The B♭ clarinet is the clarinet nearly every player starts on and the one that fills a band section.
The B♭ Clarinet sounds a major second lower than written — a written C sounds concert B♭. This chart covers 45 notes, E3 to G6.
The chart
Every note with the keys to press. Filled circles are closed holes.
Octave 3 · E3 to B3 (8 fingerings)
E3
Standard. Use with RH little finger or none.
T 123E|123
F3
Standard. Use with LH little finger or none.
T 123|123F
F#3
Standard. Use with RH little finger or none.
T 123F#|123
G3
Standard.
T 123|123
G#3
Standard.
T 123|123G#
A3
Standard.
T 123|12-
Bb3
Standard.
T 123|1--
B3
Standard.
T 123|-2-
Octave 4 · C4 to B4 (12 fingerings)
C4
Standard.
T 123|---
C#4
Standard.
T 123C#|---
D4
Standard.
T 12-|---
Eb4
Standard.
T 12-|4---
E4
Standard.
T 1--|---
F4
Standard.
1--|---
F#4
Chromatic.
T ---|34---
G4
Standard.
---|---
G#4
Standard.
G#---|---
A4
Standard.
A---|---
Bb4
Standard (Register + A key).
R A---|---
B4
Standard. (Clarion register begins)
RT 123E|123
Octave 5 · C5 to B5 (12 fingerings)
C5
Standard.
RT 123|123F
C#5
Standard.
RT 123F#|123
D5
Standard.
RT 123|123
Eb5
Standard.
RT 123|123G#
E5
Standard.
RT 123|12-
F5
Standard.
RT 123|-2-
F#5
Chromatic.
RT 123|1-B-
G5
Standard.
RT 123|---
G#5
Standard.
RT 123C#|---
A5
Standard.
RT 12-|---
Bb5
Standard.
RT 12-|4---
B5
Standard.
RT 1--|---
Octave 6 · C6 to G6 (13 fingerings)
C6
Standard.
RT ---|---
C#6
Standard. (Altissimo register)
RT -23|12-
D6
1. Standard.
RT -23|1--G#
D6
2. Less flat, trill fingering with C5.
RT G#---|4---
Eb6
1. Standard.
RT -23|1-B-G#
Eb6
2. Flat, use for facility.
RT -23|-2-G#
E6
Standard.
RT -23|---G#
F6
1. Standard. 2. Use for slurring with
RT -23C#|---G#
F6
lower registers and for pp.
RT 123C#|123
F#6
1. Standard. 2. Accurate pitch.
RT -2-|---G#
F#6
Speaks easily in all dynamics.
RT 12-|4---G#
G6
1. Standard.
RT -2-|12-G#
G6
2. Use for slurs from clarion notes.
RT 1--|12-G#
Alternate fingerings
5 notes carry more than one published fingering on the B♭ Clarinet. Each option is shown in the chart above with the reason to choose it: D6, Eb6, F6, F#6, G6.
Questions
What are all the notes on the B♭ Clarinet?
This chart lists every note on the B♭ Clarinet from E3 to G6 — 45 fingerings across 4 octaves: octave 3 (8), octave 4 (12), octave 5 (12), octave 6 (13). Each note is shown with a diagram and the written-out fingering.
How do you read this chart?
Each card shows one written note, a diagram of what to press, and the same fingering written out underneath so it can be read aloud or copied.
How does the B♭ Clarinet transpose?
The B♭ Clarinet sounds a major second lower than written — a written C sounds concert B♭.
What is the range of the B♭ Clarinet?
This chart runs from E3 to G6.
Which B♭ Clarinet notes have alternate fingerings?
5 notes carry more than one published fingering: D6, Eb6, F6, F#6, G6. The chart shows each option with the reason to choose it.
