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NoteAtlas

Low E on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Low E (E3) on clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key.

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): pressed4Right middle (hole 5): pressed5Right sliver key: opensrRight ring (hole 6): pressed6Left pinky E/B key: pressedELeft 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 EE3
Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key
Written
E3
Sounds
D3
E3 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)
  • Left pinky E/B key
  • Right index (hole 4)
  • Right middle (hole 5)
  • Right ring (hole 6)
Tip · Low E

The lowest note on the clarinet: keep the air moving and the throat open, because low E turns flat and stuffy the moment the airstream slows. Don't let the bell rest against your leg either — blocking it pulls the pitch down further.

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 E

The lowest note on the clarinet: keep the air moving and the throat open, because low E turns flat and stuffy the moment the airstream slows. Don't let the bell rest against your leg either — blocking it pulls the pitch down further.

Sound and display

Next moves

Next noteLow FLeft hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + right little-finger F/C 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 Low E

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

Low E is written E3 and sounds concert D3.

The lowest note on the clarinet: keep the air moving and the throat open, because low E turns flat and stuffy the moment the airstream slows. Don't let the bell rest against your leg either — blocking it pulls the pitch down further.

  • Primary fingering: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Left pinky E/B key + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6)
  • Written pitch: E3 · Concert pitch: D3
  • Sounding frequency: 146.83 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Thumb hole
  • Left index (hole 1)
  • Left middle (hole 2)
  • Left ring (hole 3)
  • Left pinky E/B key
  • Right index (hole 4)
  • Right middle (hole 5)
  • Right ring (hole 6)

Alternate fingerings for Low E

  • Right little-finger E/B key: Thumb hole + Left index (hole 1) + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right index (hole 4) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky E/B key. Use whichever little finger the surrounding notes leave free — the right one here when the left is needed for low F or low F♯.

Questions

How do you play Low E on clarinet?

To play Low E (E3) on clarinet: Left hand: thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B key. Low E is written E3 and sounds concert D3. Press: Thumb hole, Left index (hole 1), Left middle (hole 2), Left ring (hole 3), Left pinky E/B key, Right index (hole 4), Right middle (hole 5), Right ring (hole 6).

Is Low E written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert D3.

Is there another fingering for Low E?

Right little-finger E/B key: Use whichever little finger the surrounding notes leave free — the right one here when the left is needed for low F or low F♯.

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.