The most common of the recorder family in use is the treble recorder used in hundreds of schools by thousands of children across the country.  It is probably one of the first real instruments many people have experience with, and sadly for some, it is their last.  For myself coming back to the instrument after nearly 50 years, I had the same problem as many other people.  Breath control and trying to remember the damn fingerings once I got past the first octave.  I knew there was a reason I only ever used 3 fingers in the brass band.

The picture below shows the treble recorder.  Tuned in C it is the most popular choice for folk groups.

Below is a photo of my newest acquisition, a sopranino recorder, shown next to my descant. The size is not very different but at the top of the range, the sound is a little "penetrating" to the ears.  I'm now looking for a garklein recorder which is even higher in pitch and only six inches (15cm) or so long.

I have included a short clip of a sopranino recorder playing a piece written by Vivaldi, the Concerto in A minor for sopranino recorder and strings

In order to help you out I've put a fingering chart below.  The fingerings are identical although the descant recorder is tuned to C and the sopranino is tuned to F.

The hole marked 't' on the chart is the thumb hole on the back of the instrument covered by the left thumb.  The black and white circles mean the corresponding hole is only half covered by the finger whilst playing the note.  For the third and fourth fingers of the right hand, it means that either one or both of the holes are covered.  Obviously it is always wise to buy a proper tutor or spend some time with a recorder player who will show correct procedure and breathing techniques.

I snapped the picture below when Matt was having a blast on his recorder during a visit.  For those of you who have never seen one, the large black thing taking up most of the living room is his Bass Clarinet.  Which, if you're not careful can sometimes be used as a convenient ashtray.