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How to Play El Burrito Sabanero on a Recorder

Latin America has a strong tradition of dance music, including when it comes to Christmas. El Burrito Sabanero is a traditional Christmas song from Venezuela that talks about riding to see the baby Jesus on a donkey. This song is fun to move to and is easy to play on the recorder once you know the notes.

Things You'll Need

  • Soprano recorder
  • Soprano fingering chart (see Resources section below)
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Instructions

  1. Positioning and Playing the Instrument

    • 1

      Put the pad of your left thumb on the recorder's thumb hole (the only hole in the back of the recorder), and then put the pads of your first, second and third fingers on the first, second and third holes in the front. Rest the pad of your right thumb on the back of the recorder in line with the fourth hole in the front. Then put the pads of your right first, second and third fingers on the fourth, fifth and sixth holes in front.

    • 2

      Hold the recorder at a 45-degree angle and lift it to your mouth. Place the mouthpiece just inside your lips. It should rest on the bottom lip while your upper lip rests comfortably on top of the mouthpiece.

    • 3

      Blow gently through the instrument. If you get a shrill sound, blow less air or pull the mouthpiece out of your mouth slightly.

    • 4

      Learn the following notes using a recorder fingering chart if you do not already know them:

      G, C, A, B, F#, D, E

    The Song

    • 5

      Play the first and second phrase using the following notes (the phrases are the same):

      G, G, G, G, G, G, G, C, C, C, C, A, A, G, A, B

    • 6

      Play the third phrase using the following notes:

      G, G, G, G, G, G, D, B, A, A, G, A, B

    • 7

      Play the fourth phrase using the following notes:

      G, G, G, G, G, G, D, B, A, G, G, F#, G

    • 8

      Play the fifth phrase using the following notes:

      B, B, B, B, A, A, G, G, B, B, B, B, A, A, G

    • 9

      Play the sixth phrase using the following notes:

      A, A, A, A, A, A, F#, F#, A, A, A, G, F#, E, D

    • 10

      Play the seventh phrase using the following notes (this is the same as the fifth phrase):

      B, B, B, B, A, A, G, G, B, B, B, B, A, A, G

    • 11

      Play the eighth phrase using the following notes:

      G, G, G, G, G, G, B, G, D, B, A, G, F#, A, G

Live Music

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