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NoteAtlas

Low F on the Bass Clarinet

To play Low F (F3) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + right little-finger F/C 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: 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: pressedFRight pinky A♭/E♭ key: openA♭Low E♭ extension key: openE♭
Now showingBeginner note
Low FF3
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + right little-finger F/C key
Written
F3
Sounds
E♭2
F3 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)
  • Right index (hole 4)
  • Right middle (hole 5)
  • Right ring (hole 6)
  • Right pinky F/C key
Tip · Low F

On bass the pads are large, so press keys fully or the note gurgles.

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
Practice this
Speed72BPM
Tip · Low F

On bass the pads are large, so press keys fully or the note gurgles.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteLow ELeft hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B keyNext noteLow F♯Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left 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 F

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 F is written F3 and sounds concert E♭2.

Low E with the F/C key in place of the E/B key, so the little fingers swap sides — plan which pinky you are on before you arrive. On bass the pads are large, so press keys fully or the note gurgles.

  • Primary fingering: 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 F/C key
  • Written pitch: F3 · Concert pitch: E♭2
  • Sounding frequency: 77.78 Hz

What to press, key by 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 F/C key

Alternate fingerings for Low F

  • Left little-finger F/C key: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky F/C key + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6). Use the left side when the right little finger is already committed to the E/B or A♭/E♭ key.

Questions

How do you play Low F on bass clarinet?

To play Low F (F3) on bass clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + right little-finger F/C key. Low F is written F3 and sounds concert E♭2. Press: 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 F/C key.

Is Low F written or concert pitch?

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

Is there another fingering for Low F?

Left little-finger F/C key: Use the left side when the right little finger is already committed to the E/B or A♭/E♭ 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.