Clarinet fingering chart
On a Boehm B♭ clarinet, written G4 has the main finger holes open and sounds F4. This chart uses written notes from E3 to C6, rather than the concert pitches shown on a piano.
Fingering chart
On a B♭ Boehm clarinet, written G4 has the main finger holes open and sounds F4.
| 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♯/D♯ |
| 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: throat 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♯/D♯ |
| 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, allow access and play a single note without accompaniment. Let the reading settle.
- Match the A reference to your lesson or ensemble, then use Print / PDF to save the selected chart.
Help and explanations
The diagrams are for the Boehm system. They should not be applied unchanged to an Oehler-system clarinet. T marks the left thumb position, while R marks the register key: covering the thumb hole and operating the register key are separate actions.
Practise crossing the break without losing the hole seals
Moving from throat A or B♭ to B4 closes many fingers at once. If the new note squeaks or refuses to speak, look for a finger arriving late or a hole covered only at its edge. Keep the fingers near their normal positions, and practise the motion slowly before adding the full phrase. A steady airstream through the change is more useful than a sudden extra push.
The clarinet register key is not an ordinary octave key: the instrument’s register change involves a twelfth. Do not take a low-note diagram, add R and assume the result has the same letter an octave higher. Little-finger keys may offer alternate ways through a passage; this basic table gives a reference rather than all possible combinations. Compare the exact written notes before choosing a convenient route.
Tips
- Use finger pads to seal the main holes without tensing the hands.
- Check the left thumb can cover T and operate R without slipping.
- Separate a register-break practice exercise from a full-speed scale.
Frequently asked questions
Is G on clarinet played with all fingers off?
Written G4 has the main finger holes open. G3 and G5 use different positions, so the octave matters.
Which clarinet system does this chart use?
Boehm B♭ clarinet. Other key systems need their own fingering references.
Is the register key an octave key?
No. The clarinet’s basic register relationship is a twelfth rather than an octave.
Why does B4 squeak when I cross the break?
A leaking hole during the large finger change is one common cause. Check coordinated closure and steady air before forcing the sound.
Why is the tuner one tone below my written note?
A B♭ clarinet sounds one whole tone below its part. Written G4 therefore appears as F4 in concert-pitch display.