How to Play Bb Concert Scale on Clarinet

The Bb concert scale is the most common scale asked for by band directors at all levels from middle school to professional. It's also the easiest scale to remember on clarinet because Bb concert scale is C major scale and has no sharps or flats.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a Bb clarinet
• clarinet fingering chart

1. Start on C. Because your clarinet is in the key of Bb, the Bb concert scale starts on C. We usually start on the lowest C (written middle C) but can also start on C in the staff. This is C major scale.

2. Play no sharps or flats. The key of C major has no sharps and no flats. The notes of the scale are C D E F G A B C. Repeat the same notes, but higher, for a two octave scale.

3. 
    
   fingering middle B and C

   Use the left and right fingerings of B and C in order to play this scale fluidly. It can't be done if you play the right pinky for both notes.

4. Reverse the scale. The descending scale (back down) is C B A G F E D C and is repeated for a two octave scale.

5. 
    
   Bb concert scale, two octaves, clarinet

   Play the complete scale, two octaves, both ways as: C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C : C B A G F E D C B A G F E D C

Tips & Warnings

• Many players prefer to play middle B(L)C(R) going up and C(L)B(R) going down.
• Memorizing a single scale by rote doesn't help you learn the other scales. It's better to learn all of the major key signatures by rote and then you will be able to form all of the major scales easily.