Clarinet fingering chart
The holes and keys for every written note on a B♭ clarinet, from low E (E3) to high C (C6). Filled circles are covered holes: the small one is the left thumb hole, then left-hand fingers 1 to 3 above the line and right-hand fingers 1 to 3 below it. Extra keys are listed under each note. Tap a note to hear it.
Every note
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + E/B key (left pinky) · sounds D3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + F/C key (right pinky) · sounds E♭3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + F♯/C♯ key (left pinky) · sounds E3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · sounds F3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + G♯/D♯ key (right pinky) · sounds G♭3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 · sounds G3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 · sounds A♭3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 2 · sounds A3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · sounds B♭3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · + C♯/G♯ key (left pinky) · sounds B3
- thumb hole · left 1 2 · sounds C4
- thumb hole · left 1 2 · + lowest side key (right hand) · sounds D♭4
- thumb hole · left 1 · sounds D4
- thumb hole · sounds E♭4
- left 1 · sounds E4
- nothing pressed (open) · sounds F4
- + G♯ throat key (left index) · sounds G♭4
- + A throat key (left index) · sounds G4
- + register key (left thumb) · + A throat key (left index) · sounds A♭4
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · + E/B key (left pinky) · sounds A4
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · + F/C key (right pinky) · sounds B♭4
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · + F♯/C♯ key (left pinky) · sounds B4
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds C5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · + G♯/D♯ key (right pinky) · sounds D♭5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds D5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 1 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds E♭5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · right 2 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds E5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds F5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 3 · + register key (left thumb) · + C♯/G♯ key (left pinky) · sounds G♭5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds G5
- thumb hole · left 1 2 · + register key (left thumb) · + lowest side key (right hand) · sounds A♭5
- thumb hole · left 1 · + register key (left thumb) · sounds A5
- thumb hole · + register key (left thumb) · sounds B♭5
How to read it
- Over the break (B4 and up), add the register key with your left thumb and finger the note a twelfth lower: B4 is fingered like low E, C5 like low F.
- Open G (G4) has nothing pressed. A4 and B♭4 use the throat keys under your left index finger.
- Clarinet music is written a whole step higher than it sounds: a written C sounds as B♭ on the piano.
The notes our 102 clarinet songs use most: E4, D4, C4, G4, B3, A3.
Source: The Woodwind Fingering Guide, B♭ clarinet (Boehm system) basic fingering chart.
Easiest clarinet songs to practise
- Hot Cross BunsC major, C4–E4 · “Hot cross buns, One a pen-…”Easy
- When I Survey the Wondrous CrossC major, B3–F4 · “When I survey the…”Easy
- Mary Had a Little LambC major, C4–G4 · “Mary had a little…”Easy
- London BridgeC major, C4–A4 · “London bridge is falling…”Easy
- This Old ManC major, C4–A4 · “This old man, he played one,…”Easy
- Baa, Baa, Black SheepC major, C4–A4 · “Baa! Baa! Black sheep, have you…”Easy
- Let Our Gladness Have No EndC major, C4–A4 · “Let our gladness have no…”Easy
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarC major, C4–A4 · “Twinkle, twinkle, little…”Easy
- Be Still, My SoulC major, C4–A4 · “Be still, my soul: the Lord…”Easy
- My Country, ’Tis of Thee (America)C major, B3–A4 · “My country, 'tis of thee,…”Easy
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