Clarinet Fingering Chart
Every note on the B♭ clarinet, from low E3 to altissimo A6 — with a fingering diagram, the fingering written out in words, and the concert pitch each note actually sounds. Use the Finder to jump straight to a note, or work through the chart register by register.
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Pick an instrument and a note and the diagram updates instantly — filled keys are the ones you press. The same finder sits on every note page, pre-set to that note.
Chalumeau register — the low notes
| Note | On the staff | Fingering | In words | Sounds as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky E key. Alternate: Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · right pinky E key. |
D3 | ||
| F3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · right pinky F key. Alternate: Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky F key. |
E♭3 | ||
| F♯3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky F♯ key. Alternate: Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · right pinky F♯ key. |
E3 | ||
| G3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3. | F3 | ||
| G♯3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky G♯ key. | G♭3 | ||
| A3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2. | G3 | ||
| B♭3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1. | A♭3 | ||
| B3 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 2. Alternate: Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1 · B/F♯ sliver key. |
A3 |
Upper chalumeau — below the throat tones
| Note | On the staff | Fingering | In words | Sounds as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C4 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3. | B♭3 | ||
| C♯4 | Thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · left pinky C♯ key. | B3 | ||
| D4 | Thumb · left hand 1-2. | C4 | ||
| E♭4 | Thumb · left hand 1-2 · left pinky E♭/B♭ key. Alternate: Thumb · left hand 1-2 · trill key 4. |
D♭4 | ||
| E4 | Thumb · left hand 1. | D4 | ||
| F4 | Thumb. | E♭4 | ||
| F♯4 | Left hand 1. Alternate: Thumb · trill keys 3 & 4. |
E4 |
Throat tones
| Note | On the staff | Fingering | In words | Sounds as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G4 | No keys pressed at all — a completely open fingering. | F4 | ||
| G♯4 | G♯ throat key. | G♭4 | ||
| A4 | A throat key. | G4 | ||
| B♭4 | Register key · A throat key. Alternate: A throat key · trill key 2. |
A♭4 |
Clarion register — the bright middle-high notes
| Note | On the staff | Fingering | In words | Sounds as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B4 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky E key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · right pinky E key. |
A4 | ||
| C5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · right pinky F key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky F key. |
B♭4 | ||
| C♯5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky F♯ key. | B4 | ||
| D5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3. | C5 | ||
| E♭5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · left pinky G♯ key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2 · right hand 1-2. |
D♭5 | ||
| E5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2. | D5 | ||
| F5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1-2-3 · right pinky F key. |
E♭5 | ||
| F♯5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 2. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · right hand 1 · B/F♯ sliver key. |
E5 | ||
| G5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3. | F5 | ||
| G♯5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2-3 · left pinky C♯ key. | G♭5 | ||
| A5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2. | G5 | ||
| B♭5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2 · left pinky E♭/B♭ key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2 · trill key 4. |
A♭5 | ||
| B5 | Register key · thumb · left hand 1. | A5 | ||
| C6 | Register key · thumb. | B♭5 |
Altissimo register — the highest notes
| Note | On the staff | Fingering | In words | Sounds as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C♯6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right hand 1-2. | B5 | ||
| D6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right hand 1 · left pinky G♯ key. | C6 | ||
| E♭6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right hand 1 · B/F♯ sliver key · left pinky G♯ key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right hand 3 · left pinky G♯ key. |
D♭6 | ||
| E6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · left pinky G♯ key. | D6 | ||
| F6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · left pinky C♯ key + G♯ key. | E♭6 | ||
| F♯6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2 · left pinky G♯ key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1-2 · left pinky G♯ key · trill key 4. |
E6 | ||
| G6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2 · right hand 1-2 · left pinky G♯ key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 1 · right hand 1-2 · left pinky G♯ key. |
F6 | ||
| G♯6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right hand 1-3 · left pinky F♯ key. Alternate: Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right hand 1-3 · left pinky G♯ key. |
G♭6 | ||
| A6 | Register key · thumb · left hand 2-3 · right pinky F key. | G6 |
How the clarinet's registers work
The clarinet is unusual: instead of overblowing to the octave like a flute or oboe, it overblows to the twelfth. That is why the same basic fingering produces two different notes — add the register key to a low-register fingering and the note jumps a twelfth, landing in the clarion register. Low E3 with the register key becomes B4; low F3 becomes C5, and so on all the way up.
Between the two sits a small group of throat tones (G4, G♯4, A4 and B♭4), played with almost no fingers down. They are easy to finger but need firm air support to sound their best. Above the clarion register, the altissimo fingerings stop following the simple pattern — each note has its own combination, often with a pinky key added to tune it, and most altissimo notes have several accepted variants. The chart shows the most widely taught one first.
A sensible way to practise from this chart
Learn the chalumeau (low) register first, including the pinky keys — E, F, F♯ and G♯ are the four notes beginners most often fumble, because the little fingers are weak at first. Then add the throat tones, then cross the break into the clarion register one note at a time, matching each new fingering to the low fingering it comes from. Altissimo notes can wait until the clarion register is secure; when you do start them, learn them in the order they appear in your music, not all at once.
Sources
Every fingering in this chart was checked against two independent references: Yamaha's official clarinet fingering chart (Musical Instrument Guide) and the Woodwind Fingering Guide's clarinet charts. Where the two sources present different standard fingerings — it happens on a handful of notes, such as E♭4 and B♭5 — the chart shows one as the main fingering and the other as the alternate, so nothing is hidden.
Clarinet fingering questions
How many notes are in this clarinet fingering chart?
Forty-two — the complete standard written range of the B♭ clarinet, from low E3 to A6 in the altissimo register. Notes below E3 need a special low-E♭ extension that most student clarinets do not have.
What is the break on the clarinet?
The break is the step between B♭4 (the highest throat tone) and B4 (the lowest clarion note). Crossing it means adding the register key and a full hand position at the same time, which is why beginners find it tricky. The fingerings either side of the break are next to each other in the chart above.
Why do some notes have two fingerings?
Some notes can be played more than one way. The alternatives exist so a player can avoid sliding a pinky from one key to another, or to tune a note that runs sharp or flat. Learn the main fingering first; add alternates when a piece of music calls for them.
Can I print this fingering chart?
Yes — use the print button above the chart. The printed version keeps the full table with a small diagram for every note, sized to read at arm’s length on a music stand.
Are these fingerings the same for every clarinet brand?
Yes, for all Boehm-system clarinets — Yamaha, Buffet, Selmer, Jupiter, Backun and others all use the same keywork and the same fingerings. Only Oehler-system clarinets (mostly found in Germany and Austria) differ.