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Clarinet range

D3–B♭5

Practical range, sounding · 146.83–932.33 Hz · 2.7 octaves · written E3–C6

C2D2E2F2G2A2B2C3D3E3F3G3A3B3C4D4E4F4G4A4B4C5D5E5F5G5A5B5C6D6E6F6G6A6B6C♯2E♭2F♯2A♭2B♭2C♯3E♭3F♯3A♭3B♭3C♯4E♭4F♯4A♭4B♭4C♯5E♭5F♯5A♭5B♭5C♯6E♭6F♯6A♭6B♭6C2C3C4C5C6D3B♭5
  • Practical range
  • Extreme range
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The clarinet’s range in notes and hertz

SoundingWrittenFrequency
Practical lowD3E3146.83 Hz
Practical highB♭5C6932.33 Hz
Extreme highB6C♯71975.5 Hz

That is a B♭ clarinet, written E3 to C6 in the standard chart. Above it is the altissimo register, up to a written C♯7 and beyond for strong players. An A clarinet sounds a semitone lower again.

Written and sounding pitch

The clarinet is a transposing instrument: it sounds a major second lower than written, which makes it a B♭ instrument. So the range on its part is E3–C6, while the notes you hear are D3–B♭5. To convert a part, use the concert pitch to B♭ chart. The transposing-instrument tuner reads out the written note as you play.

Instruments with a similar range

The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the clarinet’s:

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Songs that fit the clarinet

36 songs from our public-domain library fit inside the clarinet’s range, each written out in the notation clarinet players read:

All 36 clarinet songs ›

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of a clarinet?

The clarinet’s normal range runs from D3 to B♭5 — 146.83 to 932.33 Hz, about 2.7 octaves. At the extremes it reaches D3–B6. Its part is written E3–C6, because it sounds a major second lower than written.

What is the lowest note on a clarinet?

D3 (146.83 Hz).

What is the highest note on a clarinet?

B♭5 is the top of the normal range, and B6 (1975.5 Hz) is reachable at the extreme.

Sources