Tenor Recorders

The tenor recorder sounds in C, one octave lower than the soprano, and carries a warm, lyrical middle voice in an ensemble. Its greater length brings wider spacing between the holes, more weight and greater air consumption. Before buying, you should check your little finger's reach, your thumb position and whether you need keys.

Keys help your hands, not your breath technique

One or more keys can make the lower holes accessible if you have a smaller hand span. The mechanism must be quiet and the pads airtight. On keyless models, try closing all the holes without shifting your palm; leaking air particularly spoils the lowest notes.

Curved crook and support

Some tenors have an angled head joint that reduces the reach and changes the playing angle. A thumb rest or strap reduces strain if it does not restrict your fingers. Extended playing must not cause cramp in your right thumb.

Its place in the recorder consort

The tenor complements the soprano recorder and alto with a lower voice, but reads in C. You can find an overview of other sizes among recorders. For chamber music, consider the intonation of the entire ensemble and use the same fingering system.

Condensation affects extended playing

The larger body collects more moisture. After practising, take the sections apart and clean them with a long pull-through swab. Let a wooden tenor dry thoroughly before storing it and treat the joints only with suitable grease.

Test your reach to every hole, assess the strain on your right thumb and choose keys or an angled head joint if necessary.