Chromatic Scale Clarinet Finger Chart
B♭ clarinet (Boehm) · full chromatic E3–C6 (chalumeau, throat & clarion) · ● = key/hole covered
How to play
- Tap a note to see exactly which keys and holes to cover and hear the pitch. The chart runs chromatically (every half step) up the chalumeau and throat registers.
- The diagram is grouped the way you hold the clarinet: the register & thumb, the throat keys, the left and right ring holes, the right-hand side E♭ key, and the little-finger keys. A filled circle means press/cover it.
- The four lowest notes (E, F, F♯, G♯) and their neighbours use the pinky keys, played by either little finger. C♯4 uses the C♯/G♯ pinky key; E♭4 uses the side E♭ key; F♯4 is thumb off, one finger.
- Play note repeats the selection; Play scale runs the whole chromatic scale. Vol sets volume. Keyboard: Tab + Enter/Space.
- Tip — press the register key (left thumb) and every one of these jumps up a twelfth into the clarion register.
If you are looking for an online interactive Clarinet Finger Chart, then this one is for you! It includes entire chromatic scale starting at low E through to high C on the instrument. Click on the note grid to move around the clarinet. Listening to sound while seeing the correct fingering will give you a great idea of how Boehm system is laid out.
The buttons represents every note on the scale with a grid of them on main part of the widget. Simply click the button for the note you want to play. A display panel on the right of the widget displays information about the note you have selected. This includes frequency (in hertz) and the name of the note. It also shows a diagram of clarinet keys. The filled circle show what keys you need to push to generate this sound. The open circles are those that stay open.
How to Use the Clarinet Chart
On the display panel, you can click on the Play note button and you’ll hear the selected note play at the selected volume level. For a complete run of all the notes of the scale, hit the Play scale button at the top. It will then step through each note from lowest to highest. You can pause it or stop it at anytime by hitting the same button.
To adjust the volume, use the slider next to the Play scale button. Pull it to the right to increase the volume and pull it to the left to decrease the volume. The volume change will apply to all audio played through the widget. If you’re listening on headphones or playing in a shared environment this will help ensure that you can listen at a comfortabley level.
The control panel include a help section that can be turned on/off with the How to play button below the control panel itself. This helps as a handy reference to fingering system used in the chart. It shows what each note corresponds to, including which keys on the right and left hand is grouped together and what keys are on your pinky. Clicking the button again will close the panel to clear space if needed.
Clicking Fullscreen will expand the chart to fit your screen. The diagram becomes clearer with any distracting elements removed so you can just focus on the fingerings. It is handy for when you’re learning on a tablet, or simply concentrating fully on where the fingers goes! Click the button again to return to normal view of the diagram.
It’s easy to navigate around the chart using your mouse. To practice fluid finger movement from one half step to another, click on the notes. As you ascend through the scales look out for the diagram changing. Observe the creation of different registers by how the register key and the thumb hole work together. It provides a visual response that helps development of muscle memory for hand positioning.
We are covering the clarion, throat and chalumeau registers, where the lower notes needs more keys as we move upwards and higher notes open up gradually. By using the register key you can jump up a twelfth from the lower fingerings. This means if you read a piece of music you will know where your hands is going next.
Carefully work through all the notes separately. Observe the fingering and listen to the pitch. Click through the notes slowly while you play a scale. The Play scale button enables you to hear how each note connect smoothly. It’s the missing link that bridges the gap between abstract fingerings and actualy sound production.
You might pick a note you would like to play and listen to how it sounds. Look at the diagram to identify which fingers is engaged. Attempt to play through the scale, beginning to end. Adjust the volume slider until it feels right for you. You should of have fun exploring the layout of the clarinet on your time.