Measuring the length would do it, if noone else comes up with numbers I can go and measure some..... (the soprano or descant is in C, that's the one they play in schools, treble is lower and in F. Tenor is in C again - bottom note is middle C and need a key or two to reach for the bottom holes ... and the y carry on down - and up)
If you can do more than look, cover all the holes (including the thumb hole) and see if you get a C or an F.
A soprano recorder (C) is a bit less than a foot long; an alto (F) somewhat over a foot. A tenor (also in C) about 2 feet long, a bass (F) around 3. Or it could be a sopranino (F), about 8 inches long, or a garklein (C), about the size of a cigar. You'd have to stand up to play a contrabass (F), but you could probably play a great bass (C) sitting if you did it sidesaddle.
Recorder in C or F??
Recorder in C or F??
Is there any way to determine just by looking at a recorder if its tuned to C or F?
I was givin a Prelude II recorder and it comes with 2 finger charts, one for C and the other for F, but there is no indication as to which on to use.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by Panhandlephillips
Re: Recorder in C or F??
Measuring the length would do it, if noone else comes up with numbers I can go and measure some..... (the soprano or descant is in C, that's the one they play in schools, treble is lower and in F. Tenor is in C again - bottom note is middle C and need a key or two to reach for the bottom holes ... and the y carry on down - and up)
If you can do more than look, cover all the holes (including the thumb hole) and see if you get a C or an F.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by spindizzy
Re: Recorder in C or F??
If you've access to a piano or keyboard, you'll notice that the black notes come in pairs or threes.
The white key adjoining the lowest of a pair of black notes is a C.
The white key adjoining the lowest of a trio of black notes is an F.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Recorder in C or F??
A soprano recorder (C) is a bit less than a foot long; an alto (F) somewhat over a foot. A tenor (also in C) about 2 feet long, a bass (F) around 3. Or it could be a sopranino (F), about 8 inches long, or a garklein (C), about the size of a cigar. You'd have to stand up to play a contrabass (F), but you could probably play a great bass (C) sitting if you did it sidesaddle.
From left to right in this picture: tenor, bass, great bass, contrabass, alto, soprano, sopranino, garklein
http://www.hants.gov.uk/hrs/range/range.html
# Posted on April 6th 2007 by Tracie