Clarinet Fingering Chart

Looking to expand your clarinet technique? Our interactive fingering chart for Bb clarinet includes not only the standard fingerings but also alternate ones that can help you achieve even better technique. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, our chart can help you take your playing to the next level. Plus, with our option to submit new fingerings, you can help to contribute to the clarinet-community and improve the playing experience for everyone. (available for signed-in users)

Alternate Fingerings

The advantages of alternate fingerings for the clarinet:

• They make possible to play every scale with ease, especially chromatic scale.
• Some modify the timbre, color of the tone, making it darker or brighter. (see resonance fingerings)
• They can provide a better intonation by lowering or raising the pitch of that specific note.
• Some of them makes the tone more stable which is especially useful for the higher registers of the clarinet.
• Some work much better while playing in extreme dynamics for example in pp or ff.
• Some have better attack, making it easier to play accents with them.

Resonance Fingerings

Resonance fingering is a technique for clarinetists to achieve a clearer, more focused sound on certain notes. This technique involves using alternate fingerings to manipulate the harmonic structure of the sound waves produced by the instrument.

Resonance fingering is commonly used on notes in the upper register. These notes can be difficult to play with a clear, centered sound due to the complex harmonic structure of the clarinet's sound waves. By using resonance fingerings, the player can eliminate certain overtones and emphasize others, resulting in a more focused sound.

One common resonance fingering on the clarinet is the "throat tone" fingering. This involves using the left hand use the standard fingerings, while covering additional tone holes with the right hand. It eliminates some of the higher overtones present in the sound wave, resulting in a clearer, more focused sound. Because of the lack of overtones, the tone will also be perceived lower, so this technique can be useful for fine-tuning the intonation. 
It helps especially a lot to play the Major Thirds clear, since i has to be 14 cents lower to sound clear. That much of a change is only possible with alternate fingerings, especially in faster passages. 

Resonance fingerings require careful experimentation and practice to master, as they can sometimes result in intonation and tuning issues. However, with practice, clarinet players can use resonance fingerings to achieve a more expressive and nuanced sound on their instrument.

Scales to Practice

Scales are an essential part of playing any musical instrument, and the clarinet is no exception. By practicing scales regularly, you can improve your technique, intonation, and overall musicianship.

Before diving into practicing scales, it's important to warm up properly. Spend a few minutes doing some simple exercises like long tones and lip slurs to get your embouchure and fingers ready for more challenging work. You may also want to start with a slow and easy scale like C major to get your fingers moving and build confidence.

There are many different scales that clarinetists should practice, but some of the most important include:

1. Major scales - starting with C major, work your way through all 12 major scales.
2. Minor scales - practice the three forms of minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic)
3. Chromatic scale - this scale includes all 12 pitches in half-steps and can help improve finger dexterity and intonation.
4. Whole-tone scale - this scale consists entirely of whole steps and can be challenging but rewarding to practice.
5. Arpeggios - practice arpeggios for each major and minor key to work on finger dexterity and tone production.

Practicing scales is a crucial part of developing your skills as a clarinetist. By incorporating scales into your practice routine you will improve your technique and intonation.

The whole thing is about pattern recognition. Music is based on always repeating motives, intervals, tonalities which can be perfectly trained on scales. By practicing these regularly, you will develop a skill to recognize this patterns more easily. After a time, you don't even have to think about the fingerings, you just see the pattern and your fingers will automatically know what to do. You will be able to concentrate on other things - like intonation, tone quality, air etc.

Technique Tips

As you practice scales, pay attention to your technique. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Use a metronome - practicing with a metronome can help you maintain a consistent tempo and improve your sense of rhythm.
• Start slow and gradually increase speed - don't try to play scales at full speed right away. Start slowly and work your way up gradually.
• Focus on tone quality - even when practicing scales, it's important to focus on producing a beautiful and consistent tone.
• Practice in different registers - practicing scales in different octaves can help you develop a more even sound throughout the range of the instrument.
• Use a mirror - playing in front of a mirror can help you identify and correct posture and embouchure issues.
• Practice each section of the scale separately, focusing on any difficult transitions or fingerings.
• If you are not sure which fingering you should select for a specific part, let's view it from the last note backwards.
• To effectively practice the the scales on the clarinet, it's important to break it down into manageable sections. Start by practicing the first four notes, then move on to the next four, and so on.
• Finally, don't forget to take breaks and stretch your hands and fingers to prevent injury and maintain flexibility.