Clarinet Tuner
Tune your clarinet by reading the note on your sheet music: the tuner converts the sounding pitch into the written note, for B♭ clarinet, A clarinet or bass clarinet. Free, no account, and it works offline.
The microphone is only requested when you tap the button. Sound is analysed on your device; nothing is recorded. Open the full app
Tune your clarinet in five steps
- Choose the “B♭ clarinet” preset, or the transposition that matches your instrument.
- Warm up the clarinet by playing for a few minutes, with your hands on the body rather than on the bell.
- Play a note in the chalumeau register, then one in the clarion register, sustained and relaxed, at a medium dynamic.
- If both are flat, push the barrel in; if both are sharp, pull it out a little.
- Play again to check. If the low and high registers do not respond the same way, see the section below on adjusting at the middle joint.
Reference table
| Instruments | In | Offset (semitones) | A written C4 sounds | A concert A 440 shows as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarinet, trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, soprano sax | B♭ | +2 | B♭3 · 233.08 Hz | B4 |
| A clarinet | A | +3 | A3 · 220.00 Hz | C5 |
| Tenor sax, bass clarinet, treble-clef euphonium | B♭ (+ octave) | +14 | B♭2 · 116.54 Hz | B5 |
| Alto sax, E♭ alto horn | E♭ | +9 | E♭3 · 155.56 Hz | G♭5 |
| Baritone sax | E♭ (+ octave) | +21 | E♭2 · 77.78 Hz | G♭6 |
| French horn, cor anglais | F | +7 | F3 · 174.61 Hz | E5 |
| Alto flute | G | +5 | G3 · 196.00 Hz | D5 |
| D trumpet | D | −2 | D4 · 293.66 Hz | G4 |
| E♭ trumpet, E♭ clarinet | High E♭ | −3 | E♭4 · 311.13 Hz | G♭4 |
| Piccolo | C (octave above) | −12 | C5 · 523.25 Hz | A3 |
| Guitar, double bass, bass | C (octave below) | +12 | C3 · 130.81 Hz | A5 |
Why the clarinet is a transposing instrument
The clarinet comes in several sizes, but they all use the same fingerings. To make that work, the music is written shifted from the sounding pitch. The tuner shows the written note, the one you read, in large type, and the concert pitch in small type.
The rule is always the same: written note = concert note + offset in semitones.
- B♭ clarinet: +2. Written C4 sounds B♭3, at 233.08 Hz.
- A clarinet: +3. Written C4 sounds A3, at 220 Hz.
- Bass clarinet in B♭: +14 when the part is written in treble clef (French notation). Choose “B♭ (+ octave)”.
- E♭ soprano clarinet: it sounds a minor third higher than written, an offset of −3. Choose “High E♭”.
Examples to check your settings
Octaves use scientific pitch notation: A4 = 440 Hz, and C4 = middle C at 261.63 Hz.
On a B♭ clarinet, a concert A at 440 Hz shows as a written B4. The concert B♭ used by concert bands, at 466.16 Hz, shows as a written C5: that is the note many clarinettists play when tuning.
On an A clarinet, a concert A at 440 Hz shows as a written C5. Remember to switch transposition when you change instruments during a rehearsal: it is a common mistake.
The barrel and the middle joint
The barrel is the first adjustment. Pulling it out lengthens the bore and lowers the whole instrument; pushing it in raises it. A few tenths of a millimetre are often enough, and many clarinettists own several barrels of different lengths to adapt to the temperature or to the band’s reference pitch.
Pulling out a lot at the barrel mainly affects the short-tube notes at the top of each register, and has less effect on the long-tube notes at the bottom. If your low chalumeau notes stay in tune but the top of the clarion drops too far, spread the gap: pull out a little at the barrel and a little between the upper and lower joints. The bell can also be pulled out, for the very lowest notes.
Finally, remember that the twelfth between chalumeau and clarion is never perfect on every note: some notes are corrected with your embouchure, tongue position or alternate fingerings.
Measuring the intonation of the whole instrument
In the Pitch tab, the “Intonation chart (winds)” exercise builds a grid, written note by written note, with the average deviation in cents. Set the transposition, then play a slow chromatic scale, holding each note for about two seconds.
The result, which you can export as an image, shows the notes that consistently come out sharp or flat. It is useful for comparing two barrels or two mouthpieces, or for tracking the effect of a new reed.
- Always play at the same dynamic and without vibrato.
- Compare the two registers note by note.
- Keep the same reference, 440 or 442 Hz, from one chart to the next.
Frequently asked questions
Is my clarinet in B♭ or in A?
Most student clarinets are in B♭. The A clarinet, slightly longer, is mainly used in orchestras and chamber music, and it is often stamped with the letter A.
Which note should I tune a clarinet on?
In a concert band, the tuning note is often concert B♭, which is a written C on a B♭ clarinet. Also check one chalumeau note and one clarion note to cover both registers.
My clarinet is still sharp with the barrel pulled out, what can I do?
Try a longer barrel and make sure the instrument is not overheated. A reed that is too soft or an embouchure that is too tight can also push the pitch up.
Which transposition should I use for bass clarinet?
In treble clef, choose “B♭ (+ octave)”, which is 14 semitones. If your part is in bass clef, known as German notation, the offset is only 2 semitones, so choose “B♭” instead.
Which transposition should I use for the E♭ clarinet?
Choose “High E♭”: the instrument sounds a minor third above the written note.
Why does my pitch change with dynamics?
Air pressure and embouchure affect pitch, especially in the clarion and altissimo registers. Tune at a medium dynamic and work on stability with the “hold a note” exercise.