B4 on the Bass Clarinet
To play B4 on bass clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key.
Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.
- Register key
- Thumb hole
- Left index (hole 1)
- Left middle (hole 2)
- Left ring (hole 3)
- Left pinky E/B key
- Right index (hole 4)
- Right middle (hole 5)
- Right ring (hole 6)
Cross the break with the right hand already down on the throat notes and only the register key moving.
Cross the break with the right hand already down on the throat notes and only the register key moving.
Sound and display
Next moves
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Alternate fingerings for B4
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
B4 is written B4 and sounds concert A3.
Every hole covered plus the register key and the E/B pinky key — the first note over the break, sounding concert A3. Cross the break with the right hand already down on the throat notes and only the register key moving.
- Primary fingering: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky E/B key + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6)
- Written pitch: B4 · Concert pitch: A3
- Sounding frequency: 220.00 Hz
What to press, key by key
- Register key
- Thumb hole
- Left index (hole 1)
- Left middle (hole 2)
- Left ring (hole 3)
- Left pinky E/B key
- Right index (hole 4)
- Right middle (hole 5)
- Right ring (hole 6)
Alternate fingerings for B4
- Right little-finger E/B key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky E/B key. Pick the side that leaves the other little finger free for whatever comes next.
Questions
How do you play B4 on bass clarinet?
To play B4 on bass clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key. B4 is written B4 and sounds concert A3. Press: Register key, Thumb hole, Left index (hole 1), Left middle (hole 2), Left ring (hole 3), Left pinky E/B key, Right index (hole 4), Right middle (hole 5), Right ring (hole 6).
Is B4 written or concert pitch?
The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ bass clarinet it sounds concert A3.
Is there another fingering for B4?
Right little-finger E/B key: Pick the side that leaves the other little finger free for whatever comes next.
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.