B♭5 on the B♭ Clarinet
To play B♭5 on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key.
Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.
- Register key
- Thumb hole
- Left index (hole 1)
- Left middle (hole 2)
- Side key 4
In chromatic writing the left-hand sliver or a fork fingering saves reaching across with the right index finger.
In chromatic writing the left-hand sliver or a fork fingering saves reaching across with the right index finger.
Sound and display
Next moves
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Alternate fingerings for B♭5
Each alternate has its own link. Send it to a student and the page opens with that fingering on the big diagram.
- Alternate 1Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver keyRegister 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.
- Alternate 2Fork fingering (right index)Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Right index (hole 4). Use for facility when the neighboring notes already involve the right index finger.
More for advanced players
Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works
About this note
B♭5 is written B♭5 and sounds concert A♭5.
The lowest side key added to A5, exactly like E♭4 a twelfth below. In chromatic writing the left-hand sliver or a fork fingering saves reaching across with the right index finger.
- Primary fingering: Register key + Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Side key 4
- Written pitch: B♭5 · Concert pitch: A♭5
- Sounding frequency: 830.61 Hz
What to press, key by key
- Register key
- Thumb hole
- Left index (hole 1)
- Left middle (hole 2)
- Side key 4
Alternate fingerings for 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 neighboring notes already involve the right index finger.
Questions
How do you play B♭5 on clarinet?
To play B♭5 on clarinet: Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2 + side key 4 key. B♭5 is written B♭5 and sounds concert A♭5. Press: Register key, Thumb hole, Left index (hole 1), Left middle (hole 2), Side key 4.
Is B♭5 written or concert pitch?
The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert A♭5.
Is there another fingering for B♭5?
Left-hand E♭/B♭ sliver key: Use for A–B♭ trills and chromatic runs, where only the left hand needs to move. Fork fingering (right index): Use for facility when the neighboring notes already involve the right index finger.
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.