Lesson 2: Adding G — Your First Real Songs

• Play G with a clear, even tone.
• Play C (on your alto staff) with a clear, even tone.
• Move freely among B, A, and G — and play your first complete song.
• Move freely among E, D, and C on your alto staff — and play your first complete song.

• Lesson 1 — B and A.

• G fingering.
• B-A-G as a melodic set.
• First complete songs.

Three notes is enough. The first generation of recorder students played for a year on three notes.

G is the lowest note your left hand alone can play. It uses three fingers — thumb on the back, plus the first three fingers on the front. With B, A, and G in hand you can play five real folk songs without changing anything.

C (on your alto staff) is the lowest note your left hand alone can play. It uses three fingers — thumb on the back, plus the first three fingers on the front. With E, D, and C in hand — the same fingerings soprano players call B, A, G — you can play five real folk songs without changing anything.

The fingers that were already down for A stay down. The third finger of the left hand drops onto its hole — that is the whole change from A to G.

The fingers that were already down for D stay down. The third finger of the left hand drops onto its hole — that is the whole change from D to C on your alto staff.

Play: Hot Cross Buns

A traditional English street cry. Three short phrases; the third is built from repeated Gs and As.

Now play these

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Same three notes; the most-known childhood melody in English.

Merrily We Roll Along

The tune Stephen Foster set as “Goodnight Ladies.” B-A-G in a longer arc.

Rain Rain Go Away

Almost entirely on B and A; G appears only as a phrase ending.

Gently Sleep

A slow lullaby. Practise it as a steady-air exercise.

When you can play Hot Cross Buns three times in a row without stopping, move on to Lesson 3. Bring at least one of the songs above with you.

Stuck on G? See troubleshooting.