Clarinet Fingering Chart: B♭ Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
A clarinet fingering chart shows which holes and keys to cover for each written note. The B♭ clarinet reads from written E3 (low E) and sounds a tone lower than written. Its register key raises a low fingering by a twelfth, so the clarion notes from B4 to C6 use the low fingering plus the register key. The bass clarinet uses the same fingerings.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses UK music words (bar, semitone, stave); the US version uses measure, half step and staff. · US version of this page
Key facts
- B♭ clarinet: written C sounds as concert B♭ – a tone (major 2nd) lower.
- Lowest written note: E3. The modern clarinet has 17 keys and 6 rings (Boehm system).
- Chalumeau register: written E3 to B♭4. Clarion register: B4 to C6. Altissimo: above C6.
- The register key (left thumb) adds a twelfth: low F3 fingering + register key = C5.
- Bass clarinet in B♭ (treble clef): same fingerings, sounds a major 9th lower than written.
- This chart covers written E3 to G6; the bass clarinet chart stops at C6.
Interactive clarinet fingering chart
Private by design: this page never uses the microphone. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent – quiz answers stay on this device.
Classfern's free clarinet fingering chart on lessonplanner.info: press a note to see the keys and hear how it should sound. Choose B♭ clarinet or bass clarinet: the fingerings are the same, only the sound changes.
Keyboard: Tab to the notes, then the arrow keys move from note to note and play each one. The ▶ buttons in the tables below show and play that note.
How do you read a clarinet fingering chart?
Find the written note, then cover every hole and press every key listed. "Thumb" is the thumb hole at the back, "register key" the key above it, L1–L3 and R1–R3 the finger holes, and the little finger keys are named by their two notes, such as E/B or F/C.
The left hand is on top. The A key and the G♯ key are pressed with the side of the left first finger, and the side key with the side of the right first finger. Each little finger key has two names because it plays one note in the low register and another a twelfth higher with the register key: E/B, F/C, F♯/C♯ and A♭/E♭.
| Written note | Holes and keys | B♭ clarinet sounds | Bass clarinet sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| E3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, E/B key | D3 | D2 |
| F3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, F/C key | D♯3/E♭3 | D♯2/E♭2 |
| F♯3/G♭3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, F♯/C♯ key | E3 | E2 |
| G3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3 | F3 | F2 |
| G♯3/A♭3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, A♭/E♭ key | F♯3/G♭3 | F♯2/G♭2 |
| A3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2 | G3 | G2 |
| A♯3/B♭3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1 | G♯3/A♭3 | G♯2/A♭2 |
| B3 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, R2 | A3 | A2 |
| C4 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3 | A♯3/B♭3 | A♯2/B♭2 |
| C♯4/D♭4 | Thumb, L1, L2, L3, C♯/G♯ key | B3 | B2 |
| D4 | Thumb, L1, L2 | C4 | C3 |
| D♯4/E♭4 | Thumb, L1, L2, side key | C♯4/D♭4 | C♯3/D♭3 |
| E4 | Thumb, L1 | D4 | D3 |
| F4 | Thumb | D♯4/E♭4 | D♯3/E♭3 |
| F♯4/G♭4 | L1 | E4 | E3 |
| G4 | All open | F4 | F3 |
| G♯4/A♭4 | G♯ key | F♯4/G♭4 | F♯3/G♭3 |
| A4 | A key | G4 | G3 |
| A♯4/B♭4 | Register key, A key | G♯4/A♭4 | G♯3/A♭3 |
| B4 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, E/B key | A4 | A3 |
| C5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, F/C key | A♯4/B♭4 | A♯3/B♭3 |
| C♯5/D♭5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, F♯/C♯ key | B4 | B3 |
| D5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3 | C5 | C4 |
| D♯5/E♭5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, A♭/E♭ key | C♯5/D♭5 | C♯4/D♭4 |
| E5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2 | D5 | D4 |
| F5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R1 | D♯5/E♭5 | D♯4/E♭4 |
| F♯5/G♭5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, R2 | E5 | E4 |
| G5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3 | F5 | F4 |
| G♯5/A♭5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, L3, C♯/G♯ key | F♯5/G♭5 | F♯4/G♭4 |
| A5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2 | G5 | G4 |
| A♯5/B♭5 | Register key, thumb, L1, L2, side key | G♯5/A♭5 | G♯4/A♭4 |
| B5 | Register key, thumb, L1 | A5 | A4 |
| C6 | Register key, thumb | A♯5/B♭5 | A♯4/B♭4 |
★ marks notes outside the usual beginner range (G3 to C5). The bass clarinet column shows "–" for altissimo notes, which use different fingerings on the bass clarinet. Many clarinets have duplicate little finger keys on both hands; the chart shows the usual hand.
To keep a printable copy, use your browser's Print and choose "Save as PDF". The tables print without the buttons and pictures.
What is the break on the clarinet?
The break is the change between the throat notes (G4 to B♭4, very few fingers down) and the clarion notes from B4, which need every hole covered plus the register key. Crossing it means putting all your fingers down at once.
- Play low E3 (all fingers + the E/B key) and then the same fingering with the register key: that is B4.
- Play A4 (A key only), then keep it and put all the right-hand fingers down too – A4 still sounds.
- Now add the left-hand fingers, the thumb and the register key: B4. Only one hand had to move.
- Practise A4 to B4 and back slowly, listening for a clean change with no squeak.
When the break feels secure, open the clarinet play-along to play tunes with the fingering shown for every note.
Quiz: name the clarinet fingering
Eight quick questions on the beginner notes of the instrument chosen in the chart, then a short "I can" checklist.
- Marked by Classfern – the eight fingering questions, checked straight away.
- Self-assessed – the "I can" checklist: you tick it when you have done it.
How do you play high notes on the clarinet?
The altissimo notes above C6 use the register key with the thumb, a few left-hand fingers and usually the A♭/E♭ key. Most of them lift the left first finger, which acts as a vent; support them with firm, fast air.
This clarinet high note finger chart uses the basic altissimo fingerings from the Woodwind Fingering Guide; there are many alternatives, and some notes need small changes on different clarinets.
| Written note | Holes and keys | B♭ clarinet sounds | Bass clarinet sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯6/D♭6 | Register key, thumb, L2, L3, R1, R2 | B5 | – |
| D6 | Register key, thumb, L2, L3, R1, A♭/E♭ key | C6 | – |
| D♯6/E♭6 | Register key, thumb, L2, L3, R3, A♭/E♭ key | C♯6/D♭6 | – |
| E6 | Register key, thumb, L2, L3, A♭/E♭ key | D6 | – |
| F6 | Register key, thumb, L2, L3, C♯/G♯ key, A♭/E♭ key | D♯6/E♭6 | – |
| F♯6/G♭6 | Register key, thumb, L2, A♭/E♭ key | E6 | – |
| G6 | Register key, thumb, L2, R1, R2, A♭/E♭ key | F6 | – |
Is the bass clarinet finger chart the same?
Yes, for the low and clarion registers: the bass clarinet in treble clef uses the same fingerings as the B♭ clarinet and sounds an octave lower than it (a major 9th below written).
Most bass clarinets also have a low E♭ key, and advanced models go down to written low C; those extension keys are not shown here. In bass clef parts (German notation) the bass clarinet sounds a tone lower than written, so check which clef your part uses before you read the chart.
More fingering charts and music tools
The fingering charts are Classfern's own, written from the standard published basic fingerings; there are often other fingerings for the same note, and your teacher may prefer one of them. Mr Chopin and Miss Clara Schumann are Classfern's own cartoon characters, named in honour of the composers Frédéric Chopin and Clara Schumann – they are not portraits of the real people.
Spotted a copyright problem with any music here? Report a copyright problem and we will check it quickly.