i dont play clarinet...but i wuz looking into writing a band arragement...and i need to know the natural key and range of the clarinet

the natural key of the clarinet is b flat if you are playing a b flat instrument. The clarinet notes are one step higher from the main scale which are the c instruments.Only note that is different is the b flat.If a piano note is C than the clarinet note will be a b flat which is on the c scale.Ask if u need anything else.

The range of a decent clarinet player should be from E below the staff to around F# above the staff.

Tianis`s got things a little off with the keys.

A C insturment`s Bb is equivalent to a Bb`s C. So a Bb on piano would be a C on clarinet. Transposition from piano (C) to Clarinet (Bb) is up two semitones.

I`ve been doinga LOT of writing lately for the musical score to the game I`m producing, so I`ve developed a good feel for these things.

Hope you don`t mind a couple of question from a newby?

What is meant by `natural key`?

Must all music be transposed for the clarinet in order to play in the same key? (Why not just transpose the fingering chart and teach everybody the right fingerings for the notes?)