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NoteAtlas

Throat A on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Throat A (A4) on clarinet: A key only.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: openRThumb hole: openTA key: pressedAG♯ key: openG♯Left index (hole 1): open1Left middle (hole 2): open2Left 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: openA♭
Now showingBeginner note
Throat AA4
A key only
Written
A4
Sounds
G4
A4 on the treble staff

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

Press or cover
  • A key
Tip · Throat A

Throat A usually sounds sharp and hollow, and putting the right hand down is the long-standing cure.

Trill fingerings: Throat A to B♭4, Throat A to B4

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 · Throat A

Throat A usually sounds sharp and hollow, and putting the right hand down is the long-standing cure.

Trill fingerings: Throat A to B♭4, Throat A to B4

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteThroat G♯G♯ key onlyNext noteThroat B♭Left hand: register key + A 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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Trill fingerings from Throat A

Hold the first note and shake the key drawn in green: press it and let it go, fast.

  • TrillThroat A → B♭4A4 to B♭4

    HoldThroat A: A key only

    ShakeSide key 2

    Trill the second side key. Full fingering with the trill key down: A key + Side key 2.

  • TrillThroat A → B4A4 to B4

    HoldThroat A: A key only

    ShakeSide key 1

    Trill the first side key, which avoids crossing the break. Full fingering with the trill key down: A key + Side key 1.

Gold (filled): hold these downGreen with a dark ring: shake this key, press and release it fast

Alternate fingerings for Throat A

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

Throat A is written A4 and sounds concert G4.

Roll the left index finger upward onto the A key — the finger pivots and never leaves the instrument. Throat A usually sounds sharp and hollow, and putting the right hand down is the long-standing cure.

  • Primary fingering: A key
  • Written pitch: A4 · Concert pitch: G4
  • Sounding frequency: 392.00 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • A key

Alternate fingerings for Throat A

  • Resonance fingering (right-hand shading): A key + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky F/C key. Use on sustained throat A to fill out the sound and settle the pitch.

Trill fingerings

  • Throat A ↔ B♭4 (Trill the second side key): A key + Side key 2
  • Throat A ↔ B4 (Trill the first side key, which avoids crossing the break): A key + Side key 1

Questions

How do you play Throat A on clarinet?

To play Throat A (A4) on clarinet: A key only. Throat A is written A4 and sounds concert G4. Press: A key.

Is Throat A written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert G4.

Is there another fingering for Throat A?

Resonance fingering (right-hand shading): Use on sustained throat A to fill out the sound and settle the pitch.

What is the trill fingering for Throat A?

To B♭4: Trill the second side key. To B4: Trill the first side key, which avoids crossing the break.

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.