Clarinet Fingering Chart (B♭)

How to read this chart

Filled circles are covered holes or pressed keys; open circles stay up. The two keys drawn at the top sit on the back of the instrument: the thumb hole and, just above it, the register key. Holes 1–3 belong to the left hand (top joint), holes 4–6 to the right hand (bottom joint), and the paired pinky clusters at the bottom show the little-finger keys on each side.

Some players call this a clarinet finger chart or note chart — it’s the same thing: one diagram per note across the clarinet’s full practical range.

Written vs concert pitch on a B♭ clarinet

The clarinet is a transposing instrument in B♭: every written note sounds one whole step lower. Written C5 sounds concert B♭4. That’s why your band director asks for a “concert B♭ scale” and you play a written C scale. The chart above always shows both pitches, and the play button sounds the concert pitch — what a listener actually hears.

Full clarinet fingering chart — all notes

The complete B♭ clarinet range, low to high. Chalumeau (low) register notes are made with the bare fingerings; add the register key and most fingerings jump a twelfth into the clarion register; the altissimo begins around written C♯6.

Alternate B♭ clarinet fingerings

Alternates aren’t “better” fingerings — each one earns its place in a specific musical situation. Select any of these notes in the chart above and switch variants to compare them.

• Low E (E3) — 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♯.
• Low F (F3) — 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.
• Low F♯ (F♯3) — Right little-finger F♯/C♯ 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. Switch to the right side when the left little finger is needed for low E, low F or low C♯.
• Low B (B3) — B/F♯ sliver key: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right sliver key. Use in chromatic movement between B♭ and B, where it saves lifting the index finger and dropping the middle finger at the same time.
• Low E♭ (E♭4) — 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 neighbouring notes already put the right index finger down.
• F♯4 (F♯4) — Chromatic F♯ (side keys 3 and 4): Thumb hole + Side key 3 + Side key 4. Use next to F4 so the thumb and left index finger can stay exactly where they are.
• Throat G (G4) — Resonance fingering (right hand down): Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6). Use on sustained or exposed G, where the right hand is free, to fill out a thin tone.
• Throat G♯ (G♯4) — Resonance fingering (right hand down): G♯ key + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6). Use when G♯ is held or exposed and the right hand is otherwise idle.
• Throat A (A4) — Resonance fingering (right-hand shading): A key + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky F/C key. Use on sustained throat A to fill out the sound and settle the pitch.
• Throat Bb (B♭4) — Resonance fingering (both hands shading): Register key + A key + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky F/C key. Use on longer B♭s where there is time to set the extra fingers — it sounds fuller and sits closer to pitch. — Side-key B♭ (G♯ key with the first side key): G♯ key + Side key 1. Use in trills and quick passages around A and B where a clear, ringing B♭ matters more than the security of the standard fingering.
• B4 (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.
• C5 (C5) — Left little-finger F/C key: Register 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 when the right little finger is already on the E/B or A♭/E♭ key.
• C♯5 (C♯5) — Right little-finger F♯/C♯ 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 F♯/C♯ key. Use when the left little finger is needed for B, C or G♯ nearby.
• F♯5 (F♯5) — B/F♯ sliver key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right sliver key. Use for chromatic movement between F and F♯ so the right hand can stay still.
• G♯5 (G♯5) — Right-hand alternate: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5). Use when the surrounding notes already have right-hand fingers down and the left little finger is busy.
• B♭5 (B♭5) — Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left sliver key. Use for A–B♭ trills and chromatic runs, where only the left hand needs to move. — Fork fingering (right index): Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Right index (hole 4). Use for facility when the neighbouring notes already involve the right index finger.
• Altissimo D (D6) — Short fingering (G♯ key with the lowest side key): Register key + Thumb hole + G♯ key + Side key 4. Less flat than the bare short fingering; used mainly for a quick trill against C6. — Trill fingering (G♯ key only): Register key + Thumb hole + G♯ key. Use for a rapid trill against C6, not for sustained notes — it is noticeably flat.
• Altissimo E♭ (E♭6) — Right ring finger vent: Register key + Thumb hole + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key. Use when arriving from clarion notes that already have the right hand down.
• Altissimo F (F6) — Covered F: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky C♯/G♯ key + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6). Use for slurring up from the lower registers and for quiet playing, where the vented fingering can misfire.
• Altissimo F♯ (F♯6) — Left hand with the lowest side key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Side key 4 + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key. Use when pitch accuracy matters and for wide leaps — it responds at every dynamic. — Covered F♯: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key. Use for slurs out of the clarion register and for sustained notes at the extremes of the dynamic range.
• Altissimo G (G6) — Left index vent: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key. Use when slurring up from clarion notes, where keeping the left index finger down steadies the entry.
• Altissimo G♯ (G♯6) — Right little-finger F♯/C♯ key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky F♯/C♯ key. The same fingering with the F♯/C♯ key on the other hand — take whichever side the phrase leaves free. — Short A♭ (right index with the A♭/E♭ key): Register key + Thumb hole + Right index (hole 4) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key. Use where an easy, well-tuned fingering matters more than matching the neighbouring altissimo notes.
• Altissimo A (A6) — Left little-finger F/C key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky F/C key. Take it with the left little finger when the right one is already holding another key in the same phrase. — F♯/C♯ key vent: Register key + Thumb hole + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right pinky F♯/C♯ key. A slightly different colour and pitch centre; try it when the standard fingering will not speak on your instrument.
• Altissimo B♭ (B♭6) — Side-key B♭: Register key + Thumb hole + G♯ key + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky C♯/G♯ key + Side key 3 + Side key 4. Use for exposed entries, where response and intonation matter more than fingering economy.
• Altissimo B (B6) — Without the side G♯ key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right pinky F♯/C♯ key. Use when the neighbouring notes do not need the G♯ lever, so the left index finger can stay flat on its hole.
• Altissimo C (C7) — A♭/E♭ key version: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Right index (hole 4) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key. Try this when the standard fingering will not centre — altissimo C differs a lot between set-ups.

Trill fingerings

Trill fingerings trade a little tone quality for speed — use them for rapid alternation, not sustained notes.

• Low B♭ (B♭3) ↔ B3 — Trill the B/F♯ sliver key with the right middle finger: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right sliver key
• Low D (D4) ↔ E♭4 — Trill the left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left sliver key
• F4 (F4) ↔ F♯4 — Trill side keys 3 and 4 with the right index finger: Thumb hole + Side key 3 + Side key 4
• Throat G♯ (G♯4) ↔ A4 — Trill the second side key: G♯ key + Side key 2
• Throat G♯ (G♯4) ↔ B♭4 — Trill the first side key: G♯ key + Side key 1
• Throat A (A4) ↔ B♭4 — Trill the second side key: A key + Side key 2
• Throat A (A4) ↔ B4 — Trill the first side key, which avoids crossing the break: A key + Side key 1
• Throat Bb (B♭4) ↔ B4 — Trill the second side key: Register key + A key + Side key 2
• Throat Bb (B♭4) ↔ C5 — Trill the first side key: Register key + A key + Side key 1
• F5 (F5) ↔ F♯5 — Trill the B/F♯ sliver key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right sliver key
• A5 (A5) ↔ B♭5 — Trill the left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left sliver key
• C6 (C6) ↔ D6 — Trill the side G♯ key: Register key + Thumb hole + G♯ key

Common clarinet fingering mistakes

• Uncovered ring edges. Most squeaks on crossing the break come from a fingertip that seals 90% of a hole. Flatten the pads of your fingers, don’t use the tips.
• Ignoring the left/right pinky choice. The E/B and F/C keys exist on both sides so you can alternate — pick the side that leaves your next note free instead of sliding.
• Throat tones with a dead right hand. Adding right-hand fingers under throat A and B♭ (resonance fingerings) steadies pitch and improves tone.
• Biting for the altissimo. High notes come from voicing and air speed, not jaw pressure — biting makes them sharp, thin and squeak-prone.

Frequently asked questions