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Hello, I am quite a beginner with recorder. I have one alt, and two tenor recorders, a Yamaha with one key and an Aulos keyless, both plastic. I notice that the lowest notes, especially the lowest one, is quite weak compared to the middle or high notes. I am almost sure that is not my fault: I taped the lowest holes just to make sure that they were well covered, and still, the low note has a lower volume. This is more evident with the keyless Aulos (model A211) but it is also very present with the Yamaha. Is it normal with tenor recorders? Or is it an issue with the way I blow? I tried to blow in different ways, but the note is so weak that if I blow too hard, it squeaks. Thank you for your opinions!
Yes, normal for a tenor, I think, especially the shorter unkeyed Aulos. Get the best out of those notes by breathing warm, slow air, like when you breathe on your phone screen before cleaning it.
Low notes need slow, warm air. Blow on the back of your hand, if it feels cold that’s too fast for those low notes
You don't stop playing when you get old. You get old when you stop playing.
We can’t escape the laws of Physics. Recorder is one of the earliest designs of flute with its reverse conical taper. I wasn’t a physics major, but where the finger hole is on an UNkeyed tenor is quieter in an uneven way from the other notes. If you move the hole down beyond a normalish kind of pinky reach, to where they place the hole but need the key to reach, it has a more even volume to the other notes. Frankly, I accept the lower volume as part of the recorder’s idio-voice (if that’s a word.) My Moeck Rosewood unkeyed tenor is a joy to play solo, though it’s lost when I play in a group. I have a keyed Plumwood Dream Edition (that cost a fortune) that I play with them. It really stands out.
Kenneth – Alto Recorder Lessons Project on YouTube
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