Instrument reference · woodwind
Clarinet
Specification sheet No. 03
A4 = 440 Hz · equal temperament · checked 15 September 2026
- Pitched in
- B♭
- Sounds
- a major second lower written C sounds B♭
- Band tuning note
- concert B♭ = written C B♭3 233.08 Hz · B♭4 466.16 Hz · B♭5 932.33 Hz · B♭6 1864.66 Hz
- Range, sounding
- D3 to B♭6 146.83 to 1864.66 Hz
The clarinet in B♭ sounds a major second lower than written: play a written C4 and you hear B♭3. 5
The frequencies on this page are computed from the pitch standard A4 = 440 Hz, the 1939 London conference standard reaffirmed by ISO in 1975, in twelve-tone equal temperament, which divides the octave into twelve equal semitones: f = 440 × 2^(n/12), where n is the number of semitones above A4 (negative below). 1 The notes are named in scientific pitch notation, where C4 is middle C.
Tuning notes and reference pitches
In a band's daily tuning the concert B♭ and the concert A are the notes this instrument tunes to, and the source says to warm up before tuning and to use no vibrato. 7 The table gives every octave of those notes inside the instrument's sounding range, the note the player reads for it, and its frequency. The browser tuner plays each of these as a reference tone.
| Concert pitch | Written for this instrument | Frequency | Who plays it in the tuning routine |
|---|---|---|---|
| B♭3 | C4 | 233.08 Hz | the band's daily tuning note, given by the clarinet or the tuba, all play |
| B♭4 | C5 | 466.16 Hz | the band's daily tuning note, given by the clarinet or the tuba, all play |
| B♭5 | C6 | 932.33 Hz | the band's daily tuning note, given by the clarinet or the tuba, all play |
| B♭6 | C7 | 1864.66 Hz | the band's daily tuning note, given by the clarinet or the tuba, all play |
| A3 | B3 | 220.00 Hz | the second tuning note, given by clarinet or oboe, for double reeds, saxophones, flutes and clarinets |
| A4 | B4 | 440.00 Hz | the second tuning note, given by clarinet or oboe, for double reeds, saxophones, flutes and clarinets |
| A5 | B5 | 880.00 Hz | the second tuning note, given by clarinet or oboe, for double reeds, saxophones, flutes and clarinets |
| A6 | B6 | 1760.00 Hz | the second tuning note, given by clarinet or oboe, for double reeds, saxophones, flutes and clarinets |
How the pitch is adjusted
- Pulling the barrel, then the middle joint, plays flatter; pushing in plays sharper. The bell may be pulled if the C in the staff is still sharp after pulling at the middle joint. 7
- Shorter and longer barrels are available. 7
- Pulling too much at the middle joint upsets the instrument; a soft reed plays flat, biting or pinching plays sharp, and cold plays flat while hot plays sharp. 7
Every note in the range at A4 = 440 Hz
D3 to B♭6, B♭ clarinet, sounding; B♭6 is given as attainable by professionals. 4,6 The written column is the note the player reads; the sounding column is what a tuner hears.
| Sounding | Written | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| D3 | E3 | 146.83 Hz |
| E♭3 | F3 | 155.56 Hz |
| E3 | F♯3 | 164.81 Hz |
| F3 | G3 | 174.61 Hz |
| F♯3 | A♭3 | 185.00 Hz |
| G3 | A3 | 196.00 Hz |
| A♭3 | B♭3 | 207.65 Hz |
| A3 | B3 | 220.00 Hz |
| B♭3 | C4 | 233.08 Hz |
| B3 | C♯4 | 246.94 Hz |
| C4 | D4 | 261.63 Hz |
| C♯4 | E♭4 | 277.18 Hz |
| D4 | E4 | 293.66 Hz |
| E♭4 | F4 | 311.13 Hz |
| E4 | F♯4 | 329.63 Hz |
| F4 | G4 | 349.23 Hz |
| F♯4 | A♭4 | 369.99 Hz |
| G4 | A4 | 392.00 Hz |
| A♭4 | B♭4 | 415.30 Hz |
| A4 | B4 | 440.00 Hz |
| B♭4 | C5 | 466.16 Hz |
| B4 | C♯5 | 493.88 Hz |
| C5 | D5 | 523.25 Hz |
| C♯5 | E♭5 | 554.37 Hz |
| D5 | E5 | 587.33 Hz |
| E♭5 | F5 | 622.25 Hz |
| E5 | F♯5 | 659.26 Hz |
| F5 | G5 | 698.46 Hz |
| F♯5 | A♭5 | 739.99 Hz |
| G5 | A5 | 783.99 Hz |
| A♭5 | B♭5 | 830.61 Hz |
| A5 | B5 | 880.00 Hz |
| B♭5 | C6 | 932.33 Hz |
| B5 | C♯6 | 987.77 Hz |
| C6 | D6 | 1046.50 Hz |
| C♯6 | E♭6 | 1108.73 Hz |
| D6 | E6 | 1174.66 Hz |
| E♭6 | F6 | 1244.51 Hz |
| E6 | F♯6 | 1318.51 Hz |
| F6 | G6 | 1396.91 Hz |
| F♯6 | A♭6 | 1479.98 Hz |
| G6 | A6 | 1567.98 Hz |
| A♭6 | B♭6 | 1661.22 Hz |
| A6 | B6 | 1760.00 Hz |
| B♭6 | C7 | 1864.66 Hz |
Maker's specification
Figures as printed in the maker's catalogue for its standard and intermediate models; a bore is the inside diameter of the tubing, a bell the diameter of its rim.
| Model | Key | Bore or system | Bell or barrel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha YCL-255 (standard B♭ clarinet) 3 | B♭ | Boehm system, 17 keys, 6 rings | barrel 65 mm | matte ABS resin body, nickel-plated keys, 4C mouthpiece |
| Yamaha YCL-450 (intermediate B♭ clarinet) 3 | B♭ | Boehm system, 17 keys, 6 rings | barrel 65 mm | grenadilla body |
The family: other keys and sizes
| Instrument | Key | Relation, as the source states it | Range, sounding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarinet in A 5,2,4 | A | a minor third lower than written; same fingering and mouthpiece as the B♭, every pitch a half step lower than the B♭'s | C♯3 to about A6 |
| E♭ clarinet 2,8 | E♭ | pitched a fourth higher than the B♭ clarinet; the highest member of the family | G3 to C7 |
| Alto clarinet in E♭ 2 | E♭ | an octave below the E♭ clarinet; reinforces the B♭ clarinets in wind music | not stated |
| Bass clarinet in B♭ 2,9 | B♭ | an octave below the B♭ clarinet | D♭2 to C6 |
| Contrabass clarinet in B♭ 10 | B♭ | the lowest member of the family, introduced in the late nineteenth century | D♭1 to C5 |
Notes from the sources
- The clarinet works acoustically as a closed tube: its fundamental sounds an octave below an open tube of the same length, and it overblows at the twelfth, not the octave. 4
- Its compass is just under four octaves and fully chromatic; the college's page names four registers, chalumeau (E3 to G4), throat (G♯4 to A♯4), clarion (B4 to C6) and extreme (C♯6 to B♭6). 4
- The oboe cannot adjust its pitch the way a clarinet can by moving its barrel, which is one reason the oboe gives the A in an orchestra. 11
- The B♭ and A soprano clarinets are the most used today; the family also has a C clarinet and instruments down to the G tube. 2
Archive posts about the clarinet
18 posts from the site's 2024 archive, kept at their original addresses and as written. They were not checked against the sources on this page.
- Sell Used Clarinet If you are looking to sell a used clarinet, you might have several questions that you need answers for: In this article, we will cover all…
- Intermediate Clarinet Music (The Beauty of Interpreting Various Styles) Intermediate clarinet players have a wide range of music to choose from when it comes to playing their favorite tunes. From Mozart to…
- E Flat Soprano Clarinet for Beginners: Info to Get You Started The E flat soprano clarinet is an instrument that gets a lot of hate, but it can offer a lot to ensembles. It’s almost like the piccolo of…
- Recorder vs Clarinet – Understanding Their Differences The recorder and the clarinet are two of the most iconic woodwind instruments in the world. Both instruments have a long history and have…
- How To Play Jazz Clarinet? (Get Started) The clarinet has a rich, warm tone that has helped shape the sound of jazz for generations, and it continues to be one of the most popular…
- The Contrabass Clarinet – a Comprehensive Guide to its Beauty and Complexity The contrabass clarinet is an incredibly unique and fascinating instrument. It produces a big, beefy sound unlike any other and is capable…
- Popular Clarinet Brands (The Top Ones You Should Know) With so many different clarinet brands on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. I know it can be overwhelming to…
- How to Put a Lyre on a Clarinet A helpful way to play the clarinet, especially in a marching band, is to attach a lyre to it. This can be a bit tricky, but with a little…
- Clarinet Embouchure Strengthening Exercises If you’re a beginner clarinetist, or even if you’ve been playing for a while, you may not have given much thought to your embouchure. Your…
- Jazz Clarinet Lessons Online: Why to Choose Them Want to learn all the tricks and techniques of playing jazz on the instrument? If you are looking for online lessons, there are plenty of…
- Common Clarinet Problems (and How to Solve them) The last time your clarinet was played things seemed to go well, but now it suddenly stops playing altogether. Your clarinet is broken or…
- Clarinet and Bass Clarinet – 5 Main Differences Among the different types of clarinets, the bass clarinet is one that draws more curiosity. It differs greatly in size, shape, sound, and…
- Clarinets for Beginners If you or your child has just recently decided to play the clarinet, now it is time for you to decide on whether to purchase a brand new…
- Wooden vs Plastic Clarinet When looking at clarinets, you may have noticed that there are many different options to choose from. Some are made out of wood, and some…
- Getting Clarinet Embouchure Fatigue? 6 Ways to Overcome It Embouchure fatigue is a problem among some clarinet players. The embouchure is a frequent site for fatigue, but it shouldn’t be. Such…
- What to Know When Buying a Used Clarinet Buying a used clarinet can be an intimidating task for new clarinet players. We help you understand what to look for when buying a used…
- Synthetic Clarinet Reeds You may have heard about synthetic reeds being used for some instruments, including clarinets. But what is the big deal with such material?…
- Rent a Clarinet Renting a clarinet has several advantages when compared to buying a new or used clarinet, especially for beginners but also for more…
Sources and last verified
- Equal Temperament, and The A 440 Pitch Standard (HyperPhysics), Georgia State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, read 15 September 2026.
- Musical Instrument Guide, Clarinet: The modern clarinet (the family), Yamaha Corporation, read 15 September 2026.
- Wind Instruments catalogue 2024 (W255UR7), specification tables, PDF, Yamaha Corporation of America, read 15 September 2026.
- Musical Instrument Collection: clarinet, Grinnell College Libraries, read 15 September 2026.
- Steps to Music Theory, chapter 10: Transposing Instruments (open textbook), Texas A&M University Libraries, read 15 September 2026.
- Some Data on Orchestral Instruments: playing ranges (HyperPhysics), Georgia State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, read 15 September 2026.
- Intonation Tendencies of Band Instruments, MUS 461 (W. Brainard, 2011), PDF, Grand Valley State University, faculty pages, read 15 September 2026.
- Musical Instrument Collection: E-flat clarinet, Grinnell College Libraries, read 15 September 2026.
- Musical Instrument Collection: bass clarinet, Grinnell College Libraries, read 15 September 2026.
- Musical Instrument Collection: contrabass clarinet, Grinnell College Libraries, read 15 September 2026.
- Musical Instrument Guide, Oboe: Why does the oboe lead the orchestra in tuning?, Yamaha Corporation, read 15 September 2026.
- Frequencies are computed on this site from A4 = 440 Hz in twelve-tone equal temperament, f = 440 × 2^(n/12) with n the number of semitones from A4, and rounded to two decimals. They are not copied from any source.
- Method, corrections and what we do not publish: how tunings are sourced. Page checked 15 September 2026.