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Low E♭ on the Bass Clarinet

To play Low E♭ (E♭4) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 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): 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 showingBeginner note
Low E♭E♭4
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key
Written
E♭4
Sounds
D♭3
E♭4 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)
  • Side key 4
Tip · Low E♭

On bass the side keys are long levers; press the pad of the finger flat against them rather than reaching with the tip.

E♭3Low E♭E3Low EF3Low FF♯3Low F♯G3Low GG♯3Low G♯A3Low AB♭3Low B♭B3Low BC4Low CC♯4Low C♯D4Low DE♭4Low E♭E4F4F♯4G4Throat GG♯4Throat G♯A4Throat AB♭4Throat B♭B4C5C♯5D5E♭5E5F5F♯5G5G♯5A5B♭5B5C6
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Speed72BPM
Tip · Low E♭

On bass the side keys are long levers; press the pad of the finger flat against them rather than reaching with the tip.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteLow DLeft hand: thumb, 1, 2Next noteE4Left hand: thumb, 1Full chartAll 34 bass clarinet notesThe whole fingering chartScaleConcert B♭ majorWritten C major, fingering under every noteTrainerNote trainerRead treble clef notesPrintPrintable PDFLetter · A4 · blank

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Alternate fingerings for Low E♭

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

Low E♭ is written E♭4 and sounds concert D♭3.

Low D with the A♭/E♭ side key. On bass the side keys are long levers; press the pad of the finger flat against them rather than reaching with the tip.

  • Primary fingering: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Side key 4
  • Written pitch: E♭4 · Concert pitch: D♭3
  • Sounding frequency: 138.59 Hz

What to press, key by key

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

Alternate fingerings for Low E♭

  • Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left sliver key. Use when moving between D and E♭ or trilling, since only the left hand has to move.
  • Fork fingering (right index): Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Right index (hole 4). Slightly sharp; use for facility when the neighboring notes already put the right index finger down.

Questions

How do you play Low E♭ on bass clarinet?

To play Low E♭ (E♭4) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key. Low E♭ is written E♭4 and sounds concert D♭3. Press: Thumb hole, Left index (hole 1), Left middle (hole 2), Side key 4.

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♭3.

Is there another fingering for Low E♭?

Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Use when moving between D and E♭ or trilling, since only the left hand has to move. Fork fingering (right index): Slightly sharp; use for facility when the neighboring notes already put the right index finger down.

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.