Getting Started with the EWI for Recorder Players


This guide is intended for recorder players who want to get started with the Akai EWI 4000s electronic wind controller. (Also, it is a work in progress as I'm just getting started myself!) I bought mine from Patchman Music with the soundbank. Another good place to start is the EWI-EVI site.

This is a great wind controller for recorder players.  The "key action" is much closer to the recorder than other wind controllers like the Yamaha WX5, and the fingerings are closely related to the recorder, although as you'll see there are plenty of differences too. The suggested fingerings here are just that - suggestions. As you probably know by now, the fingering system of the EWI is much more "flexible" than that of the recorder. My intent is to maximize the overlap between the recorder fingerings you already know and fingerings you'll have to use for the EWI. This will get you up the learning curve on the EWI more quickly, and will minimize the amount of "unlearning" (we don't want to lose our recorder chops, right?) You can always branch out with other EWI fingerings when you are ready (some "branching out" hints are also included below.)

1. Notation

Hopefully my ASCII notation system will be intuitive. Here is the notation for all the keys for the EWI: 1)23#b|#456+-7. Here's the notation for all the holes on the recorder T123|4567. Notice that the 1-7 numbers are the same for both instruments, there is no thumb indicator for EWI, and EWI pinky keys have intuitive symbols (sharp[#] and flat[b] on the left hand and sharp[+] and flat[-] for the right hand.)

I'm going to present fingerings for the soprano/tenor recorder. We'll see how to handle alto/bass later.

2. Notes

The first thing to realize about EWI fingerings is that the same fingerings are used for all octaves.  So you don't have to worry about cross fingerings being different in the lower octave versus the upper octave of the recorder. Also, the "octave" of the EWI extends below and above the standard "C" to "C" octave. You can go from Bb below the middle C all the way up to Eb above high C in the same "octave" so when moving up or down octaves, you often have a choice of when to switch. Let's start working our way up the EWI.

A# / Bb (below middle C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23.b|.456.-7 N/A
 N/A
This is the lowest note on the EWI and has no equivalent on the recorder and there is only one fingering for the EWI.

B (below middle C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.456.-7 N/A
 N/A
1.23.b|.456..7


This note on the EWI also has no equivalent on the recorder. You have a choice of two EWI fingerings.  The first is my favorite. The second could be used for a B-C trill but that's easier done on the high end.

C (middle C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.456..7 T123|4567 =>
 C
This fingering is the same on both instruments. Although the feel of the right pinky key is obviously different than the double hole of the recorder, it is not terribly unlike some tenor recorder keys.

C#

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.456.-. T123|456/ =>
 C#
1.23#.|.456..7


This is a slightly different motion than on recorder, but is still just the right pinky, so is familiar. Also, the fingering for upper C# corresponds with a recorder fingering, and you can often use it (with the octave roller one notch lower) on the EWI.

D

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.456... T123|456. =>
 D
This fingering is the same on both instruments.

D#/Eb

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.456+.. T123|45/. =>
 N/A
1.23..|.456.-. ..23|456. => F
1.23.b|.456...


1.23..|.4.6...


This EWI fingering is not intuitive for a recorder player. You finger D and then put the right pinky down, raising the pitch - huh?. Alternately, you can finger E, and use one of the -1 keys, but both of those are awkward too. Also the upper octave recorder fingering doesn't work either. Get over it.
Branching Out: At the risk of ruining your recorder fingering, I will say that the last alternative (1.23..|.4.6...)is quite useful as it is only one finger away from the normal D and F fingerings, so I'd recommend adding it to your bag of tricks.

E

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.45.... T123|45.. =>
 E
This fingering is the same on both instruments.

F

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|.4..... T123|4.67 =>
 C#
Unless you play a recorder with German fingerings, this one can get you in trouble. But it's a lot easier than the cross fingered recorder fingering, so it's easy to get used to on the EWI. Just beware of "unlearning" when you pick up the recorder!

F# / Gb

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|..5.... T123|.56. =>
 E

/123|.5.. =>
 F#
The upper octave recorder fingering is the way to go.

G

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.23..|....... T123|.... =>
 G
This fingering is the same on both instruments.

G# / Ab

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.2...|.4..... T12.|45.. =>
 G

/12.|4... =>
 G#
1.23#.|.......
1.23..|#......


1).3..|.......


As with F#, the upper octave recorder fingering is the way to go, flatting the A. The standard EWI fingering sharps the G and is less intuitive for the record player, although I've been told this is also a standard flute (transverse flute, that is) fingering.
Branching Out: The last one is very un-recorder-like, but quite useful in jazz settings as Bb to Ab (and back) moves only one finger.

A

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.2...|....... T12.|.... =>
 A
This fingering is the same on both instruments.

A# / Bb

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.....|.4..... T1.3|4... =>
 G


=>
 G#
1.2...|#......


1)....|.......


The suggested fingering here flats the B, using finger 4, as this is closest to the recorder fingering. You could also use any of the other -1 keys to flat the B: b, 5, or -. The standard EWI fingering sharps the A: you can use any of the +1 keys: # (either hand) or +.
Branching Out: Just wedge your left index finger between the first key and the half moon key. Easiest way to get a Bb and flows easily especially with "flat keys" (F, Bb, etc.)

B

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
1.....|....... T1..|.... =>
 B
..2...|..5....


This fingering is the same on both instruments.

C (high C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
..2...|....... T.2.|.... =>
 C
1.....|#......


This fingering is the same on both instruments. Don't forget that you could also finger middle C and bump the octave roller up one to get this note (as you code for  any of the notes above A.)
Branching Out: Going from B to C (or vice versa) with the suggested fingering is awkward since it is two fingers moving. Something it's better to use a "B#" or "Cb" fingering as given in the alternates.

C# (above high C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
......|....... .12.|.... =>
 A

T...|....
C#
Look Ma! No fingers! This is actually an alternate fingering for the recorder and works for the EWI. This fingering is the same on both instruments.

D (above high C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
.....#|....... ..2.|.... =>
 C
......|#......


......|....+..


You can think of this as "C##" on the EWI. There is no recorder equivalent.

D# / Eb (above high C)

EWI fingering Recorder fingering gives   EWI note
.....#|....+.. N/A

......|#...+..


You can think of this as "D##" on the EWI. There is no recorder equivalent. Remember that the two # keys are linked so .....#|#...... doesn't work (that's still just D.)

2.1 What about the octave rollers?

Most people say they have trouble getting use to the octave rollers, but I think recorder players have an advantage here since we are used to the left thumb controlling the octave. Yes, it is a different movement, but just takes a little pratice. I'm finding the hardest part is mentally knowing when to jump and where to place the jumps ("do a play high C in octave 1 or low C is octave 2") but I guess that'll come with practice too.

With respect to recorder, you need to recognize that the "home" (zero) octave for the EWI is from low C up to middle C (well, you have a few notes below and above this, but you know what I mean) - really, it's the range of a tenor saxophone. So for tenor recorder, you need to use the +1 and +2 octaves. For soprano recorder, you would use the +2 and +3 octaves.

3. What about alto/bass/sopranino recorders?

In short, use the transpose feature of the EWI to select 'F' transposition and use alto fingerings. Here's the "complete" EWI chart (just using the primary fingering from above):
Note EWI fingering
 Comment
D# / Eb
 1.23.b|.456.-7 Hey, I gotta a 440 and 392 alto all-in-one!
E
 1.23..|.456.-7
F
 1.23..|.456..7
F# /Gb
 1.23#.|.456..7
G
 1.23..|.456...
G# / Ab
 1.23..|.456+..
1.23..|.4.6...
A
 1.23..|.45....
A# / Bb
 1.23..|.4.....
B
 1.23..|..5....
C
 1.23..|.......
C# / Db
 1.2...|.4.....
D
 1.2...|.......
D# / Eb
 1.....|.4.....
E
 1.....|.......
F
 ..2...|.......
F# / Gb
 ......|.......
G
 .....#|.......
G# / Ab
 .....#|....+..

3.1 What about the octave rollers?

Since F transposes down, you will use the +1 and +2 octaves for bass recorder, +2 and +3 octaves for alto, and +3 and +4 (are you sure you want to go there? :-)) for sopranino.

4. But I wanna play jazz, man!

The obvious trick is to use the transposer and set to Bb for trumpet (or clarinet or tenor saxophone or soprano saxophone), or Eb for alto/baritone saxophone. Then when reading a chart for that instrument, play with the C fingerings and you're good.

But check this out. Set the transposer  for Eb. You can read Eb charts and play with the C fingering. BUT, you can also read Bb charts and play with the F fingerings (still keeping the transposer on Eb.) This is the same as if you had an alto recorder at A=392.