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NoteAtlas

Altissimo F♯ on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Altissimo F♯ (F♯6) on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 2 + 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): open3Side 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: 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 F♯F♯6
Left hand: register key, thumb, 2 + right little-finger A♭/E♭ key
Written
F♯6
Sounds
E6
F♯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
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Right pinky A♭/E♭ key
Tip · Altissimo F♯

Two heavier alternatives are widely taught because they pitch more accurately and speak at any volume, which matters on an exposed entry.

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Speed72BPM
Tip · Altissimo F♯

Two heavier alternatives are widely taught because they pitch more accurately and speak at any volume, which matters on an exposed entry.

Sound and display

Alternate fingerings for Altissimo 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

Altissimo F♯ is written F♯6 and sounds concert E6.

The basic fingering is sparse — register, thumb, left middle finger and the A♭/E♭ key. Two heavier alternatives are widely taught because they pitch more accurately and speak at any volume, which matters on an exposed entry.

  • Primary fingering: Register key + Thumb hole + Left middle (hole 2) + Right pinky A♭/E♭ key
  • Written pitch: F♯6 · Concert pitch: E6
  • Sounding frequency: 1318.51 Hz

What to press, key by key

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

Alternate fingerings for Altissimo F♯

  • 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.

Questions

How do you play Altissimo F♯ on clarinet?

To play Altissimo F♯ (F♯6) on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 2 + right little-finger A♭/E♭ key. Altissimo F♯ is written F♯6 and sounds concert E6. Press: Register key, Thumb hole, Left middle (hole 2), Right pinky A♭/E♭ key.

Is Altissimo F♯ written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert E6.

Is there another fingering for Altissimo F♯?

Left hand with the lowest side key: Use when pitch accuracy matters and for wide leaps — it responds at every dynamic. Covered F♯: Use for slurs out of the clarion register and for sustained notes at the extremes of the dynamic range.

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.