Clarinet Fingering Chartlower register - register key off
F E D C
A G
E b
1
F E
A
F# Bb Bb
reg. key
on
G
B
C#
A b A
b
Upper Register for ClarinetsStep 1:
You need to be able to play every note in the lower register first, all the way down to low E!
Pick a low note and hold it with a full, solid tone. While you are holding it, increase the air just a bit and push the register key with your thumb. Do not tongue the new note - slur into it. You can also raise your tongue position a little bit to help focus the air stream. Keep your embouchure still.
low E turns into high B
low F turns into high C
low G turns into high D start with these first
low A turns into high E
low Bb turns into high F
low B turns into high F#
low C turns into high G
Step 2:
Play some easy songs using only upper register notes. The goal is to get used to these notes and to learn the fingerings, since the name of the notes for the same fingerings in the lower register is different than the names of the notes in the upper register!
Step 3:
Crossing the BreakThe most important part of this technique is that your fingers have to stay close to the keys! If your hand and finger position was sloppy in the lower register, then crossing the break will be difficult. If your hand and finger position was good in the lower register, especially the technique of rolling the first finger from E to A, then learning to cross the break will be easier.
At first, keep all the fingers in the right hand down so that you only have to concentrate on the left hand. Always slur - do not tongue the upper register note. Remember to keep the left hand fingers close to the keys and tone holes.
Listen carefully for a smooth transition from the lower register to the higher register. Also listen that the tone matches moving from the lower note to the higher note.
Later, you can play these without holding any fingers in the right hand, but still keep the right hand fingers close!
Easiest: A little harder: Most difficult:
open G to high D throat A to high D throat Bb to high D
open G to high C throat A to high C throat Bb to high C
open G to high B throat A to high B throat Bb to high B
CC D E D D E D C D E D C
C E D E C E D E C E D E C
E D C D E C D D C E D E C
E E D C D D E C E D D E C
First NotesC, D, E
4
D E C D C E D E D C E D C
CC C C D D D D C C D D C
CC C D D C D C D C D C D
DC C D EE E E DC C D E
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Unit 1
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Mary Had a Little Lamb
qE
qD
qC
qD
qE
qE
hE
qD
qD
hD
qE
qE
hE
qE
qD
qC
qD
qE
qE
qE
qE
qD
qD
qE
qD
wC
3
4 4
\
\
\
\
Hot Cross Buns
qD
hD
wC
7
qC
hE
hD
wC
hE
qC
qC
qC
qD
qD
qD
hD
wC
hE
4 4
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\
Au Claire de la LuneFrench Folk Song
qC
qD
hE
hD
qC
qE
qD
wC
wC
qC
qC
qD
qC
qE
qD
qD
qC
qD
qC
qC
hE
hD
15
4 4
F E F D F C F G F E D D C
G F G F GE E F F G G F F
F E F G F E F G FFF E G
Next Noteslearning F, G
10
C E C F C G C F C E C D C
FC D E E F E E E F E F E
EE F E D F E D E F E D C
EC C D D E F F E E F F E1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Unit 2
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Ode to Joy
qF
qG
hD
qE
qE
15
qG
qF
qE
qD
qD
qE
qC
qC
qE
qD
\ qF
qG
qE
qE
qG
qF
qE
qD
\ hC
qD
qE
qC
qC
qD
qC
4 4
C E D F E G A F E C D B C
G F E D CC B C D E F G A
Learning upper A and lower B
16
GG G A A G A A G A G A G
CC B C D B C D C B C D C
AF F G G A A A F G A A A
AF G A A G F F F G A G F
1.
2.
3.
CC C B B C B B C B C B C4.
5.
6.
7.
Unit 3
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Hot Cross Buns
qG
hG
wF
7
qF
hA
hG
wF
hA
qF
qF
qF
qG
qG
qG
hG
wF
hA
4 4
FE F G G F# G F G F# G F F
Learning22
F#F F F# F F F# F# F F# F F# F
AA G F# G A G F G A G F# G
AE E A FG G F F#G G F# G
F#, Bb
BB B Bb Bb B Bb Bb B Bb B Bb B
CE D C Bb Bb D Bb C Bb C D C
BbC B Bb B F Bb B C D C B C
DBb Bb C C E F F Bb C B C Bb
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Unit 4
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Au Claire de la LuneFrench Folk Song
qD
qE
hF#
hE
qD
qF#
qE
wD
wD
qD
qD
qE
qD
qF#
qE
qE
qD
qE
qD
qD
hF#
hE
11
4 4
\
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\
\
Mary Had a Little Lamb
qB
qA
qG
qA
qB
qB
hB
qA
qA
hA
qB
qB
hB
qB
qA
qG
qA
qB
qB
qB
qB
qA
qA
qB
qA
wG
3
4 4
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\
Ode to Joy
qB
b qC
hG
qA
qA
11
qC
qB
b qA
qG
qG
qA
qF
qF
qA
qG
\ qB
b qC
qA
qA
qC
qB
b qA
qG
\ hF
qG
qA
qF
qF
qG
qF
4 4
