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NoteAtlas

Throat Bb on the B♭ Clarinet

To play Throat B♭ (B♭4) on clarinet: Left hand: register key + A key.

Full chart
BackThroat keysLeft handSide keysRight handL pinkyR pinkyRegister key: pressedRThumb 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 B♭B♭4
Left hand: register key + A key
Written
B♭4
Sounds
A♭4
B♭4 on the treble staff

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

Press or cover
  • Register key
  • A key
Tip · Throat B♭

Resonance fingerings that add right-hand fingers make it fuller and truer, while the first side key produces a clearer B♭ from the G♯ key.

Trill fingerings: Throat B♭ to B4, Throat B♭ to C5

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 B♭

Resonance fingerings that add right-hand fingers make it fuller and truer, while the first side key produces a clearer B♭ from the G♯ key.

Trill fingerings: Throat B♭ to B4, Throat B♭ to C5

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteThroat AA key onlyNext noteB4Left hand: register key, thumb, 1, 2, 3 · Right hand: 4, 5, 6 + left little-finger E/B 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 B♭

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

  • TrillThroat B♭ → B4B♭4 to B4

    HoldThroat B♭: Left hand: register key + A key

    ShakeSide key 2

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

  • TrillThroat B♭ → C5B♭4 to C5

    HoldThroat B♭: Left hand: register key + A key

    ShakeSide key 1

    Trill the first side key. Full fingering with the trill key down: Register key + 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 Bb

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 B♭ is written B♭4 and sounds concert A♭4.

Throat B♭ is the register key plus the A key, and it is the stuffiest note most students meet. Resonance fingerings that add right-hand fingers make it fuller and truer, while the first side key produces a clearer B♭ from the G♯ key.

  • Primary fingering: Register key + A key
  • Written pitch: B♭4 · Concert pitch: A♭4
  • Sounding frequency: 415.30 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Register key
  • A key

Alternate fingerings for Throat Bb

  • Resonance fingering (both hands shading): Register key + A key + Left middle (hole 2) + Left ring (hole 3) + Right middle (hole 5) + Right ring (hole 6) + Right pinky F/C key. Use on longer B♭s where there is time to set the extra fingers — it sounds fuller and sits closer to pitch.
  • Side-key B♭ (G♯ key with the first side key): G♯ key + Side key 1. Use in trills and quick passages around A and B where a clear, ringing B♭ matters more than the security of the standard fingering.

Trill fingerings

  • Throat Bb ↔ B4 (Trill the second side key): Register key + A key + Side key 2
  • Throat Bb ↔ C5 (Trill the first side key): Register key + A key + Side key 1

Questions

How do you play Throat B♭ on clarinet?

To play Throat B♭ (B♭4) on clarinet: Left hand: register key + A key. Throat B♭ is written B♭4 and sounds concert A♭4. Press: Register key, A key.

Is Throat B♭ written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ clarinet it sounds concert A♭4.

Is there another fingering for Throat B♭?

Resonance fingering (both hands shading): Use on longer B♭s where there is time to set the extra fingers — it sounds fuller and sits closer to pitch. Side-key B♭ (G♯ key with the first side key): Use in trills and quick passages around A and B where a clear, ringing B♭ matters more than the security of the standard fingering.

What is the trill fingering for Throat B♭?

To B4: Trill the second side key. To C5: Trill the first side key.

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.