Bass Clarinet Tuner
This bass clarinet tuner shows your note as written for B♭ bass clarinet in treble clef, so written C shows as C. It listens down to the low extension, and tells you whether to move the neck in or out.
Play a tuning note
The microphone is only used while the tuner runs. Sound is analysed on your device and never recorded or sent anywhere.
Bass Clarinet tuning notes
The bass clarinet is a transposing instrument, so the note you read is not the concert pitch the band tunes to. These are the usual tuning notes as you read them and as the tuner hears them, at A = 440 Hz.
| Written (Low C bass clarinet) | Concert pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| C5 | B♭3 | 233.08 Hz |
| G4 | F3 | 174.61 Hz |
Not sure of a fingering? The bass clarinet fingering chart shows every note and plays it at the right pitch.
How to tune a bass clarinet
- Warm up with long low notes; the bass clarinet needs time to warm.
- Play written C in the third space (sounding B♭3).
- Adjust the neck. Sharp (needle right): pull the neck out slightly. Flat (needle left): push it in. Tighten the clamp screw if your neck has one.
- Check written G and low E to make sure the whole range sits where you expect.
Notes to watch
As on the soprano clarinet, the throat tones tend to be sharp and the low register can sag flat when the air slows down. Upper-register notes go flat with a loose embouchure. Long tones with the tuner show which notes on your instrument need the most attention.
Reading the tuner
The big letter is the written note in treble clef. The line underneath shows the concert pitch and frequency, which is what your director means by “concert B♭”.
Bass Clarinet Tuner FAQ
What note does a bass clarinet tune to?
For concert B♭ the bass clarinet plays written C: third-space C in treble clef, which sounds B♭3. Written G (concert F) is a common second check.
How do I tune a bass clarinet?
Warm up, play written C, and move the neck in (sharper) or out (flatter) where it joins the body. Many bass clarinets have an adjustable neck with a clamp screw; loosen it, move the neck, and tighten it again.
Why does the tuner show C when the band tunes to B♭?
Bass clarinet sounds a ninth (an octave and a whole step) lower than written. This page shows the written note; switch to concert pitch in the menu to see the sounding note.
Why do my low notes sound flat or unstable?
The low register needs plenty of slow, steady air and a relaxed embouchure. Check that the neck isn't pulled too far and that all pads seal; a leak makes low notes unstable.
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