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NoteAtlas

Low C on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Low C (C4) on clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: openRThumb hole: pressedTA key: openAG♯ key: openG♯Left index (hole 1): pressed1Left 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: openC♯Right pinky E/B key: openERight pinky F♯/C♯ key: openF♯Right pinky F/C key: openFRight pinky A♭/E♭ key: openA♭
Now showingBeginner note
Low CC4
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3
Written
C4
Sounds
B♭3
C4 on the treble staff

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

Press or cover
  • Thumb hole
  • Left index (hole 1)
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)
Tip · Low C

Your left thumb and the first three fingers of your left hand. This is the band's tuning note. Cover each hole fully with the soft pad of your finger, and if it squeaks, check for a leak and don't bite the reed.

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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Tip · Low C

Your left thumb and the first three fingers of your left hand. This is the band's tuning note. Cover each hole fully with the soft pad of your finger, and if it squeaks, check for a leak and don't bite the reed.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteLow BLeft hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 5Next noteLow C♯Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 + left little-finger C♯/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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Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

Low C is written C4 and sounds concert B♭3.

Left hand and thumb down, right hand completely off — the ledger-line C below the staff. Keep the right hand curved over its holes rather than drifting away, or the return to B and B♭ arrives late.

  • Primary fingering: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3)
  • Written pitch: C4 · Concert pitch: B♭3
  • Sounding frequency: 233.08 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Thumb hole
  • Left index (hole 1)
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)

Questions

How do you play Low C on clarinet?

To play Low C (C4) on clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3. Low C is written C4 and sounds concert B♭3. Press: Thumb hole, Left index (hole 1), Left middle (hole 2), Left ring (hole 3).

Is Low C written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert B♭3.

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.