E-flat Clarinet
Quick Facts
- Instrument Key
- E-flat
- Transposition Interval
- Minor 3rd up
- Written C sounds as
- Eb4
- Instrument Family
- woodwind
- Instrument Page
- E-flat Clarinet on Tunable
Written vs. Sounding Pitch — Frequency Table
Each row shows a written pitch (as it appears in the score) and the concert-pitch note that sounds when played. Frequencies are equal temperament at A4=440Hz.
Key Signature Conversion Table
When the conductor names a concert key, this table shows what key signature the E-flat Clarinet player reads. The player reads the written key; the audience hears the sounding key.
Practical Scenarios
Orchestra: Eb Clarinet Above the Orchestra
Berlioz uses the Eb clarinet's piercing tone in the Symphonie Fantastique "Dream of a Witches' Sabbath." The conductor calls concert Eb4 (311.13 Hz). The Eb clarinet player reads C4 (261.63 Hz written) — a minor third below concert pitch — and sounds Eb4.
Military Band: Reading a Bb Clarinet Part on Eb Clarinet
A Bb clarinet part cannot be read directly by an Eb clarinet player. To transpose: a Bb clarinet written note sounds a major 2nd down; an Eb clarinet written note sounds a minor 3rd up. The interval difference is a diminished 5th — significant rewriting is required.
Doubling with Piccolo
The piccolo (concert pitch, sounds octave above written C) and Eb clarinet (sounds minor 3rd above written C) are sometimes called for in unison. The pitch match requires careful part writing: piccolo written C4 sounds C5, Eb clarinet written C4 sounds Eb4 — they do not produce the same pitch.
Why Does the E-flat Clarinet Transpose?
The Eb clarinet (also called the "sopranino clarinet" or "piccolo clarinet") is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the clarinet family. It transposes UP a minor third — written C sounds as Eb, making it the only common clarinet that transposes upward rather than downward. The Eb clarinet is standard in German and Austrian military bands and is used in orchestral repertoire when extremely high, brilliant clarinet tones are needed. Berlioz, Mahler, and Richard Strauss all wrote prominent Eb clarinet parts.
Tune Your E-flat Clarinet with Precision — Get Tunable.
Tunable's chromatic tuner shows exact Hz values in real time. Tune to equal temperament A4=440Hz or explore all 16 temperament systems.
Related Instruments
How to Transpose for E-flat Instruments
All Transposing Instruments · Circle of Fifths · Keys Reference · Temperament Systems