around $100 in the United States. This is the maple tenor from Adler.
Compared to the Yamaha and Aulos plastic instruments, the Adler takes a bit more skill to play. You must dynamically adjust your breath pressure to hit all notes in tune. But assuming you can master that, it's a credible wood tenor.
The sound of the Adler is exactly as you would expect: it's the warm voice of maple. Here's a brief sound sample, an on-the-spot improvisation:
(The sample was recorded in a basement stairwell with a cheap recording device and has not been altered or edited in any way.)
For someone like myself, a non-professional who wants a wood tenor but doesn't want to lay out $500, the Adler is a reasonable alternative. You can read my full review of the Adler tenor here.
The Adler comes with either a single or double low C key. It typically comes packaged in a nylon carry bag, cork grease, fingering chart, and moisture swap.
I recommend a high-quality plastic Yamaha or Aulos as your first tenor because they're easier to start with. But it's good to know that there are some decently priced but playable wood tenors around. Sometimes you can snag a deal in the used market at Ebay or Etsy.
Playing
The tenor is soft-spoken compared to higher-pitched instruments like the soprano. If you have roommates or housemates your soprano bothers, the tenor could be your solution. Its soft, mellow voice slides under the radar.
If you're accustomed to playing a soprano, you'll soon discover that all tenors poorly articulate fast-fingered work in comparison. This is simply a matter of physics -- it takes more time to alter airflow through a larger tube. A tenor will sometimes "swallow" quick-fingered notes.
So save your pyrotechnic fingering for your soprano, and employ the tenor where it plays best, in slower, dramatic melodic lines. Nothing beats the soulful, haunting sound of a tenor playing a dirge. I've gotten some startled reactions from people when I play the background melody to a popular horror film.
You can also have loads of fun playing "bass" parts in ensembles. The tenor is more portable, easier to handle, and less expensive than a bass recorder. Yet it handles the bass part in a recorder ensemble pretty effectively.
(Keep in mind, though, that the tenor is keyed to C, whereas the bass is keyed to F. And often bass parts are written in bass clef. So you may need to transpose sheet music written specifically for the bass recorder.)
Another difference you'll notice with the tenor versus the soprano: it takes more breath to play it. You're forcing more air through a larger tube. So breathing techniques become important to ensure you play pieces properly. You have to learn not to break up melodic phrasing by running out of breath at the wrong time. Breath control is essential.
Keep in mind that you can play soprano music on your tenor. As well that writtten for most other C instruments.
Caring for Your Recorder
Most tenors consist of three pieces: a mouthpiece, a body, and a foot. You tune by moving the mouthpiece in or out. You also clean the instrument by taking it apart.
You'll want to take good care of your recorder, especially if it's made of wood. Your breath produces moisture that collects inside the instrument over time. So after you finish a playing session, take the recorder apart, and swipe the inside with a recorder swab to remove excess moisture. Most instruments come with a swab when you purchase them, but sometimes you'll have to buy an appropriately-sized swab separately.
A Recorder Swab for Cleaning
Also, take care not to exposure your recorder to extremes of temperature. Leaving it inside your car window on a hot day, for example, could permanently damage it.
Final Words
So that's your quick but complete intro to the tenor recorder. If you're new to the instrument, start with a plastic Yamaha or Aulos. You'll save hundreds of dollars over a wood instrument, which you can always buy later if you get really serious about the instrument.
If your hands are large enough, buy a silent, keyless model and save another $40 USD. But make sure you're comfortable with how it fits your hands before you go keyless.
Otherwise, plump for a keyed instrument. Mind whether it offers a single or double key, and how loud the clicks sound.
I love floating spooky soft low notes into my local stairwell. Natural reverberation matches the somber timbre of the tenor.
May you enjoy this instrument as much as I have. Everything you need to learn and play it is free ...
Free Resources
Free resources specifically for learning tenor recorder:
Here are many free resources that pertain to all sizes of recorder:
Click here for our list of free self-taught online courses and other community resources.
Click here to find lots of free instructional material over at Youtube.
Click here to access a ton of freely downloadable sheet music.
Click here for many other free resources.
Purchasing Recommendations
Instrument: Yamaha or Aulos Tenor Recorders
Material: High quality ABS Plastic
Pitch: C major, one octave below a soprano recorder
Range: Standard range of about 2 octaves plus a note or two
Fingering: Baroque
Length: apx 25"
Components: 3-piece construction
Keys: Available either keyless or with a double key
Cost: Varies, but often about $40 USD for keyless, and $80 for a double key
Tenor versus Soprano Comparison
