Online Recorder Tuner
The soprano (descant) recorder has C5 as its lowest note, the alto (treble) has F4, the tenor has C4 and the bass has F3. This page shows the actual pitch, with transposition set to C (0); on the soprano, the note sounds an octave above what many school music sheets show.
Recorder notes at concert pitch
The soprano recorder has C5 as its lowest note, the alto has F4, the tenor has C4 and the bass has F3. This page shows the actual pitch, with transposition set to C (0); on the soprano, the note sounds an octave above what many school music sheets show.
| Size | Lowest note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano | C5 | 523.25 |
| Alto | F4 | 349.23 |
| Tenor | C4 | 261.63 |
| Bass | F3 | 174.61 |
How to use it
- Allow the microphone and check your group's reference A.
- Warm up the recorder and hold a long note with your usual breath.
- Compare G on the soprano or C on the alto.
- If the construction allows, pushing the head joint in raises the pitch; pulling it out lowers it. Make small adjustments and check another note.
Help and explanations
To check your tuning, play with the thumb and the three left-hand fingers covering the holes: G5 on the soprano, G4 on the tenor, C5 on the alto and C4 on the bass. Adjust the joint only when the construction of your recorder allows it.
Tuning for each size of recorder
Soprano in C: C5 at the bottom and G5 to compare. Alto in F: F4 at the bottom and C5 as reference. Tenor in C: C4 at the bottom and G4 as reference. Bass in F: F3 at the bottom and C4 as reference. The frequencies in this table use A4 = 440 Hz. The soprano sounds an octave above its usual notation; alto and tenor are shown here at concert pitch.
Baroque or German: the fingering changes, not the tuning
Baroque and German systems do not change the key of the recorder; they change the construction and the fingering. The F on a German soprano has a simpler fingering; on a Baroque one it uses a forked fingering. For altered notes, follow the maker's own chart and check the pitch.
Tips
- In the classroom, choose low (noisy room) under Sensitivity and tune one student at a time, with the phone close to the recorder.
- Recorder built at 442 Hz, or a class that tunes that way? Use the 442 Hz tuner. With a piano or keyboard, go by the keyboard's A.
- Practice long tones with an eye on the stability reading: a steady note is easier to tune. For the rhythm of your pieces, use the metronome.
- To check your fingers, open the recorder fingering chart and select the right system.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tune a recorder?
A little: pulling the head joint out lowers the pitch, and pushing it in raises it. Blowing harder also raises it, and a cold recorder plays flat: tune it warmed up, blowing as you will play, and check again after a few minutes.
What note is a recorder tuned to?
By the note with all holes covered: soprano and tenor are in C; alto and bass are in F. The reference A is usually 440 Hz; some, such as Yamaha plastic recorders, are built at 442 Hz.
How do I know if my recorder is German or Baroque?
Check the model and the maker's chart. F on a German soprano uses holes 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 closed; the Baroque fingering also closes 6 and 7, leaving 5 open. Do not choose the system based on the material of the recorder alone.
Which transposition should I use for the alto recorder?
None: leave it on C (none). It is in F by its lowest note, but it is written at concert pitch. G (alto flute) is for the alto transverse flute, and F (horn, English horn) is for instruments that transpose: both would change the note names.
How do I check recorder tuning with my phone?
Allow the microphone, hold a note and compare the detected note and the cents. Stop the phone's reference tone before measuring.