How To Play E Flat On Soprano Recorder

Bb or b flat on recorder is ane of the first accidentals students learn. The start is usually F#, but Bb is some other common one for recorders.

In my over ten years of educational activity and twenty years of playing the recorder, I've seen students panic over how to play this notation, but once they've calmed downward long enough to learn information technology, it's easy to chief.

B flat on recorder is a half footstep beneath the note, B. It's too a one-half step higher up the annotation A and called A# in this case. Bb is fingered as the pollex on the back, commencement, third, and fourth fingers on their corresponding holes.

Check out the rest of the article for more directions and sample songs to help reinforce Bb.

B Apartment On Recorder Fingering And Exercises

Offset, let's talk near how to finger B flat, also called A# (though not as frequently).

In brusk, information technology'south played like this:

Thumb on the back (left mitt)
ane = arrow on the first hole (left hand)
3 = ring on the third hole (left hand)
iv = pointer on the quaternary hole (right mitt)

Now, in more detail.

To start, the musician places their left hand thumb on the dorsum thumbhole.

With the left-hand arrow finger, cover up the first hole on top.

For B flat, skip the 2nd hole altogether.

Using the left-hand ring finger, cover up the third pigsty.

Switching to using the right-hand, the pointer finger covers upwards the fourth hole.

Fingering Exercises For Bb On Recorder

In that location are ii ways I prefer to approach educational activity this notation at offset.

Using one or the other ever seems to piece of work, but I when I bear witness students both means to think well-nigh it, the fingering seems to stick around better.

Down from B – The not Bb is an contradistinct version of B, so it only makes sense to offset here.

Accept students (or yourself) start past fingering B (check out the recorder basic fingering chart for more than info and a useful chart for Costless).

At present, add the 3rd and 4th fingers. Essentially, you're moving from B → Bb.

At present, slowly elevator those fingers and get back to B.

Repeat and alternating the notes gradually getting faster and faster.

B → Bb →B → Bb →B → Bb →B → Bb

Walking Up And Downward The Loma

Bb for recorder is typically used equally the 4th scale caste in the key of F major or D minor.

In both keys, the notation tends to resolve down to A.

And so information technology makes sense for united states to build fluency in going from Bb to A. It'south as well fairly common for melodies in these keys to have the A go to Bb briefly.

This exercise hits both these keys in the style it'due south nigh likely to be used.

Start on the notation G (T, one, 2, 3). Motility from G → A → Bb.

Take your time and do this slowly with expert tone and solid fingerings.

Echo these iii until they're comfortable slowly.

Now, outset on Bb and movement down. Bb → A → One thousand.

Echo as before making certain the good tone and solid fingerings are nowadays.

It's time to put them together once each function is ready.

Thou → A → Bb → A → Grand.

As before, repeat until it'southward solid. And then, practice going gradually faster and faster. It'll be tough, simply this exercise is quite practical for the reasons we said at the start.

Sample Song To Help Teach B Flat On Recorder

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a child's song, but it perfectly (and slowly) demonstrates how B flat is usually used on recorders. This existence, coming from and going to A.

It's still a tricky note to learn, then this song works perfect in a couple of other ways.

First, the vocal is slow and rhythmically simple.

Second, the song is well-known by all.

Finally, information technology only uses notes already known at this point (and reinforces F on recorder).

Here'due south the song.

You may also enjoy learning these other songs on recorder:

All Star on recorder
Onetime Joe Clark on recorder
Ode To Joy on recorder

Last Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed learning how to play Bb or B flat on recorder.

It's a useful note for advanced playing on the soprano recorder. Information technology may seem difficult at beginning, but with time and practice, it'southward easily learned.

Check out our guide on how to play the recorder.