Bass clarinet fingering chart
On a B♭ bass clarinet, written G4 has the main finger holes open and sounds F3, a major ninth lower. Read in treble clef, the bass clarinet uses the same Boehm fingerings as the soprano B♭ clarinet.
Fingering chart
On a B♭ bass clarinet, written G4 has the main finger holes open and sounds F3, a major ninth lower.
| Written note | Finger position |
|---|---|
| E3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, E/B |
| F3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, F/C |
| F♯3/G♭3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, F♯ |
| G3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| G♯3/A♭3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, G♯ |
| A3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| A♯3/B♭3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| B3 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| C4 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3 |
| C♯4/D♭4 | Press: T, 1, 2, 3, C♯ |
| D4 | Press: T, 1, 2 |
| D♯4/E♭4 | Press: T, 1, 2, E♭ |
| E4 | Press: T, 1 |
| F4 | Press: T |
| F♯4/G♭4 | Press: 1 |
| G4 | All open |
| G♯4/A♭4 | Press: G♯ |
| A4 | Press: A |
| A♯4/B♭4 | Press: R, A |
| B4 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, E/B |
| C5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, F/C |
| C♯5/D♭5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, F♯ |
| D5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| D♯5/E♭5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, G♯ |
| E5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| F5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| F♯5/G♭5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| G5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3 |
| G♯5/A♭5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, 3, C♯ |
| A5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2 |
| A♯5/B♭5 | Press: T, R, 1, 2, E♭ |
| B5 | Press: T, R, 1 |
| C6 | Press: T, R |
How to use it
- Check the selected instrument and fingering system; this page opens with the combination named in the title.
- Choose a staff note, list entry or keyboard key. Filled circles show covered holes or pressed keys.
- Use Hear the note to compare pitches; the microphone switches off before playback to avoid feedback.
- Enable the microphone and play a single note. The page reads the sounding pitch and shows the written note it belongs to.
- Match the A reference to your lesson or ensemble, then use Print / PDF to save the selected chart.
Help and explanations
This chart covers written E3–C6. T marks the left thumb hole and R the register key. Most bass clarinets go down to written E♭3, and low C models reach written C3 with extra keys; those lowest notes are not in this chart.
Treble clef, bass clef and concert pitch
Bass clarinet parts in treble clef (French notation) sound a major ninth below the written note: written C5 sounds B♭3. Some parts use bass clef instead, written only a major second above the sound. The same pitch therefore appears one octave lower in bass clef than in treble clef, so read a bass clef part one octave higher before using this chart.
The microphone hears your sounding note and the page converts it back to the written note, so you can practise straight from your part. A tuner set to concert pitch will show a note a ninth lower than the one on your page.
Low notes and crossing the break
The chart's lowest note, written E3, uses the thumb hole, all six finger holes and the little-finger E/B key. Written E♭3 on most instruments, and D3, C♯3 and C3 on low C models, need extra keys for the right thumb or little fingers. Their position varies by maker, so check your instrument's manual.
Throat A4 uses the A key; B♭4 adds the register key. Moving on to B4 closes nearly every hole at once, and the large keys of the bass clarinet make small leaks easy. Practise the finger motion slowly before adding the full phrase.
Tips
- Check whether your part is in treble or bass clef first.
- Seal the large holes with the pads of your fingers, not the tips.
- If low notes will not speak, check for leaks before blowing harder.
- Practise A4, B♭4 and B4 slowly to coordinate both hands.
Frequently asked questions
Are bass clarinet and clarinet fingerings the same?
For written E3–C6 in treble clef, yes: the basic Boehm fingerings match the B♭ clarinet.
Does the chart include all notes on the bass clarinet?
No. It covers written E3–C6. The lowest notes (E♭3, and down to C3 on low C models) and the altissimo above C6 are not included.
Is this bass clarinet chart good for beginners?
Yes. It shows one basic fingering per note, the usual starting point before learning alternates.
What does written C5 sound like?
B♭3. A bass clarinet read in treble clef sounds a major ninth lower than written.
How do I play low C on a low C bass clarinet?
Low C3 adds extra keys, usually for the right thumb, to the full low fingering. The layout varies by maker, so it is not shown here.