G Sharp Clarinet Fingerings

Choose the G sharp clarinet octave

A G sharp clarinet note cannot be identified by its letter alone. The three supported octaves use different thumb, main-hole and extra-key states. Start with the position on the treble staff and the octave number beside each diagram. G♯4 sits on the second line, while the enharmonic A♭4 is written in the second space. Both mean the same sounding pitch here.

G♯3 is below the staff and G♯5 is in the space just above its top line. A flat uses the neighbouring A staff position with a flat sign, so its drawing is different even though the fingering does not change. This G sharp clarinet page uses sharp notation in the main examples and gives the A-flat names in the headings. The full chart lets you switch accidental spelling.

Three checks that keep the keys separate

Read each G sharp clarinet diagram in the same order: thumb hole, register key, six main holes, then the additional key text. A covered thumb hole and a pressed register key are separate states. Low G♯3 needs the thumb hole covered with the register key released; G♯4 needs both released; G♯5 needs both engaged.

Next check which hand operates the named extra key. Low G♯3 uses the right little finger; throat G♯4 uses the left-hand side key; upper G♯5 uses the left little finger. A drawing of the eight core states cannot show that distinction by itself. The G sharp clarinet reference therefore lists every extra key in words beside its diagram. The key names describe their musical role rather than promising an identical physical shape on every instrument.

Written G sharp and concert pitch

These G sharp clarinet examples are written pitches for B♭ soprano clarinet. They sound a whole step lower: written G♯3 sounds as F♯3, G♯4 as F♯4 and G♯5 as F♯5. When the written spelling is A♭, the corresponding concert name is G♭. F♯ and G♭ are enharmonic names for the same equal-tempered pitch.

The reference-tone buttons play those concert pitches, using synthetic tones with A4 set to 440 Hz. They do not play a clarinet recording or listen to your instrument. If a band director asks for concert G♯, written G♯ is not the matching note on B♭ clarinet: written A♯, enharmonically B♭, gives that concert pitch. Keep the instruction’s written or concert label in view before selecting a fingering.

B flat / A sharp fingerings for concert G sharp →

Compare neighbouring notes and the twelfth relationship

For a throat-tone comparison, inspect written G4 and G♯4 in the main chart. Their main holes remain open; the G♯4 basic fingering adds the left-hand side key. Moving onward to A4 changes which additional key is pressed. Compare the two records instead of assuming that a half-step movement always means closing one more main hole.

For the upper G sharp clarinet note, the useful comparison is C♯4. Adding the register key to that basic pattern gives G♯5, a twelfth above C♯4. It does not produce C♯5. The lower G♯3 and upper G♯5 also do not share the same complete fingering. These comparisons explain the displayed states; they do not prescribe a trill pattern or a passage-specific alternative.

Compare written C sharp 4 in the full chart →

Explore major scales and choose A flat →

Does “high G sharp” mean G♯5 or G♯6?

The phrase high G sharp is ambiguous without an octave. Some search results use it for altissimo G♯6, which is above this site’s written E3–C6 dataset. This G sharp clarinet guide includes G♯5 in the clarion register, but supplies no G♯6 diagram, fingering or reference tone. Do not apply the G♯5 pattern to a part that asks for G♯6.

If your score is above the examples shown here, use a source that explicitly identifies that octave and the appropriate instrument system. The scope is a basic Boehm B♭ reference, not a complete altissimo, resonance or trill library. Notes are grouped by written octave so that the limits remain visible rather than being hidden behind a general “high note” label.

Print the G sharp clarinet reference

The G sharp clarinet fingerings also appear in the full 33-note chart. Its print section offers US Letter and A4 downloads, together with browser printing. Those files cover the complete supported range; there is no separate G-sharp-only PDF download on this page. Use the octave labels on paper in the same way as the on-screen examples.

For a possible error, report the written note and octave, the diagram or named key involved and whether your instrument uses standard Boehm keywork. Include the source that disagrees if you have one. A missing tone, an unexpected pitch and a wrong finger state are different issues, so explain which you observed. Contact provides an outline to copy into your own email application.

Print or download the complete fingering chart →

Report a fingering or audio issue →

G♯ / A♭ Clarinet Fingering FAQ

More Clarinet Fingerings

• Clarinet fingering chart: all 33 notes from E3 to C6
• How to Play an A on the Clarinet
• How to Play High C on Clarinet
• How to Play B Flat on Clarinet
• Print the clarinet fingering chart or download the PDF

Sources for These G♯ / A♭ Fingerings

Each G♯ / A♭ 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.

• Yamaha — Boehm clarinet fingering guide
• Woodwind Fingering Guide — Chalumeau basic fingerings
• Woodwind Fingering Guide — Clarion basic fingerings
• Yamaha — Written and sounding pitch