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NoteAtlas

Altissimo D on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Altissimo D (D6) on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4 + right little-finger A♭/E♭ key.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: pressedRThumb hole: pressedTA key: openAG♯ key: openG♯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): pressed4Right 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: pressedA♭
Now showing
Altissimo DD6
Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4 + right little-finger A♭/E♭ key
Written
D6
Sounds
C6
D6 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
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)
  • Right index (hole 4)
  • Right pinky A♭/E♭ key
Tip · Altissimo D

Slur up to it from clarion G5 a few times so the change of voicing becomes automatic.

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 D

Slur up to it from clarion G5 a few times so the change of voicing becomes automatic.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteAltissimo C♯Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5Next noteAltissimo E♭Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4 + right sliver key, right little-finger A♭/E♭ 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 D

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 D is written D6 and sounds concert C6.

The same vented left hand as C♯6, with the right index finger and the A♭/E♭ key. Slur up to it from clarion G5 a few times so the change of voicing becomes automatic.

  • Primary fingering: Register key + Thumb hole + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key
  • Written pitch: D6 · Concert pitch: C6
  • Sounding frequency: 1046.50 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Register key
  • Thumb hole
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)
  • Right index (hole 4)
  • Right pinky A♭/E♭ key

Alternate fingerings for Altissimo D

  • 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.

Questions

How do you play Altissimo D on clarinet?

To play Altissimo D (D6) on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4 + right little-finger A♭/E♭ key. Altissimo D is written D6 and sounds concert C6. Press: Register key, Thumb hole, Left middle (hole 2), Left ring (hole 3), Right index (hole 4), Right pinky A♭/E♭ key.

Is Altissimo D written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert C6.

Is there another fingering for Altissimo D?

Short fingering (G♯ key with the lowest side key): Less flat than the bare short fingering; used mainly for a quick trill against C6. Trill fingering (G♯ key only): Use for a rapid trill against C6, not for sustained notes — it is noticeably flat.

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.