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NoteAtlas

Altissimo B♭ on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Altissimo B♭ (B♭6) on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 + G♯ key, left little-finger C♯/G♯ key, right little-finger A♭/E♭ key.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: pressedRThumb hole: pressedTA key: openAG♯ key: pressedG♯Left index (hole 1): open1Left 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): 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: pressedC♯Right pinky E/B key: openERight pinky F♯/C♯ key: openF♯Right pinky F/C key: openFRight pinky A♭/E♭ key: pressedA♭
Now showing
Altissimo B♭B♭6
Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 + G♯ key, left little-finger C♯/G♯ key, right little-finger A♭/E♭ key
Written
B♭6
Sounds
A♭6
B♭6 on the treble staff

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

Press or cover
  • Register key
  • Thumb hole
  • G♯ key
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)
  • Left pinky C♯/G♯ key
  • Right pinky A♭/E♭ key
Tip · Altissimo B♭

Expect to experiment: this note varies between instruments, mouthpieces and reeds more than anything below it.

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♭5B5C6C♯6Altissimo C♯D6Altissimo DE♭6Altissimo E♭E6Altissimo EF6Altissimo FF♯6Altissimo F♯G6Altissimo GG♯6Altissimo G♯A6Altissimo AB♭6Altissimo B♭B6Altissimo BC7Altissimo C
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Speed72BPM
Tip · Altissimo B♭

Expect to experiment: this note varies between instruments, mouthpieces and reeds more than anything below it.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteAltissimo ALeft hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 + right little-finger F/C keyNext noteAltissimo BLeft hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2 · Right hand: 4, 5 + G♯ keyFull chartAll 45 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 Altissimo B♭

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

Altissimo B♭ is written B♭6 and sounds concert A♭6.

B♭6 needs the side G♯ key as an extra vent on top of little-finger keys in both hands. Expect to experiment: this note varies between instruments, mouthpieces and reeds more than anything below it.

  • Primary fingering: Register key + Thumb hole + G♯ key + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky C♯/G♯ key + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key
  • Written pitch: B♭6 · Concert pitch: A♭6
  • Sounding frequency: 1661.22 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Register key
  • Thumb hole
  • G♯ key
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)
  • Left pinky C♯/G♯ key
  • Right pinky A♭/E♭ key

Alternate fingerings for Altissimo B♭

  • 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.

Questions

How do you play Altissimo B♭ on clarinet?

To play Altissimo B♭ (B♭6) on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 + G♯ key, left little-finger C♯/G♯ key, right little-finger A♭/E♭ key. Altissimo B♭ is written B♭6 and sounds concert A♭6. Press: Register key, Thumb hole, G♯ key, Left middle (hole 2), Left ring (hole 3), Left pinky C♯/G♯ key, Right pinky A♭/E♭ key.

Is Altissimo B♭ written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert A♭6.

Is there another fingering for Altissimo B♭?

Side-key B♭: Use for exposed entries, where response and intonation matter more than fingering economy.

B♭ 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.