How to Play an E Flat Major on the Clarinet

The clarinet is a woodwind instrument.

The clarinet, created in 1700, is a woodwind instrument in the key of B flat. The B flat clarinet is used in orchestras and concert bands, as it is a versatile instrument with three pitch ranges. When playing in a concert band, the conductor will often begin with the E flat major scale as a warm-up before playing. Play the E flat major on a clarinet by positioning your fingers on the correct keys to produce each note.

Instructions

1. Position your left thumb over the keyhole in the back of the upper part of the clarinet. This is the key position for the note F. Tighten your mouth around the mouthpiece and blow, tonguing the note. Tonguing is like blowing into the clarinet while making the letter "T" sound.

2. Release your thumb from the keyhole and blow the next note in the same manner as Step 1. An open key, or when no keys are being pressed, is the note G.

3. Press the index finger of your left hand onto the teardrop-shaped metal key directly above the first keyhole at the top of the clarinet. Blow into the instrument to produce the note A.

4. Push the teardrop-shaped metal key above the keyhole in the back of the clarinet while continuing to hold the metal key in the front with your index finger. This is the finger position for the note B flat. Blow into the clarinet.

5. Position your left thumb over the teardrop-shaped key and the keyhole at the back of the clarinet. Cover the first three keyholes at the top of the clarinet firmly with your left index, middle and ring fingers and the bottom three keyholes with the right index, middle and ring fingers. There are 4 oval keys in a square formation underneath the last keyhole. Press your right pinky finger on the key in the lower left--your left--and blow into the clarinet to produce the note C.

6. Release your pinky, keeping the rest of your fingers down. Blow into the clarinet to make the note D.

7. Release the keyhole under your right ring finger and blow into the instrument to produce the note E.

8. Remove your right middle finger from its keyhole. Blow into the clarinet to make the note F.

References

• Northern Illinois University School of Music: The Clarinet in Music History
• Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Duquesne University: Clarinet and Bass Clarinet