Acoustics of the clarinet

Bb clarinet

A3

Music Acoustics UNSW

index
E3 F3 F#3 G3 G#3 A3 A#3 B3
C4 C#4 D4 D#4 E4 F4 F#4 G4 G#4 A4 A#4 B4
C5 C#5 D5 D#5 E5 F5 F#5 G5 G#5 A5 A#5 B5
C6 C#6 D6 D#6 E6 F6 F#6 G6 G#6 A6 A#6 B6
C7 C#7

Impedance

Fingering
a key depressed
a key not depressed
a hole covered
a hole uncovered
a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched
Details in fingering legend.

Acoustic schematic
a closed tone hole
an open tone hole

Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance
Non-specialist introduction to clarinet acoustics

Notes are the written pitch.
Frequencies are the sounding frequency, for Bb clarinet.
Unless otherwise stated, the impedance spectrum is for a Bb clarinet.


Impedance spectrum of a Bb clarinet measured using fingering for A3.

Although it doesn't feel like it to your fingers, acoustically speaking, this fingering is actually a cross fingering: it has a closed tone hole below the first open one. This is responsible for the shape being more irregular from about 1.1 to 1.6 kHz than the curves for G#3.

For general comments about the chalumeau register, see E3.

Sound


Sound spectrum of a Bb clarinet played using fingering for A3.
For more explanation, see Introduction to clarinet acoustics

Sound Clip

You can hear A3 played.


Fingering legend
How were these results obtained?

Contact: Joe Wolfe / J.Wolfe@unsw.edu.au
phone 61-2-9385-4954 (UT +10, +11 Oct-Mar)
© 1997-2006 Music Acoustics UNSW