Also known as the descant recorder in the UK, this is the third smallest instrument of the modern recorder family and is usually played as the highest voice in 4-part ensembles (SATB = soprano, alto, tenor, bass). Since its finger spacing is relatively small, it is the size of recorder most often used in music education for children first learning to play an instrument.

The soprano is pitched in the key of C, an octave above the level of the human soprano voice.