Lesson 5: F and Low E Review — The C Major Scale
- Play F4 with the correct forked fingering.
- Play Bb (on your alto staff) with the correct forked fingering.
- Play the complete C major scale, both directions, evenly.
- Play the complete F major scale (alto's home key) on your alto staff, both directions, evenly.
- Lesson 4 — low E, D, C.
- Forked-finger technique.
- F4 (or alto B-flat) forked fingering.
- Complete C major scale.
- Whole-step / half-step pattern.
F is the note that lives between two more popular notes.
F completes the natural first octave. On a Baroque-fingering recorder it takes a “forked” shape — the fingers do not stack neatly — which is exactly what gives the recorder its slightly veiled F.
Bb completes the natural first octave on your alto staff. On a Baroque-fingering recorder it takes a “forked” shape — the fingers do not stack neatly — which is exactly what gives the recorder its slightly veiled fourth-degree note. (Soprano calls this same fingering “F.”)
F4
Bb (low)
Thumb, three left fingers (the G shape), then on the right hand: index and middle finger DOWN, ring finger UP, little finger DOWN. The forked shape: covered-covered-OPEN-covered.
Thumb, three left fingers (the C-on-alto-staff shape), then on the right hand: index and middle finger DOWN, ring finger UP, little finger DOWN. The forked shape: covered-covered-OPEN-covered.
While you are here, refresh E4 (the same fingering as F minus the right little finger) and confirm low D4 and C4 still speak cleanly.
While you are here, refresh A (the same fingering as Bb minus the right little finger) on your alto staff and confirm low G and F still speak cleanly.
F sandwiched between its neighbours. Slow, listen for an even colour across the three notes.
Bb (on your alto staff) sandwiched between its neighbours. Slow, listen for an even colour across the three notes.
From low C to D5 and back, no skips. Use one breath per direction.
From low F to G (one octave up) on your alto staff and back, no skips. Use one breath per direction.
Play: Frère Jacques
A canon written for the recorder's bottom half. Note how it sits entirely on D, E, F, G, A — the heart of the new range.
A canon written for the recorder's bottom half. Note how it sits entirely on G, A, Bb, C, D on your alto staff — the heart of the new range.
The melody is round-friendly: a second player can start when the first reaches bar 3.
Now play these
- Frère Jacques (full version)
- The complete piece with all four phrases. Try it as a round with a recording of yourself.
- Alouette
- French call-and-response. A test of low E and D landing cleanly.
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- The melody Mozart used for variations. Span: D4 to C5.
- When the Saints Go Marching In
- A New Orleans standard. Strong rhythmic energy — play it brightly.
When the C major scale is even both directions and you can play Frère Jacques end-to-end, move on to Lesson 6.
When the F major scale (on your alto staff) is even both directions and you can play Frère Jacques end-to-end, move on to Lesson 6.
F refusing to speak? Almost always the ring finger. See troubleshooting.