A regular chromatic tuner shows concert pitch, so your written C reads as B♭ and many students think the tuner is wrong. This clarinet tuner opens with the B♭ transposition on: it adds a whole step and shows the note as written in your music, with a needle and cents.
For bass clarinet, also in B♭ but an octave lower, choose B♭ + octave in the Transposition menu so the octave number matches too. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
How to use it
- Push the barrel almost all the way in, warm up for a minute and tap Turn on microphone.
- Play your tuning note with a full, steady sound, usually the written C that matches the band's concert B♭.
- Needle left (flat): push the barrel in. Needle right (sharp): pull it out, about a millimeter at a time.
- Check one note in the low register and one above the break. If only the low notes are off, adjust at the middle joint.
Barrel, middle joint and reed
Most clarinet tuning happens at the barrel: pull it out to lower every note, push it in to raise them. A small pull at the middle tenon mainly lowers the bottom notes, and many players keep a spare barrel for hot and cold rooms. A worn reed or a tight embouchure also moves the pitch, so relax before you move anything. For E♭ clarinet, choose E♭ in the Transposition menu.
Tips
- Avoid the throat tones (open G to B♭) as tuning notes: they are the least stable.
- Warm the barrel in your hands in a cold room.
- Play a slow scale against the tuner to learn which notes lean sharp or flat.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the tuner say B♭ when I play C on my clarinet?
A normal tuner shows concert pitch, and the B♭ clarinet sounds a whole step below written. This page adds the step back, so written C shows as C.
Which note should I tune my clarinet on?
Usually concert B♭, which you read as C: many teachers use the clarion C in the third space, then check a low note.
If I am sharp, do I pull the barrel out?
Yes. Sharp: pull out. Flat: push in. If the barrel is all the way in and you are still flat, check your reed and embouchure or try a shorter barrel.
Can I tune an A clarinet here?
There is no A setting. Choose C (concert pitch); the tuner then shows a minor third below your written note, just like the chromatic tuner.