A clarinet key chart is a visual fingering guide that maps each written note to the exact combination of covered tone holes and depressed keys you need to play it.
Use a chart to identify note names, hole patterns, and key positions quickly so you can learn fingerings, correct intonation, and switch registers without guessing.
Read any clarinet key chart fast: visual cues and fingering legend
Most charts are built around two main layouts: a vertical keyboard-style column of notes or a horizontal diagram map of the clarinet body showing tone holes and keys.
Scan a keyboard-style fingering chart by locating the written note column, then reading across to see filled/open hole icons and key labels; scan a diagram map by matching the instrument image to your left/right hand positions.
Common labels you’ll see: fingering chart or key diagram for the layout, and tone holes shown as circles on the instrument drawing.
Filled circles mean covered holes; open circles mean uncovered holes; a half-filled or split circle signals a half-hole or thumb-roll technique; small key symbols or brackets indicate trill or auxiliary keys and alternate fingerings.
Charts often tag left/right hand with L and R or by grouping holes on the upper and lower joint; the thumb hole and register key appear on the back view or as a separate marker for quick lookup.
Symbols clarified: filled vs open, half-hole, trill keys and alternates
Filled (solid) dots = fully covered hole; open dots = hole left open or vented; half-filled or shaded dots = partial coverage or thumb-roll, used frequently in throat-tone transitions.
Trill keys are usually drawn as small labeled levers or abbreviated as “tr” next to the affected note; alternate fingerings are flagged with “alt” or small side icons and sometimes include a secondary fingering column.
Look for extra notation like “+” or “–” that indicates a pitch tendency (sharp or flat) and suggests an alternative fingering for tuning correction.
Quick cheat: register key, thumb hole, and hand labeling on charts
The register key (octave key) is shown separately, often with an arrow or a small top-of-instrument icon; a filled register symbol means press it to jump up an octave.
The thumb hole on charts is drawn on the back of the upper-joint diagram and frequently labeled “T” or shown with L-thumb instructions; that’s the one you use for thumb-roll half-hole control.
Left and right hand groupings are either indicated by labeled holes (LH/RH) or by the top/bottom split in the diagram; memorize that upper cluster = left hand, lower cluster = right hand for instant recognition.
Chart formats: printable PDF, interactive app, and image maps
Static printable charts (PDF or image) give a stable single-page reference you can mark up, but they lack audio or zoom features.
Interactive apps and image maps let you zoom, hear the note, and toggle transposition — handy for B♭ clarinet and A clarinet players who need quick sounding-pitch checks.
Pros/cons: printable = always available, low-tech, easy to annotate; apps = portable, zoomable, playback and transposition toggles; choose the format that matches practice context.
Essential fingering map for beginner clarinetists (B♭ and A)
Beginner charts typically cover the written range from E3 up through C6, spanning the chalumeau (low) register, throat tones, and clarion (upper) register.
Standard fingerings: fully covered holes for low notes, thumb on the back T hole, left-hand first three holes for basic scale steps, and right-hand pinky on the lower-pinky stack keys for C, B, and A variants.
To shift register, add the register key while keeping the lower-note fingering stable to produce the clarion pitches above the break; practice this motion slowly to build consistency.
Side-by-side: B♭ clarinet vs A clarinet fingering differences
The same fingerings produce different sounding pitches because of transposition: a B♭ clarinet sounds a whole step lower than written, while an A clarinet sounds a minor third lower than written.
Practical tip: read charts as written fingerings — switch instruments and play the same fingering, but remember the concert pitch changes; many apps let you toggle instrument type to confirm sounding pitch.
When switching between B♭ and A mid-session, label your chart or use color coding so you don’t accidentally read A clarinet parts while holding a B♭ instrument.
How the register key and thumb hole change fingering across registers
Use the register key to jump from chalumeau to clarion register; charts mark this by showing the same fingering with an added register-key icon or a separate clarion column.
Half-hole technique for throat tones is shown as a half-filled dot or a small diagonal marker; execute it by rolling the left thumb slightly to vent the hole until the targeted pitch locks in.
Thumb-roll notations indicate gradual openings for smooth transitions and are essential for achieving accurate throat-tone intonation on notes like F and F♯ in the lower clarion area.
Throat tones and alternative fingerings: tuning and tone
Common alternates: throat F often uses a half-hole or an alternate cross-fingering to flatten or sharpen the pitch; F♯, G and A in the throat/clarion register frequently have labelled “alt” fingerings on charts.
Charts will note tonal trade-offs: an alternate that improves intonation may produce a darker tone or weaker projection, so choose fingerings based on ensemble context.
Use alternate fingerings deliberately: mark preferred options on your chart, and practice the fingerings in scale patterns to hear their tuning effects across contexts.
Cross-fingerings, forked notes, and non-standard diagrams
Cross-fingerings or forked fingerings close holes in a non-sequential way to change acoustic venting and fix pitch or timbre on specific notes like some throat tones and low F♯.
Charts display cross-fingerings as non-linear filled/open patterns; they usually include a label such as “cross” or “fork” and sometimes recommend which register key setting to use.
Choose cross-fingerings to control pitch bending or to blend better in chamber and orchestral passages; always test their intonation against a tuner or drone before performing.
Trill keys, auxiliary keys, and quick-access fingering tables
Trill keys appear on charts as small secondary keys near the right-hand side or labeled as side Bb, A, or C trill keys; they often include suggested finger combinations for common trills.
Common orchestral trill pairs (e.g., C–D, D–E) typically have one- or two-key combinations listed in a quick-access table on advanced charts for rapid reference during rehearsal.
Create a cheat strip on your chart with the three or four trills you use most, including the exact pinky or side-key combination so you can glance instead of searching mid-piece.
Advanced fingering chart section: altissimo, harmonics, and register extensions
Altissimo fingerings are experimental and are usually recorded as recommendation rows on charts, often labeled with reliability notes or player comments about pitch tendencies.
Harmonic fingerings use open-note patterns and register-key combinations to produce notes above the standard clarion range; they demand precise embouchure and air support and are less reliable across instruments.
Practice altissimo fingerings slowly and mark which ones respond well on your instrument; treat chart entries as starting points, not guaranteed solutions.
Using a clarinet key chart to fix intonation and tuning problems
Charts often mark fingerings that tend sharp or flat; use that guidance to swap to a listed alternate fingering rather than altering embouchure alone.
Simple tuning drill: play a drone on the target concert pitch, play the charted fingering, listen for beats, then try an alternate fingering from the chart until beats disappear.
Document which alternate eliminates beats and note the tonal change on your chart so you can replicate the fix in performance scenarios.
Quick practice routines built around the fingering chart
Warm-up set: long tones on each fingering (5–10 seconds), then scale passages that move systematically through the charted fingerings to build muscle memory and tone consistency.
Half-hole control exercise: alternate between full and half coverage on throat tones with a metronome, increasing tempo as control improves; mark half-hole points on your chart for reference.
Trill routine: pick three common trills from your repertoire, practice their charted fingerings slowly, and add slur and dynamic variations to improve agility and clarity.
Troubleshooting common chart misunderstandings and myths
Confusion: written vs sounding pitch — always confirm whether the chart lists written notes or concert/sounding notes; treat most standard fingering charts as showing written notes for B♭ and A instruments.
Misread half-hole marks: a half-filled symbol is not optional — it signals a technique that materially changes pitch and should be practiced deliberately rather than approximated.
System differences: Boehm vs Albert systems have distinct keys and some alternate fingerings; consult system-specific charts rather than assuming every chart applies to your instrument.
Customizing and creating your own clarinet key chart cheat sheet
Annotate a standard chart with colored highlights for preferred alternate fingerings, intonation corrections, and notes that need extra air or embouchure adjustments.
Design a single-page cheat sheet showing only the notes and alternates you use most in a gig or audition; include thumb-roll reminders and pinky-key shortcuts for instant access.
Print laminated copies for stage use and keep a digital annotated image on your phone for practice sessions so your customizations travel with you.
Resources, downloadable charts, and recommended fingering apps
Manufacturer PDFs: Buffet Crampon, Yamaha, and Selmer publish reliable downloadable fingering charts for B♭, A, and bass clarinets; start with those for instrument-specific guidance.
Association and library resources: the International Clarinet Association and major university music departments host teacher-verified charts and orchestral fingering notes that clarify tricky passages.
Apps and tools: use a tuner/drone app like TonalEnergy for intonation drills and an interactive fingering app with audio playback and transposition toggles to compare written vs sounding pitches quickly.
Final practice tip: pair a printable chart with an app that plays the note so you can both see and hear fingerings; that combination gives the fastest route from chart to confident performance.
