Home - How-To Section - Low Register Clarinet Fingering Chart

How to Play Low B on the Clarinet

The fingerings for Low B are shown below. 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 upper register clarinet fingering chart.

View the interactive altissimo register clarinet fingering chart.

 

 

Notes on the fingerings
Fingering #1 is the standard fingering. Fingering #2 is specifically for chromatic passages when moving quickly from A sharp (or B flat) to B. Similarly, if you have to trill from A sharp to B, fingering #2 is your best choice. The small key that you are pressing down with your third finger is often called the “fork” key. When you press it, make sure that you don’t also push down the ring keys on either side of it.

Here is an exercise specifically to work on the fork fingering of the B key. For more exercises, visit the scale and exercise page.

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.

Clarinet Fingerings in the Low Register

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

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.