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NoteAtlas

B♭5 on the Bass Clarinet

To play B♭5 on bass clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: pressedRThumb hole: pressedTA key: openAG♯ key: openG♯Left index (hole 1): pressed1Left middle (hole 2): pressed2Left sliver key: openslLeft ring (hole 3): open3Side key 1: opens1Side key 2: opens2Side key 3: opens3Side key 4: presseds4Right index (hole 4): open4Right middle (hole 5): open5Right sliver key: opensrRight ring (hole 6): open6Left pinky E/B key: openELeft pinky F♯/C♯ key: openF♯Left pinky F/C key: openFLeft pinky C♯/G♯ key: openC♯Right pinky E/B key: openERight pinky F♯/C♯ key: openF♯Right pinky F/C key: openFRight pinky A♭/E♭ key: openA♭Low E♭ extension key: openE♭
Now showing
B♭5
Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key
Written
B♭5
Sounds
A♭4
B♭5 on the treble staff

Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.

Press or cover
  • Register key
  • Thumb hole
  • Left index (hole 1)
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Side key 4
Tip · B♭5

The sliver-key and fork alternates are smoother in fast passages.

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Speed72BPM
Tip · B♭5

The sliver-key and fork alternates are smoother in fast passages.

Sound and display

Alternate fingerings for B♭5

Each alternate has its own link. Send it to a student and the page opens with that fingering on the big diagram.

More for advanced players

Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

B♭5 is written B♭5 and sounds concert A♭4.

Register key, thumb, the left index and middle fingers and the A♭/E♭ side key — the same shape as E♭4 with the register key added. The sliver-key and fork alternates are smoother in fast passages.

  • Primary fingering: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Side key 4
  • Written pitch: B♭5 · Concert pitch: A♭4
  • Sounding frequency: 415.30 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Register key
  • Thumb hole
  • Left index (hole 1)
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Side key 4

Alternate fingerings for B♭5

  • Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left sliver key. Use for A–B♭ trills and chromatic runs, where only the left hand needs to move.
  • Fork fingering (right index): Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Right index (hole 4). Use for facility when the neighboring notes already involve the right index finger.

Questions

How do you play B♭5 on bass clarinet?

To play B♭5 on bass clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key. B♭5 is written B♭5 and sounds concert A♭4. Press: Register key, Thumb hole, Left index (hole 1), Left middle (hole 2), Side key 4.

Is B♭5 written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ bass clarinet it sounds concert A♭4.

Is there another fingering for B♭5?

Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Use for A–B♭ trills and chromatic runs, where only the left hand needs to move. Fork fingering (right index): Use for facility when the neighboring notes already involve the right index finger.

Bass Clarinet fingering data last updated . Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.