- This topic has 21 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated September 4, 2024 at 6:12 am by
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Hi Guys. This is my very 1st post. I just bot a Yamaha Alto recorder. It came with a small plastic angle part. I have no idea what it is for. I only received a single sheet of paper with a fingering chart. Everything is in Japanese although I was able to download a fingering chart in English. Although I’m an experienced trumpet player, I know very little about recorders. Since I’m getting “long-in-the tooth”, I realize that I won’t be able to play the trumpet for much longer. Hence my interest in recorders.
I also posted this question on Amazon and an answer says it’s for a thumb rest. I’m not gluing it on my recorder though so the part will not be used.
Hi Stan,
Welcome to the world of recorders!! It is weird that your recorder came with a loose thumb rest. I haven’t personally come across a thumb rest on an altos. You definitely don’t need it – after playing trumpet, your recorder will seem very light!!
How are you enjoying you it so far? What type of music do you like to play?
Karen.
I’ve never got on with thumb rests. I’ve often wished I could as I don’t have the strongest hands I could wish for. I’ve always enjoyed the comments and exchanges on the Dolmetsch site regarding thumb rests though. They might be of interest to you, Stan, if you decide to experiment with the thing.
https://www.dolmetsch.com/recorderthumbrest.htm
I do hope your recorder gives you a lot of fun. 🙂
Thank you for your answer. I had to ask the question since I had no idea of what the part was for. Yes, I’m not going to use it.
I’ve been watching a number of youtubes from Sarah Jeffery. I’ve learned a lot of things that are not in learning books. There sure is a lot for me to learn right now, too.
I can transpose from C concert to Bb (the key my trumpets are in except for my C trumpet). I’ve also transposed to F (french horn key). Since my alto is in F, I’m assuming that the transposition rules are the same?
Hi Stan,
The recorder is not a transposing instrument like the trumpet or clarinet.
If you are playing an alto recorder using alto fingering then it is in concert pitch (C=C, B=B etc). You can play with other instruments or with backing tracks with no need to transpose.
Altos are referred to as “in F” because the bottom note is F. This fingering is also used for the Basset and Sopranino recorder.
Soprano and Tenor recorders are referred to as “in C” because their bottom note is C. They use C fingering which is essentially the same but what is written and played as F on the Alto is written as played as a C.
Sorry this is not a great explanation. Please let me know if it doesn’t make sense and I will try to explain it more clearly!
Best wishes,
Karen.
Thanks for sharing this article Linden – the detailed instructions for installing a thumbrest in a wastepaper basket really made me laugh! I had no idea there were such strong opinions about thumbrests!
Wow, Karen, you are a wealth of information! When you said the recorder is not a transposing instrument, the light bulb came on. I am used to transposing a lot. My wife plays flute, I play at church from the hymnal (with a pocket trumpet in C), and I was in a brass quintet. One guy in the quintet could not read the bass clef or transpose so I had to do it. I did use notation software which made the job a lot easier. I already like the alto recorder better since I won’t have to transpose. I think my confusion arose because the trumpet is built in Bb and I thought the alto recorder was also built in the F key. Now, I understand that the reference is to low range.
I’m looking forward to playing some simple Christmas carols, hopefully this year. Your valued and detailed explanation was a big help and easy to understand. Many Thanks!
I’m so glad I could help! I love playing Christmas carols too – it is one of my favorite things about Christmas!
Do just let us know if you have any other questions or run into any problems with your recorder. You might already know this, but one thing I didn’t know when I first started playing recorder was how helpful it is to warm up your recorder before you begin playing. Now I always hold the head-joint under my arm for 5-10 minutes before I begin to play. This warms it up to body temperature and prevents condensation clogging up the recorder and making it sound muffled or hoarse.
Thanks for the head-joint warm-up tip. I have already tried keeping my trumpet mouthpiece warm by putting it in my pocket. Here’s a listening treat:
I find thumbrests handy to stop the instrument rolling off the table when you put it down
You don't stop playing when you get old. You get old when you stop playing.
If anyone does want to use a thumb rest, the clip-on plastic sort are better than the stick-on ones. They should cost a couple of pounds from somewhere like Early Music Shop (if you are in UK).
That’s a good tip Jacqui. I wonder if the clip on has any affect on the tone. Also, it might.(IDK) restrict the hand movement? For example I’m a trumpet player and there’s a (pinky) ring on the leadpipe where you put your little finger, Many players may use it, but you have better hand movement if you put your pinky on top of the ring rather than through it. Otherwise your hand is sort of anchored. That being said, I’m very new to the recorder and am still trying to get my fingers to cover the holes 🙂
Hi Stan,
A clip on thumb rest, or anything else on the outside of a recorder won’t affect the tone. As to whether it restricts your hand movement, well, I find my right hand is more relaxed and mobile with the thumb rest, even on a descant. Some authors/players insist a thumb rest should always be used (off the top of my head I think for example Hugh Orr in Basic Recorder Technique) and others insist thumb rests must never be used. I conclude from that, it’s very much personal choice. There are some ridiculously overpriced clip-ons online though.
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