Flute vs. Recorder
The flute and the recorder, aren’t they the same? Don’t they produce exactly the same sound? Ummm, no and no! For some strange reason the flute and the recorder very often get confused, many people simply do not know the difference. We are here today to explain their differences. The recorder is that “beginner’s instrument” that many of us were introduced to in elementary school music class. The flute (also known as the transverse flute) is the one you can only start playing (sideways!) once you’ve reached a certain level on the recorder. Are these descriptions accurate? Not quite, let us explain…
I’m confused, throw me a bone!
Headjoint for soprano recorder
What is certain is that both instruments are considerably old and have a long tradition. Way back in prehistoric times flute instruments were made of hollow bones, sometimes playable with only one hand, sometimes with both. In addition to the particularly frequently occurring pan flute, which is made of individual bamboo or bone tubes of different lengths, various recorder-like instruments were in use.
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- Pan flute 18C
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- Alto G’- C’18
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- Tenor D’-G25
At least since the 14th century the recorder is known by its current name which comes from the Middle-French verb “recorder” (to remember, to learn by heart, repeat, relate, recite, play music) and also from its noun form “recordeur” (one who retells, a minstrel). Sounds medieval, doesn’t it? Precisely, it is related to the era’s court entertainers, called “jongleurs” who memorised poems by heart and recited them, sometimes with musical accompaniment using this type of instrument:
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- Yamaha YRA-27 III
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- Mollenhauer New Student 1003
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- Mollenhauer 1293 Prima Alto Recorder
In the 3 centuries that followed it was by far the most popular wind instrument, also because of its tonal proximity to the human voice. During the 18th century, however, it was forgotten or replaced by other instruments and only regained its popularity in the mid-20th century. Since then, it has enjoyed constant recognition as a serious instrument especially, but not exclusively, as a first instrument for children’s musical education.
The transverse flute makes a comeback
During the baroque period the transverse flute, which had fallen somewhat into oblivion until then, came back into the spotlight. For the first time there was an explicit distinction between the “flauto dolce” (recorder) and the “flauto traverso” (transverse flute) as their Italian names illustrate. The transverse flute proved to be the better orchestral instrument because of its more present sound and, as the orchestras grew in size in the classical and romantic periods, it developed into today’s Boehm flute. This model completely replaced the recorder due to its new characteristics: it was made of metal for the first time, which made it possible to achieve a significant increase in volume and range. In addition, a previously unattainable technical virtuosity was made possible by a completely new key system that made Romantic repertoire playable for the first time. Since then the transverse flute has enjoyed a constant popularity and is currently one of the most played instruments in Europe.
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- Thomann FL-200R Flute Open Holes
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- Yamaha YFL-372 Flute
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- Sankyo CF 301 Flute RBE
Differences? Not only the playing position!
The most obvious difference is in the playing position or orientation of the instrument: The recorder is held vertically, straight and with both hands in front of the upper body, while the transverse flute is held in an asymmetrical position from the mouth to the right shoulder. As this can lead to postural damage to the neck, shoulders and lower back, children in particular need careful instruction and accompaniment when learning the flute.
The fingering system is also different, as can be seen from the flap system of the transverse flute, which contrasts the recorder’s more simple finger holes, drilled directly into the tube. The recorder sometimes requires somewhat more unpleasant finger combinations in order to be able to play all notes of the chromatic scale. With the transverse flute, the mechanics are a bit more convenient for the player.
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- flute fingering
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- recorder fingering
The sound of both instruments is based on the same principle. To put it very simply: a stream of air enters a tube and is split when certain holes in the tube are open. This causes an oscillation of the air in the instrument, and depending on which combination of holes are open the air stream’s length and speed varies, producing different notes. In the recorder, the path of the air through a gap in the mouthpiece, the labium, is predetermined and fixed. Flute players, however, must form this path themselves with their lips. This requires great control of the lips as well as of the respiratory system. In this respect it must be noted that the greatest difference in the handling of the two instruments is the airflow.
Flute lip positions
Conclusion
The transverse flute and the recorder come from the same origin, but have developed in different directions over the centuries. Both, however, have their justification as serious instruments with the potential of creating breathtaking music (no pun intended). It is very worthwhile to discover what both of these instruments are capable of. Come to our shop and try them out!
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Chuck says:
Interesting post !
Now a good follow up would be on “how to record the recorder” and the transverse flute 😉
Joe says:
> Haha, not a bad idea Chuck. Thanks for reading!
Share it if you like. Best, //Joe
Ricardo says:
Dear Joe,
Would you be so kind to share the reference for the flute lip positions please?
Kind Regards,
Ricardo
Tosti says:
Thank you
Zezee says:
Thanks for the info 🙂 I enjoyed reading it
Alejandro Ruiz says:
El accidente de estados en accidente de la semana pasado a los últimos años en la semana que
traicee says:
Thank you
Verybest says:
I had an interesting read
Bowen Travis says:
At one time I was a serious flute player, and then I was in an accident that made it painful to play. It was disheartening to pick it up and not be able to play at even a fraction of the level that I once could. While I was recovering, I started fooling around with a tenor recorder that I had bought, but until then had not spent much time with.
Although some of the fingerings were similar, I still felt like I was more or less learning something new from the ground up. So it didn’t make me depressed that I was starting from scratch, like it would have if I had gone back to flute from the ground up. I didn’t have any experience from the past to compare it to and feel bad about in comparison; I was as good at the recorder as I had ever been.
At first I just had to learn to cover all the holes and play a long middle C without pain. I figured it would just have to suffice, as far as my need to always be working on musical stuff. And it was therapeutic as well, seemed to help my fingers to relax and stretch out. I figured I would start playing my flute again, once I got my fingers working normally.
Fast forward a couple of years, and my pain is gone, and I am playing all the stuff on recorder that I used to play on flute. It has become my main musical vehicle and I love it. I don’t think that I am technically as good yet as I was at one time with the flute, but I feel like my musicianship has improved as the result of finding an instrument that I connect with better.
I have absolutely zero desire to practice the concert flute again. It seems like such a hassle now. Always having to be so careful with it, polishing the instrument and adjusting the keys, replacing the pads, etc. Who needs it. And the playing position, good lord, the position for playing the flute just sucks. I realize there was something about flute that never felt right to me, even when I was at my height of playing. On the recorder I feel like I am doing something more natural and organic, and I feel more connected to the music that is coming out.
Advantages of the flute over the recorder? Flute does have a wider range on the high end, but the range of recorder is not terrible, being comparable to the range of a saxophone. I think the range is sufficient to read 90% or more of flute music, which makes sense to do, seeing how tenor recorder is also keyed in C, and both instruments start at middle C on the low end. Of course I am ignoring the fact that most decent flutes have a B foot, which is not really used much except in advanced and/or modern flute pieces. So most flute lesson books are very adaptable to the beginning recorder player. If you are more into jazz and rock like I am, and creating your own arrangements, this low B is even less necessary. I had a few songs that I used to play on flute that dipped into this low B, which I have improvised workarounds for, or I simply play that riff or section an octave higher.
Although it is easier for a beginner to play a note on a recorder, I think intonation is more difficult, and it is harder to control high notes and to play large interval slurs cleanly. Also, not as many distinct trills are available or accessible. But I have actually liked the cerebral challenges of making notes sound good on an instrument that has not been engineered to facilitate them to the same extent.
I guess if you want to play in an orchestra, or even just go to music school and get accepted to an instrumental studio, you will have to play flute instead of recorder. But for my purposes, I have realized the tenor recorder is actually the superior instrument.
Joe says:
Hi Bowen, wow, thanks a lot for sharing your expertise with us! Much appreciated. All the best in 2023! //Joe
. says:
Thank you, Bowen. I am a piano player, but have injured my left thumb. I am looking for an instrument that I can play with my injury. Are their different types of recorders? Can you play sharps and flats? I would love to hear you play sometime if you are inclined to make a video.
Thank you very much!!! Judy
Adele Liu says:
Jee, I never knew there would be this website which is stupid, because it seems so obvious to write this. I got a recorder relatively recently, and I’v been slightly improving on it, I remember wondering why the recorder hole would get trapped with my saliva, yuck! I wonder when I’ll get a flute.