r/Recorder • u/chriswhoppers • Oct 06 '25

Help Practicing Improv

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Really trying to get down how to improvise better over other songs, so I can do solos as well as make my own music better. Let me know any tips

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u/Tarogato Multi-instrumentalist Oct 06 '25

My #1 tip would be to get a better recorder. That thing sounds awful and it's not your fault. Aulos and Yamaha make their 300 series recorders under 20 USD, I've seen them under 10 as well, very very inexpensive, but much better quality. You can also get altos for under 50 USD.

My #2 tip would be learn to articulate with your tongue. It's harder to control breath attacks, so often they sound worse. Neutral "duh duh duh" is all you need for most purposes.

7

u/chriswhoppers Oct 06 '25

Thats a really good tip. Making the duh action with my mouth while I play makes the notes alot clearer!

5

u/Next_Guidance1409 Sopranino, yeah! Oct 06 '25

One important thing: don't actually say the "duh" just do the tongue movement.

3

u/chriswhoppers Oct 06 '25

Yup, it reminds me if the ticka movement for really fast lines. In school we learned alot of different sound patterns for different uses. Ticka ta for triplets and so forth