This section gives advice on the following topics: How To Finger The Note B natural How To Tongue The Note B natural How To Finger The Note B natural The twenty fourth note we learn, B natural in the second octave on the descant (soprano) recorder, lies above the first leger line above the treble clef. Click on the play button in the Sibelius score to hear it. Below that we give the standard fingering for this note, the fingering you would use under normal circumstances. Legend: = hole covered = hole uncovered = pinched thumbhole Recorder Thumb 1 2 3 4 5 6b 6a 7b 7a Bell Descant Tenor   -----left hand------ -----right hand----- B standard Using the standard nomenclature, the fingering for second octave B natural is written X 1 2 4 5. How To Tongue The Note B natural in the Second Octave B natural is one of the more troublesome of the group of notes from G in the second octave to C in the third octave, top C. If you need to, review the technique we discussed in lesson 20 by clicking here. The best note to start from is A and then dropping the first and second fingers of the right hand on to the recorder you should be able to slur neatly up to B natural if you noticeably increase your blowing pressure when your fingers are in place for the B natural. The difference in breath pressure is quite considerable. When you come to tongue the two notes in sequence you must make certain that you have a small thumbhole opening and that you tongue crisply and bring the air pressure up smartly when you play the B natural. Most players who find this note difficult tend to tongue too hard and then feed too little air into the instrument to sustain the note - the proper approach is to tongue crisply, with a firm 'ti' (as in tip), into the instrument and then to supply air at a good pressure immediately following the short 'ti' stroke. There must be no gap between the tonguing stroke and the supply of air that follows it. If you use a long lazy tonguing stroke you will find that the note is unsustainable because there is a gap between the tonguing stroke and the flow of air needed to sustain the note. Once you are happy with the note B natural try piece no 24.