Clarinet Fingering Chart High Notes

This is a nice little interactive finger chart for higher range notes on a B flat clarinet. To interact with this just tap the interface itself or use the keys of your computer keyboard to select and play the notes, exploring both the clarion and throat tone registers when you want.

Starting at the bottom left-hand side of the screen is a selection of buttons that correspond to pitches in the upper range (ranging from G4, C6). When a note is selected it plays, updates the detailed view on the right, giving an instant response between what you see on screen and what happens as a tone comes out of the clarinet.

How to Use This Clarinet Chart

You can see in detail which keys need be covered to generate the chosen pitch by looking at the massive panel on the right. Here it’s divided up sensibly with the left and right-hand fingers, the side keys, and the back and throat keys. If the key is closed then there’s a full circle; if not, the key is shown as an open circle. This makes it easier to understand difficult finger combinations, especially when playing a note such as F5 that requires use of a side key or even the thumb.

Learning the high notes also requires an understanding of how the registers relate to one another. Below each note’s pitch label you can see parent fingering from the chalumeau (lower) register. What you’ll observe is that, as a rule of thumb, when you use the register key on your left-hand thumb it increases the pitch by a twelfth. In other words, the low ‘E’ fingering plus the register key equals B4. This applies to most notes at this end of the instrument, making switching registers more instinctive.

Three specific pitches known as throat tones sits between the lower and upper registers. They are G4, A4, and B flat 4. Each has a separate fingering that can be tricky to make sound full. Often it involves pressing the side A key and not leaping up to the higher or down to the lower register. These is highlighted in the widget. You should visualize these different patterns from the widget because they do not follow the simple rule of the clarion register, where you leap a twelfth.

In the top control bar, there is a volume slider which controls the audio output. By dragging the slider left and right you increase or reduce the master gain. This means that you can turn up the pitch samples so they are clearer or turn them down if you are practicing around other people. It’s set at a reasonable volume that sits nicely in the background while not overpowering other things on the page.

Finally, there’s the option of running through the complete range shown automatically with a click on the Play All button. It will then play the sounds of all the notes in ascending order and highlight them as it plays. It’s not only a good exercise for warming up your ear to what these high tones sound like but also for checking how well you know the range throughout. Just click on this button again when you’re ready to stop the process.

The Fullscreen button in the header area will expand the widget to take up your entire screen if you’re studying a piece and require additional space. The fingering diagrams becomes much clearer and bigger for viewing on smaller screens, while taking away any distractions. It is also useful when you just want to focus on the key mappings without minimizing or scrolling through other parts of your browser.

There’s also a Help toggle button which adds extra context to explain the interface effectively. When you click on this, it shows a short guide explaining what each control does again. It also suggests using keyboard commands instead of the mouse to navigate around. It’s tucked away by default as to not clutter up the interface, but available when required to remind you how the tool works quickly.

When tackling tricky note transitions, isolate them into a practical study session. Jumping up and down between two consecutive pitches will show how little the fingering changes in this way. Use the widget’s ability to display similar fingerings side-by-side to see exactly what fingers is pressing or lifting at each stage. This targeted practice will develop muscle memory more quickly then repeated scale practice.

Notice also the register key indicator on the chart. Since this is a high-note instrument, you should of use that key for almost every choice except those first few throat tones. The repetition of using that same key helps build the habit of using your left thumb as you move higher up on the instrument. Eventually it becomes a kind of visual reminder of where fingers go accurately, so you do not have to check the old chart anymore.

Listen as well, and use this sound to test your expectations of what intonation should be like. The widget creates the synthesised tones but these can still give a solid indication of the spacing and height of the pitches. By listening to each note you also get a connection in your ear that ties into the larger leaps involved when you change registers on the clarinet. This will add to the visual learning outlined above.

Next, try choosing some of the notes at random and see how familiar you are with where they’re found on the keyboard. There’s no need to play them on a real clarinet, that comes later! Just get used to identifying the pitches in relation to these particular fingerings in this part of the register. Think of it like a dynamic flash card system for your high-register repertoir.

After becoming familiar with the single notes, use the Play All option to run through the whole displayed range. You will notice that as we move into the structured clarion register, the fingering patterns change from the throat tones. Once you have used the register key, you’ll also notice just how consistent the fingering become. It’s a characteristic of the instrument, and seeing this visually in steps makes it all clearer.

In the end, this is an add-on option for your practice regimen. While you’re working on some high-note etude/scales keep the diagram up in another window/device. That way you’ll be able to reference something if you have a question about a fingering but not disrupt your concentration by pausing to check a book. It will save you time and frustration while learning new pieces.

As I have mentioned before, playing notes accurately in the clarion register depends a lot on good fingering coverage. A slight gap at each side of key holes will cause the pitch to shift unexpectedly or even crack. Make sure all keys is down by using the on/off indicators on the widget. Visualising the perfect closure should lead to better technique when you hold a real clarinet in your hands.

Either click on the notes or use keyboard navigation, whatever feels right for you. For some people it’s more natural to type their way through the sequence, for others they like the feel of the mouse click. Either method works just as well in the widget; try both and see what lets you pay most attention to which fingers to use. How you interact with the interface is a matter of comfort.

If used regularly, then it will also build an understanding of how the higher range of the clarinet works. It takes the guess work out of the more difficult fingerings and gives you somewhere trustworthy to check against. As you practice the patterns will become second nature and you’ll be able to play these notes with confidence.

Whenever you want another look at a tricky passage or need a quick reminder the widget is there. Each area of the range has been designed for thorough exploration, so be patient with it all. You do not need to learn it all in one go. Treat it like an interactive diagram that will adjust to suit your own style and pace of learning. It’s a gradual step-by-step progression towards nailing those top notes.

Begin now and allow the interactive diagram to help your development as a musician.