Skip to content
NoteAtlas

Low E♭3 on the Bass Clarinet

To play Low E♭ (E♭3) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key, low E♭ extension key.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: openRThumb hole: pressedTA key: openAG♯ key: openG♯Left index (hole 1): pressed1Left middle (hole 2): pressed2Left sliver key: openslLeft ring (hole 3): pressed3Side key 1: opens1Side key 2: opens2Side key 3: opens3Side key 4: opens4Right index (hole 4): pressed4Right middle (hole 5): pressed5Right sliver key: opensrRight ring (hole 6): pressed6Left pinky E/B key: pressedELeft 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: pressedE♭
Now showing
Low E♭E♭3
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key, low E♭ extension key
Written
E♭3
Sounds
D♭2
E♭3 on the treble staff

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

Press or cover
  • 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)
  • Low E♭ extension key
Tip · Low E♭

Professional instruments continue down to low C, but E♭ is where school horns stop. Sounds concert D♭2.

Practice this
Speed72BPM
Tip · Low E♭

Professional instruments continue down to low C, but E♭ is where school horns stop. Sounds concert D♭2.

Sound and display

More for advanced players

Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

Low E♭ is written E♭3 and sounds concert D♭2.

The low E♭ extension: the low E fingering with the E♭ key added — on most student bass clarinets a key for the right little finger, on some makers a thumb lever. Professional instruments continue down to low C, but E♭ is where school horns stop. Sounds concert D♭2.

  • Primary fingering: 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) + Low E♭ extension key
  • Written pitch: E♭3 · Concert pitch: D♭2
  • Sounding frequency: 69.30 Hz

What to press, key by 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)
  • Low E♭ extension key

Questions

How do you play Low E♭ on bass clarinet?

To play Low E♭ (E♭3) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key, low E♭ extension key. Low E♭ is written E♭3 and sounds concert D♭2. Press: 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), Low E♭ extension key.

Is Low E♭ written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ bass clarinet it sounds concert D♭2.

Bass Clarinet fingering chart: Low E♭3
How to play Low E♭3 (written E♭3) on the Bass Clarinet: 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) + Low E♭ extension key.

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.