Bb clarinet

B5

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.

Note how similar this spectrum is to that for E4. (Of course, the clarinet overblows a 12th.) The only substantial difference is the reduction and displacement of the first peak. The purpose of the speaker key is just that: to destroy the fundamental resonance so that the instrument will not 'drop down' to the lower register. See register hole for details.

For a general discussion of the clarino register, see the description on B4.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a Bb clarinet played using fingering for B5.
For more explanation, see Introduction to clarinet acoustics

Sound Clip

You can hear B5 played.