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NoteAtlas

Low E on the Bass Clarinet

To play Low E (E3) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B 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: openE♭
Now showingBeginner note
Low EE3
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key
Written
E3
Sounds
D2
E3 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)
Tip · Low E

Bass clarinet low E wants slow, wide air and a very relaxed jaw; the long tube speaks late if you rush it. Set the floor peg so the instrument is not resting on the bell, or the note goes flat and stuffy.

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

Bass clarinet low E wants slow, wide air and a very relaxed jaw; the long tube speaks late if you rush it. Set the floor peg so the instrument is not resting on the bell, or the note goes flat and stuffy.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteLow E♭Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key, low E♭ extension keyNext noteLow FLeft hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + right little-finger F/C keyFull 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 E3 and sounds concert D2.

Every hole covered plus the E/B key. Bass clarinet low E wants slow, wide air and a very relaxed jaw; the long tube speaks late if you rush it. Set the floor peg so the instrument is not resting on the bell, or the note goes flat and stuffy.

  • 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)
  • Written pitch: E3 · Concert pitch: D2
  • Sounding frequency: 73.42 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)

Alternate fingerings for Low E

  • Right little-finger E/B 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. Use whichever little finger the surrounding notes leave free — the right one here when the left is needed for low F or low F♯.

Questions

How do you play Low E on bass clarinet?

To play Low E (E3) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key. Low E is written E3 and sounds concert D2. 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).

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 D2.

Is there another fingering for Low E?

Right little-finger E/B key: Use whichever little finger the surrounding notes leave free — the right one here when the left is needed for low F or low F♯.

Bass Clarinet fingering chart: Low E
How to play Low E (written E3) 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).

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.