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How to Play Upper Register B flat and A sharp on the Clarinet

There are three fingerings for A sharp and B flat in the upper register. The two pitches are the same and are called enharmonic equivalents. Scroll down for explanations of each fingering. To see the fingerings for other pitches, select one of the note images in the chart below.
Purchase the printable versions of these fingering charts.

View the interactive lower register clarinet fingering chart.

View the interactive altissimo register clarinet fingering chart.

Clarinet fingering for upper register A sharp and B flat, No. 1Clarinet fingering for upper register A sharp and B flat, No. 2Clarinet fingering for upper register A sharp and B flat, No. 3

Notes on the fingerings
Fingering #1 is the standard fingering for B flat and A sharp. On some clarinets, fingering #2 is better in tune and may produce a better tone. However, it is awkward to use that fingering in most situations. Fingering #3 is often called the “1 and 1” fingering, because it uses the first finger of each hand. It is used specifically for moving quickly between B flat and F. The bridge key that connects the upper and lower joints needs to be perfectly aligned for that fingering to work.

How to use the fingering charts
Your left hand is represented by pink circles with a number indicating which finger to place on a key or cover a tone hole. Your right hand is represented with blue circles in these fingering charts.

Clarinet Fingerings in the Upper Register

Select a note below to see the fingering for each pitch, hear what it sounds like, and view alternate fingerings.

Play upper register B on the clarinetPlay upper register C on the clarinetPlay upper register C sharp on the clarinetPlay upper register D flat on the clarinetPlay upper register D on the clarinetPlay upper register D sharp on the clarinetPlay upper register E flat on the clarinetPlay upper register E on the clarinetPlay upper register F on the clarinetPlay upper register F sharp on the clarinetPlay upper register G flat on the clarinetPlay upper register G on the clarinetPlay upper register G sharp on the clarinetPlay upper register A flat on the clarinetPlay upper register A on the clarinetPlay upper register A sharp on the clarinetPlay upper register B flat on the clarinetPlay upper register high B on the clarinetPlay upper register high C on the clarinet

The Beginning Clarinet Songbook, by Kyle Coughlin
Learn how to play the clarinet with a fun, step-by-step approach to the instrument. The Beginning Clarinet Songbook features many catchy, easy to play songs and duets that can be used as an introductory method or a compliment to your other clarinet books. Visit the Songbook pages for free examples, images, and helpful suggestions.

More Educational Tools from Kyle Coughlin
Learn all about rhythm and improve your sight reading. Rhythm-In-Music.com is an interactive website that teaches all of the fundamental aspects of rhythm, covering beat, tempo, meter, time-signature, and all note values. It is an online version of Kyle Coughlin’s book The Fundamentals of Rhythm, featuring over 450 different rhythm patterns for practice, with audio recordings of each pattern.

View the interactive lower register clarinet fingering chart

Lower register clarinet notes

View the interactive altissimo register clarinet fingering chart

Altissimo clarinet notes

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