Clarinet fingering · Note C

How to Play High C on Clarinet

Most players mean written C6 when they ask how to play high C on clarinet: the C on the second ledger line above the staff, at the top of the clarion register. This page shows high C first, then C5 and middle C4, each with the staff, a hole diagram, the extra keys in words and a reference tone.

Standard Boehm B♭ soprano clarinet · Written pitch · Source-cross-checked fingerings

High C on Clarinet (C6): two ledger lines above the staff

Written C6 · Clarion · Sounds as concert B♭5

High C uses very few fingers: cover the thumb hole and press the register key, with every finger hole open.

Cover the thumb hole. Press the register key. Leave all left-hand holes open. Leave all right-hand holes open.

No additional side or little-finger keys.

Same fingers as F4, plus the register key.

Synthetic concert-pitch tone · A4 = 440 Hz. Not a clarinet recording.

Open C6 in the full chart →

C5: the C in the third space of the staff

Written C5 · Clarion · Sounds as concert B♭4

C5 is the first C above the break. Every finger hole is covered, the register key is pressed and one little finger presses an F/C key.

Cover the thumb hole. Press the register key. Cover left-hand index, middle, ring holes. Cover right-hand index, middle, ring holes.

Choose either little-finger option below; use one, not both.

Left little finger: Also press LH pinky F/C key.
Right little finger: Also press RH pinky F/C key.

Same fingers as F3, plus the register key.

Synthetic concert-pitch tone · A4 = 440 Hz. Not a clarinet recording.

Open C5 in the full chart →

Middle C (C4): the first ledger line below the staff

Written C4 · Chalumeau · Sounds as concert B♭3

Middle C is in the low chalumeau register and is the lowest C on the clarinet, so some players call it low C. Cover the thumb hole and the three left-hand holes; the right hand stays open.

Cover the thumb hole. Leave the register key released. Cover left-hand index, middle, ring holes. Leave all right-hand holes open.

No additional side or little-finger keys.

Synthetic concert-pitch tone · A4 = 440 Hz. Not a clarinet recording.

Open C4 in the full chart →

Which C Is High C on Clarinet?

The written C on the second ledger line above the staff is C6, the highest note of the clarion register and the top note of this site’s chart. C5 sits in the third space of the staff and C4, middle C, sits on the first ledger line below it.

The clarinet continues higher into the altissimo register, where C7 is sometimes called double high C. Those fingerings are outside this site’s range, which stops at written C6.

Why Can’t I Play High C on Clarinet?

Because high C on clarinet is the F4 fingering with the register key added, start by checking F4. Cover only the thumb hole and play F4. If F4 is clear, keep everything still and press the register key with the side of the thumb. If you hear F4 again, the register key is not fully down. If you hear a squeak, check that no finger is resting on a side key or partly covering a ring.

If the fingering is exactly right and the note still will not speak, the fingering is not the problem. High notes need steady air and a stable embouchure, and a teacher can check those far better than a chart can.

What Does High C on Clarinet Sound Like?

High C on clarinet, written C6, sounds as concert B♭5 on a B♭ clarinet, a whole step lower than written. Press the play button in the high C section above to hear a synthetic reference tone at that pitch. It is a pitch reference, not a recording of a clarinet, so it will not match the clarinet’s tone colour.

Getting to C5 Across the Break

B♭4 is a throat tone with no finger holes covered. C5, one step higher, covers all six finger holes, the thumb hole and the register key, plus a little-finger key. That large change between the two notes is called crossing the break.

C5 has two equal little-finger choices: the left or the right pinky F/C key. Use one, not both, and pick the one that suits the notes before and after.

High C Sharp, High D, Double High C and Bass Clarinet

Written C♯6 and every note above it belong to the altissimo register, which this site does not cover. That includes high D, written D6, the next natural note above high C. Double high C usually means written C7, also an altissimo note. Bass clarinet is a different instrument with its own range and keywork, so the fingerings on this page apply only to the standard B♭ soprano clarinet.

C Clarinet Fingering FAQ

How do you finger high C on the clarinet?

Cover the thumb hole and press the register key, with every finger hole open. High C, written C6, is the F4 fingering with the register key pressed, which is why it uses so few fingers.

How do you play high C on an A clarinet?

With the same fingering. The A clarinet uses the same Boehm fingerings for the same written notes, so written high C is still the thumb hole plus the register key. Only the sounding pitch changes: written C6 on an A clarinet sounds concert A5, a minor third lower, and any written C on an A clarinet sounds as concert A.

Is high C on clarinet hard for beginners?

Most beginners reach high C after they can play the first clarion notes, B4 and C5, cleanly. Because high C has the same fingers as F4, practise a clear F4 first, then add the register key without moving anything else.

Is high C on clarinet the same pitch as high C on piano?

No. Written C6 on a B♭ clarinet sounds concert B♭5. To match a piano’s C6, a B♭ clarinet would play written D6, which is in the altissimo register.

Which little finger should I use for C5?

Either. The left and right pinky F/C keys are both basic fingerings for C5. Choose one, not both, according to the notes around it.

Is there anything higher than high C on clarinet?

Yes. The altissimo register continues above written C6, but this site covers only written E3 to C6 on the standard Boehm-system B♭ soprano clarinet.

More Clarinet Fingerings

Sources for These C Fingerings

Each C fingering on this page matches the basic Boehm fingering in both Yamaha’s fingering guide and the Woodwind Fingering Guide. The written-to-concert pitch relationship follows Yamaha’s explanation of the B♭ clarinet. The diagrams are original drawings, not copies of source artwork, and source agreement is not the same as approval by a named teacher. Read how we check the fingerings or report a possible error.