First 5 Notes

Bass Clarinet Fingering Chart

Every note from low E to high G (written E3 to G6). 40 notes, each with its staff notation and its fingering. Free to view, no sign-in.

New players: start with the five notes marked First 5.

Notes are shown as written for bass clarinet. B-flat bass clarinet: sounds a major 9th lower than written.

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Bass Clarinet notes, low to high

    1. E3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E3: All six + E/B pinky key (right)

      All six + E/B pinky key (right)

      Sounds concert D2.

      Step by step
      • Thumb + all six holes + right-pinky E/B lever (left lever also works).
      Check it

    2. F3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F3: All six + F/C pinky key (right)

      All six + F/C pinky key (right)

      Sounds concert E♭2.

      Step by step
      • Thumb + all six holes + right-pinky F/C key.
      Check it

    3. F♯3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F-sharp 3 (F♯3): All six + F♯/C♯ pinky key

      All six + F♯/C♯ pinky key

      Sounds concert E2.

      F-sharp 3. Also written G♭3 (G-flat 3).

      Step by step
      • Thumb + all six holes + the F♯/C♯ pinky lever (not a side key).
      Check it

    4. G3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for G3: Thumb + L1, L2, L3 + R1, R2, R3

      Thumb + L1, L2, L3 + R1, R2, R3

      Sounds concert F2.

      Step by step
      • Left hand: thumb, index, middle, ring all down. Right hand: index, middle, and ring fingers down.
      Check it

    1. A♭3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for A-flat 3 (A♭3): All six + A♭/E♭ pinky key (right)

      All six + A♭/E♭ pinky key (right)

      Sounds concert G♭2.

      A-flat 3. Also written G♯3 (G-sharp 3).

      Step by step
      • Thumb + ALL six holes + right-pinky A♭/E♭ key.
      Check it

    2. A3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for A3: Thumb + L1, L2, L3 + R1, R2

      Thumb + L1, L2, L3 + R1, R2

      Sounds concert G2.

      Step by step
      • Left hand: thumb, index, middle, ring all down. Right hand: index and middle fingers down.
      Check it

    3. B♭3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for B-flat 3 (B♭3): Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      Sounds concert A♭2.

      B-flat 3. Also written A♯3 (A-sharp 3).

      Step by step
      • Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right first finger. No side key.
      Check it

    4. B3

      Bass Clarinet fingering for B3: Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 2 (cross)

      Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 2 (cross)

      Sounds concert A2.

      Step by step
      • Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right MIDDLE finger only (first finger up).
      Check it

    1. C4

      First 5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for C4: Thumb + left 1, 2, 3

      Thumb + left 1, 2, 3

      Sounds concert B♭2.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb covers the thumb hole.
      • Left hand: first, second, and third fingers cover the top three holes.
      • Right hand rests in position, no holes covered.
      Check it

    2. C♯4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for C-sharp 4 (C♯4): Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + C♯/G♯ key (left pinky)

      Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + C♯/G♯ key (left pinky)

      Sounds concert B2.

      C-sharp 4. Also written D♭4 (D-flat 4).

      Step by step
      • Thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + LEFT-pinky C♯/G♯ lever.
      Check it

    3. D4

      First 5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for D4: Thumb + left 1, 2

      Thumb + left 1, 2

      Sounds concert C3.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb covers the thumb hole.
      • Left hand: first and second fingers cover the top two holes.
      Check it

    4. E♭4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E-flat 4 (E♭4): Thumb + left 1, 2 + side E♭ key

      Thumb + left 1, 2 + side E♭ key

      Sounds concert D♭3.

      E-flat 4. Also written D♯4 (D-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • Thumb + left 1, 2 (the D fingering) + bottom right-hand side key (side E♭).
      Check it

    1. E4

      First 5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E4: Thumb + left 1

      Thumb + left 1

      Sounds concert D3.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb covers the thumb hole.
      • Left hand: first finger covers the top hole.
      Check it

    2. F4

      First 5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F4: Thumb only

      Thumb only

      Sounds concert E♭3.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb covers the thumb hole. All fingers off the holes.
      Check it

    3. F♯4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F-sharp 4 (F♯4): Left 1 only - thumb off

      Left 1 only - thumb off

      Sounds concert E3.

      F-sharp 4. Also written G♭4 (G-flat 4).

      Step by step
      • Just the left first finger; the thumb comes OFF the thumb hole.
      Check it

    4. G4

      First 5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for G4: Open (no fingers)

      Open (no fingers)

      Sounds concert F3.

      Step by step
      • Nothing covered - thumb off the thumb hole, all fingers off. Just blow.
      Check it

    1. A♭4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for A-flat 4 (A♭4): Throat G♯/A♭ key

      Throat G♯/A♭ key

      Sounds concert G♭3.

      A-flat 4. Also written G♯4 (G-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • Press the small G♯/A♭ throat key (hook above the A key) - not the register key.
      Check it

    2. A4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for A4: Throat-tone A key

      Throat-tone A key

      Sounds concert G3.

      Step by step
      • Throat-tone A key with the side of your left index finger. No holes covered.
      Check it

    3. B♭4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for B-flat 4 (B♭4): Throat-tone B♭

      Throat-tone B♭

      Sounds concert A♭3.

      B-flat 4. Also written A♯4 (A-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • Press the throat A key and register key together. Leave the thumb hole open.
      Check it

    4. B4

      Bass Clarinet fingering for B4: Register + all six + E/B pinky key

      Register + all six + E/B pinky key

      Sounds concert A3.

      Step by step
      • Low E fingering + register key: the register key raises it a twelfth, to B.
      Check it

    1. C5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for C5: Register + all six + F/C pinky key

      Register + all six + F/C pinky key

      Sounds concert B♭3.

      Step by step
      • Low F fingering + register key - a twelfth up, not an octave.
      Check it

    2. C♯5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for C-sharp 5 (C♯5): Register + all six + F♯/C♯ pinky key

      Register + all six + F♯/C♯ pinky key

      Sounds concert B3.

      C-sharp 5. Also written D♭5 (D-flat 5).

      Step by step
      • Low F♯ fingering + register key.
      Check it

    3. D5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for D5: Register + all six

      Register + all six

      Sounds concert C4.

      Step by step
      • Thumb + all six holes + register key (low G fingering + register).
      Check it

    4. E♭5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E-flat 5 (E♭5): Register + all six + A♭/E♭ pinky key

      Register + all six + A♭/E♭ pinky key

      Sounds concert D♭4.

      E-flat 5. Also written D♯5 (D-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Low A♭ fingering + register key.
      Check it

    1. E5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E5: Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Sounds concert D4.

      Step by step
      • Low A fingering + register key.
      Check it

    2. F5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F5: Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      Sounds concert E♭4.

      Step by step
      • Low B♭ fingering + register key.
      Check it

    3. F♯5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F-sharp 5 (F♯5): Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 2 (cross)

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + right 2 (cross)

      Sounds concert E4.

      F-sharp 5. Also written G♭5 (G-flat 5).

      Step by step
      • Low B fingering (right middle finger, first up) + register key.
      Check it

    4. G5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for G5: Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3

      Sounds concert F4.

      Step by step
      • Low C fingering + register key.
      Check it

    1. A♭5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for A-flat 5 (A♭5): Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + C♯/G♯ key

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2, 3 + C♯/G♯ key

      Sounds concert G♭4.

      A-flat 5. Also written G♯5 (G-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Low C♯ fingering + register key.
      Check it

    2. A5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for A5: Register + thumb + left 1, 2

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2

      Sounds concert G4.

      Step by step
      • Low D fingering + register key.
      Check it

    3. B♭5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for B-flat 5 (B♭5): Register + thumb + left 1, 2 + side E♭ key

      Register + thumb + left 1, 2 + side E♭ key

      Sounds concert A♭4.

      B-flat 5. Also written A♯5 (A-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • E♭ fingering + register key.
      Check it

    4. B5

      Bass Clarinet fingering for B5: Register + thumb + left 1

      Register + thumb + left 1

      Sounds concert A4.

      Step by step
      • E4 fingering + register key.
      Check it

    1. C6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for C6: Register + thumb only

      Register + thumb only

      Sounds concert B♭4.

      Step by step
      • F4 fingering + register key - thumb and register only.
      Check it

    2. C♯6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for C-sharp 6 (C♯6): Reg + thumb + left 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Reg + thumb + left 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Sounds concert B4.

      C-sharp 6. Also written D♭6 (D-flat 6).

      Step by step
      • Register + thumb + left 2, 3 (first UP) + right 1, 2.
      Check it

    3. D6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for D6: Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2, 3 + right 1 + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2, 3 + right 1 + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Sounds concert C5.

      Step by step
      • Register + thumb + first-finger half-hole (plate down, small vent open) + left 2, 3 + right 1 + right-pinky A♭/E♭ key.
      Check it

    4. E♭6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E-flat 6 (E♭6): D6 fingering + right sliver key

      D6 fingering + right sliver key

      Sounds concert D♭5.

      E-flat 6. Also written D♯6 (D-sharp 6).

      Step by step
      • D6 fingering, with the half-hole, plus the sliver key between the right-hand holes.
      Check it

    1. E6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for E6: Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2, 3 + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2, 3 + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Sounds concert D5.

      Step by step
      • Register + thumb + first-finger half-hole + left 2, 3 + right-pinky A♭/E♭ key.
      Check it

    2. F6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F6: E6 fingering + C♯/G♯ key

      E6 fingering + C♯/G♯ key

      Sounds concert E♭5.

      Step by step
      • E6 fingering, with the half-hole, plus the left-pinky C♯/G♯ lever.
      Check it

    3. F♯6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for F-sharp 6 (F♯6): Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2 + right sliver + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2 + right sliver + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Sounds concert E5.

      F-sharp 6. Also written G♭6 (G-flat 6).

      Step by step
      • Register + thumb + first-finger half-hole + left 2 + the right sliver key + right-pinky A♭/E♭ key.
      Check it

    4. G6

      Bass Clarinet fingering for G6: Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2 + right 1, 2 + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Reg + thumb + half-hole + left 2 + right 1, 2 + A♭/E♭ pinky

      Sounds concert F5.

      Step by step
      • Register + thumb + first-finger half-hole + left 2 + right 1, 2 + right-pinky A♭/E♭ key.
      Check it

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