The recorder comes from the ancient family of fipple flutes (end-blown flutes with a fixed windway formed by a wooden plug or block) and is distinguished from other flutes in the fipple family because it has holes for 7 fingers and one hole for the thumb which acts as an octave vent.

Descriptions of recorders are recorded as early as the 12th century. They have a tone that is sweet and keen and sounds best with other soft instruments of the 13th to 15th centuries. The "Renaissance" recorder was developed during the 15th century and has a rich, bold sound ideally suited to the instrumental music of that time. They are commonly used in consort with these instruments and as an accompaniment to voice. They reached the height of their popularity in the mid-16th century.

Recorders are most often tuned in C and F, though instruments in D, G, and E-flat were not uncommon historically and are still found today, especially the recorder in D called a 'voice-flute'.