I've never played a recorded (shocking, isn't it??), so I was wondering: What key is a recorded in?? You know, clarinets are in Bb, alto saxes are in Eb, etc...


Just wondering...

ummm i think they come in all different keys.
like saxes, they have alto, soprano, tenor and so on.

By key, I assume you mean the lowest note, all holes closed.
Tenor recorder = middle c as lowest note. about 24" long
Soprano recorder = c above middle c as lowest note. About 12" long
Alto recorder = f above middle c as lowest note. About 18" long
Bass recorder = f below middlae c as lowest note. About 36" long

Middle c being the c between the treble and bass clefs.
--Jerry

All recorders are in C. The different recorders have different fingerings, but they're still all in C.

So, if you play a C on a recorder, it's the same as a piano (or any other C instrument)

A C is a C and sounds as a C in any intrument that can play the particular C. The same is true of a C when the music is in the key of C or G or F or B-Flat Major.

My understanding is that the key of an instrument is usually taken to be the lowest note it can play.
--Jerry

Oops, sorry about my misleading answer.

Loulou, you're wrong. What kind of ignorant answer was that?

I'm afraid, Loulou, that the key doesn't refer to the lowest note. It's more to do with transposition.

For example, if I wrote out a tune on a piece of paper in C major and gave it to several musicians, I'd get several different outcomes.

Any 'C' instrument (flute, oboe, recorder, bassoon, all strings, guitar) would play the same tune at the same pitch. This would also work alongside the piano, which is also in C.

However, give the tune to a clarinet or trumpet player, who have Bb instruments, then the tune would suddenly sound as if it were in D major, and, if played alongside the piano accompaniment, then it would sound a tone out all the time, and, frankly, pretty nasty.

Likewise, with Eb instruments (alto sax, alto clarinet, Eb clarinet), then the piece would suddenly sound as if it were in A major, and French horns, in F, would play it in G major.

They don't have to think about the fact that they're playing it in different keys - they think they're playing in C major - those are just the notes that come out.

If you think about the tuning note in an orchestra/wind band, then an oboe will always play an A, but clarinets will have to play a B in order for it to sound the same. Saxes would play an F#.

I hope this clears it up for you.
Best wishes.

Concept!
Thanks for the clarification. Now beginning to undetstand "transposing instruments" better. I tried to be specific by defining what I meant by the key of the instrument. Much too simplistic for my own good.
Cheers -- Jerry

Soprano recorder is the common one that most people learn right?

Yes, Soprano recorders were commonly used in elementary schools up until the early 80's when a lot of schools - in the US at least - started phasing out mandatory music classes. In days gone by, most of the recorders were typically wood but now much cheaper and flimsier plastic equivalents have popped up. There are some more durable plastic recorders but they are in the minority. I purchased a low priced wooden soprano recently but as I get older I find the sound of the soprano to be a bit shrill for my taste. (I can now imagine my music teacher listening to 30 kids wailing away wildly on their recorders) Personally, I think the alto has a nice, warm tone.

Recorders are actually a bit odd in this way compared to most modern transposing instruments, and the reason is that they were pretty much extinct for quite some time before they were revived in the twentieth century.

The soprano, tenor recorders are in C, and the sopranino, alto, and bass recorders are in F, but they all read in concert pitch, except for octave transpositions. In the Renaissance this sort of thing was quite common.

Um the keys? they have 7 keys if that helps.

Oops sorry that probably didn't help. I didn't read carefuly

Actually, it is the descant recorder which is the most common one, which everyone learns in primary school.