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The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

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RE: Bb or C

Author: Dee
Date: 1999-07-02 17:35

Basically any clarinet can play in any key although flat keys are "easier" on a Bb clarinet and "sharp keys" are easier on an A clarinet. Here I am referring to the key signature as it would be for string instruments.

What you need to be aware of is that the clarinet is classified as a transposing instrument. So if you play what is printed on clarinet music as a C, on the Bb clarinet that fingering will sound a concert Bb, on an A clarinet it will sound a concert A, etc. So your printed music needs to be transposed so that you will be playing in the same concert key as your friends.

For example, let us assume that you have a Bb clarinet. If the string parts are in the key of C, your printed music would be in the key of D. Your printed music will have two more sharps (or two less flats) than theirs.

Now let's assume you have an A clarinet. If the string parts are in the key of C, your printed music would be in the key of Eb. Thus your printed music will have 3 more flats (or 3 less sharps) than theirs.

You may wonder it's done this way. Very simple. You only have to learn one set of fingerings for the entire clarinet family. The actual difference between the note you finger and the concert (i.e. string instrument pitch) is taken care of by the transposition of the printed music.

Again you may wonder why the standard clarinet is not the C clarinet. For some reason, the slight increase in size from a C to a Bb or A seems to give a more "clarinetty" type sound. Both players and listeners seem to prefer that sound as being representative of clarinets. Composers do sometimes call for a C clarinet to use for its unique tone color. Here I must admit that I have never personally heard a C clarinet so I am just reporting what I have read.

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