Clarinet Tuner
This clarinet tuner shows your note the way a B♭ clarinetist reads it, so written C shows as C, not concert B♭. Play a long note and the needle shows whether to pull the barrel out or push it in.
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.
Clarinet tuning notes
The 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 (B♭ clarinet) | Concert pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| C5 | B♭4 | 466.16 Hz |
| B4 | A4 | 440.00 Hz |
Not sure of a fingering? The clarinet fingering chart shows every note and plays it at the right pitch.
How to tune a clarinet
- Warm up for a few minutes; a cold clarinet plays flat.
- Play written C in the third space (with the register key) with a full, steady sound.
- Adjust at the barrel. Sharp (needle right): pull the barrel out a little. Flat (needle left): push it in.
- Check open G and low C. If the clarion notes are in tune but the low notes are off, a small pull at the middle joint can help; ask your teacher before making big changes.
Gaps and tuning rings
Pulling the barrel out more than a couple of millimetres leaves a gap inside the bore that can make some notes stuffy. If you always have to pull out a long way, a longer barrel or tuning rings (thin rings that fill the gap) work better.
Reed and embouchure
A soft reed and a loose embouchure make the clarinet flat, especially in the upper register; a hard reed or biting makes it sharp. If the tuner shows wide swings between notes, check the reed and your embouchure before you move the barrel again.
Clarinet Tuner FAQ
What note does a clarinet tune to?
When the band tunes to concert B♭, B♭ clarinets play written C: third-space C (C5), which uses the register key. Some directors also use written B (concert A). This tuner shows the written note.
How do I tune a clarinet?
Warm up, then play written C in the staff. If the needle is right (sharp), pull the barrel out slightly; if it is left (flat), push it in. Most clarinets need the barrel out about a millimetre.
Why are my throat tones out of tune?
Throat-tone G, A and B♭ are short tubes with an open sound and usually sit sharp and a bit thin. Try adding right-hand fingers as resonance fingerings, and check them with the tuner.
Why does a regular tuner say B♭ when I play C on clarinet?
The B♭ clarinet sounds a whole step lower than written. Concert-pitch tuners show the sounding note. This page is set to B♭ clarinet, so it shows the note you read.
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