Fingering Scheme for Saxophone

The fingering scheme below describes the text and key images used to
represent fingerings in the fingering charts.

All Keys Pressed and All Holes Covered
Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Baritone/Bass Saxophone
T
Eb D F
f1
Bb
23
G# C# B Bb
|
E C Bb
1
f#
2
F#
3
Eb C
Left Thumb Keys
T !tave Key
The octave key is the only thumb key found on most
saxophones. It is used as a vent for most second and third
octave notes and for almost every altissimo fingering.
Left Hand "ain Keys
1 #irst #in$er Key %B&
2 Se!ond #in$er Key %A/C&
3 Third #in$er Key %'&
f #ront # Key
The Front F key is the topmost left hand key and is pressed by
the first finger. It was designed to provide an altissimo fingering
for F
6
as an alternate to using the palm keys. The key is used for
various other altissimo fingerings as well.
Bb Bb %Bis& Key
The Bb key is pressed by the first finger to play first or second
octave Bb in passages without Bnaturals. It is located between
the main keys for the first and second fingers.
Left Hand Palm Keys
D ( Palm Key
The palm key is used for playing thirdoctave ! "b! "! F! and
F# and for trilling to second or thirdoctave . It is the
outermost key in the group of three palm keys and is operated
by the knuckle of the first finger.
)b Alto Saxophone
Left Hand
*i$ht Hand
Images courtesy of $eblanc.
Eb )b Palm Key
The "b palm key is used for playing thirdoctave "b! "! F! and
F#. It is the topmost key in the group of three palm keys and is
operated by the first %oint of the first finger.
F # Palm Key
The F palm key is used for playing thirdoctave F and F#. It is
the lower key in the group of three palm keys and is operated by
the first %oint of the second finger.
Left Hand Little #in$er %Pin+y& Keys
G# ', Key
The &# key is the topmost key in the little finger key group and
is used primarily for playing first and secondoctave &#.
C# Lo- C, Key
The low '# key is the outer key in the little finger key group and
is used primarily for playing low '#.
B Lo- B Key
The low B key is the inner key in the little finger key group and is
used primarily for playing low B.
Bb Lo- Bb Key
The low Bb key is the bottommost key in the little finger key
group and is used primarily for playing low Bb.
*i$ht Hand "ain Keys
1 #irst #in$er Key %#&
2 Se!ond #in$er Key %)&
3 Third #in$er Key %(&
F# Alternate #, +ey
The F# key raises first and secondoctave F by a semitone as
an alternative to using the right hand middle finger for the
corresponding F#.
*i$ht Hand Side Keys
E ) Side Key
The " side key is the upper side key and is used to play third
octave "! F! and F# as well as to trill second and thirdoctave
'# to #.
C C Side Key
The ' side key is the middle side key and is used as an alternate
and trill fingering for first and secondoctave '.
Bb Bb %.Bis.& Side Key
The side Bb key is the lower side key and is used for the basic
and trill fingering for first and secondoctave Bb.
f# Hi$h #, Key
The high F# key is a fourth side key on newer models and is
used primarily as a thirdoctave palmkey fingering for the
lower altissimo F#.
*i$ht Hand Little #in$er %Pin+y& Keys
Eb Lo- )b Key
The low "b key is the upper right hand little finger key and is
used for playing first and secondoctave "b and acts as a vent
in many altissimo fingerings.
C Lo- C Key
The low ' key is the lower right hand little finger key and is used
primarily for playing low '.
Baritone Saxophone Keys
A Lo- A Key
Baritone saxophones often have a second left thumb key to
extend the range down to (.
"ain Holes and ther Symbols
|/ )eparates left hand keys and holes from right hand keys and
holes.

Trilled Keys
*eys to be trilled are indicated in red boldfa!e text and
by red key images +e.g.! ,.
For a fingering involving more than one trilled key! the trilled
keys are to be trilled simultaneously unless specified as
alternating in the fingering description. (lternating trill keys are
also indicated by a combination of red boldfa!e text and red
boldface italic text.

Basic Fingering Chart for Saxophone
First Octave: A
3
to C#
5
This fingering chart includes the primary fingerings learned by all
saxophonists. These fingerings are the same on all si-es of saxophone
+soprano! alto! tenor! baritone! and bass, unless specified otherwise.
0ote 1ritten #in$erin$ (es!ription
A
2
A 123|123
C
Basic. (lso press the low ( key. For models
with a thumb low ( key.
123
A
|123
C
Basic. (lso press the low ( key. For models
with an ./ 0 low ( key.
A
2
B
2
123
Bb
|123
C
Basic.
B
2
C
3
123
B
|123
C
Basic.
B
2
C
3
123|123
C
Basic.
C
3
(
3
123
C#
|123
C
Basic.
(
3
123|123 Basic.
(
3
)
3
123|123
Eb
Basic.
)
3
#
3
123|12 Basic.
)
3
#
3
123|1 Basic.
#
3
'
3
123|2 Basic.
123|1
F#
'hromatic! use in combination with F
0
or F
1
.
'
3 123| Basic.
'
3
A
3
123
G#
| Basic.
A
3
12| Basic.
A
3
12|
Bb
Basic.
B
3
1
Bb
|
For ease of playing in passages without B
natural.
1|1 2se in combination with F
0
or F
1
.
1|2 )harp! use in combination with F#
0
or F#
1
.
B
3
C
4
1| Basic.
B
3
C
4
2| Basic.
1|
C
'hromatic.
C
4
(
4
| Basic.
Second Octave: D
5
to F
6
This fingering chart includes the primary fingerings learned by all
saxophonists. These fingerings are the same on all si-es of saxophone
+soprano! alto! tenor! baritone! and bass, unless specified otherwise.
0ote 1ritten #in$erin$ (es!ription
(
4 T 123|123 Basic.
(
4
)
4
T 123|123
Eb
Basic.
)
4
#
4
T 123|12 Basic.
)
4
#
4
T 123|1 Basic.
#
4
'
4
T 123|2 Basic.
T 123|1
F#

'hromatic! use in combination with

F
0
or F
1
.
'
4
T 123| Basic.
'
4
A
4
T 123
G#
| Basic.
A
4
T 12| Basic.
A
4
B
4
T 12|
Bb
Basic.
T 1
Bb
| For ease of playing in passages without
B natural.
T 1|1 2se in combination with F
0
or F
1
.
T 1|2
)harp! use in combination with F#
0
or
F#
1
.
B
4
C
5
T 1| Basic.
B
4
C
5
T 2| Basic.
T 1|
C

'hromatic! use in combination with

B
0
or B
1
.
C
5
(
5
T | Basic.
(
5
T
D
| Basic.
(
5
)
5
T
Eb D
| Basic.
)
5
#
5
T
Eb D
|
E
Basic.
T f23|
$ess stable! use in combination with
'
6
and '#
6
.
)
5
#
5
T
Eb D

F
|
E
Basic.
T f2| $ess stable! use in combination with '
Loer A!tissimo: F#
6
to A
6
This fingering chart includes both basic fingerings and alternatives that are
more appropriate in some passages. )ome alternate fingerings are designed
for fast passages! while others modify the tone! colour! or pitch at normal
and extreme dynamic levels. These fingerings are the same on all si-es of
saxophone +soprano! alto! tenor! baritone! and bass, unless specified
otherwise.
0ote 1ritten #in$erin$ (es!ription
#
5
'
5
T f2|
Bb

T f2|
#f#

T f2|1
T f2|
Bb
123
T f3|
Bb
12
T f2|
Bb
1
T f2
G#
|
Bb
)table for mp and louder
on tenor and baritone
models! and for mf and
louder on alto models.
T f
Bb
|
T f1
Bb
|
Bb

T 13|
Bb
1
T 13|1
Eb
&ood for tenor.
T 13|1
T 1|12
T 1|12
Eb

T f|1
T f|
#
1 &ood for alto.
T f|
#
&ood for alto.
T f1|
#

&ood for tenor. 2se in

combination with F
6
+T
f1|, and &
6
+T f|
f#
,.
T f|
Bb
&ood for alto.
T
Eb D

F
|
E #
&ood for alto.
T
Eb

F
|
E #
$ower pitch.
T
D

F
|
E #
$ower pitch.
T
F
|
E #
$ower pitch.
T 1
Bb
|
#

2se in combination with

&
6
or the range
1
Bb
1
.
T 1
Bb

G#
|
E

T 12|
f#

In tune! easy response! and

useful in fast passages. For
all saxophone models
T 1|
Bb

#
1
Eb
For alto models. )table
and in tune! but awkward
in fast passages.
'
5
T 13|3
T 13|3
Eb

T 2|12
T 2|12
Eb

T f
Bb
|
Bb

T 1
Bb

G#
|
Bb f#
&ood for alto.
T f|
Bb
&ood for tenor.
T f|
f#

&ood for tenor. 3orks

well in chromatic passages
and in combination with
F6 +T f1|, and F#6 +T
f1|
f#
,.
T f|
T f|1
T f|
Bb
1
T f|
Bb
1
Eb

T f|
Bb
12
Eb

T f|123
T 3|
Bb
1
T 1|
Bb f#

T 3|13
T 13|13
In tune and responsive on
alto when mouth is tight
and %aw is lowered.
T 13|
Bb
13 &ood for alto.
T 13|
Bb
1 &ood for alto.
T 13|
C
1
T 13|
C Bb
1 &reat for baritone.
T 13|
f#
1
T 13|1
Eb

T 13|
Bb
1
Eb

T 13|1
F#

T 13
G#
|
Bb
In tune.
T 123|123
C

T 123|123
Eb

T 123|
C
1
T 123|
C
"asy and in tune.
T 13|
Bb
For baritone.
T 13|
)lightly flat. &ood for
baritone.
'
5
A
5
T 13|
T 2|2
T 2|2
Eb

T 23|2
T f|
E
&ood for alto and tenor.
T f|
Bb

T f
G#
|
Bb

T 1|
C
1 &ood for alto.
T 13|
C
2 &ood for baritone.
T 13|
C
1
T 13|
C Bb
1
T 13|
C f#
1
Eb

T 13|
C
12
T 13|
C
3
T 13|
C
13 &ood for alto.
T 13|3
T 2|1
T 2|
f#
1
T 2|
T 1|
Bb f#
&ood for alto.
T 1
G#
|
Bb f#
&ood for alto.
T 12|
C
12
T 123
C#
|123
C

T 123
Bb
|123
C

T 123|
C Bb

A
5
T 23|
23|
T 23|
C
&ood for tenor.
T 23
G#
| &ood for baritone.
T 23|1
T 23|2
T 23|3
T 23|12 &ood for alto and tenor.
T 23|13
T 23|
C
23 &reat for baritone.
T 23|123
T 23|123
Eb

T 23
Bb
|123
C

T 123
B
|123
C

T 123|123
T 123|
C
123
T 123|
C
For alto and tenor.
T 23|
f#

Eb

T 23
Bb
|
C Bb
&ood for alto.
T 3|
C

&ood intonation. &ood for

baritone.
T 3|1
T 12|1
T 12|12
T 1|
C Bb
&ood for alto.
T 1|
Bb
&ood for alto.
T
D
|
"idd!e A!tissimo: B#
6
to C#
$
This fingering chart includes both basic fingerings and alternatives that are
more appropriate in some passages. )ome alternate fingerings are designed
for fast passages! while others modify the tone! colour! or pitch at normal
and extreme dynamic levels. These fingerings are the same on all si-es of
saxophone +soprano! alto! tenor! baritone! and bass, unless specified
otherwise.
0ote 1ritten #in$erin$ (es!ription
A
5
B
5
T 3|
C

T
D
23|123
T
D
23|
Bb
123
T
D
23|
Bb
123
Eb

T
D
23|
Bb
12
Eb

T
D
23|
C
2
Eb

T
D
23| &ood for alto and tenor.
T
D
3|
C
2
Eb

T
D
3|
T 3|
T 3|
C
&ood for tenor.
T 3|
C
23
T 3|12
T 3|
C
123 For tenor.
T 3|
C
123
Eb
For tenor.
T 3|
C
12
T 3|1 &ood for alto.
T 3|
C Bb
1
T
D
23
G#
| &ood for baritone.
T 23|1 &ood for alto.
T 23|
C
2
T 23|12
Eb

T 23|
f#
12
Eb

T f23|123
T 123
Bb
|123
C

T 123|123
C

T 123|123
Eb

T
D
123|
C
123
T |
C Bb

T
D
|
T |
B
5
C
6
T
D
|
T
D
|
C Bb

T
Eb D
1|12
T
Eb
1|12
T
Eb
3|23
T
Eb
23|
C Bb

T
D
1|1
Eb

T
D
3|
C
&ood for tenor.
T
D
3|12
T
D
3|
C
123 For tenor.
T
D
3|
C
12
T
D
3|
T 13|13 For alto and tenor.
T
Eb D
3|123
T
Eb D
12|123
T
Eb D
23|123
T
Eb D
23|13
T f123|123
T 123|123 &ood for alto.
T 123
B
|123
C

T 123
C#
|123
C

T
D
23|
C

T
D
23
G#
|
C

T
Eb
23
G#
| &ood for baritone.
T
D
23|1
T 12
Bb
|12
T 12|12
T
Eb D
12|12
B
5
C
6
T
Eb D
|
T
Eb D
|
Eb

T
Eb D

G#
|
T
Eb D
|
C Bb

T
Eb D
23|
C

T
Eb D
23|
E

T
Eb D
3|
T
Eb D
3|
C
&ood for tenor.
T
Eb D
3|12
T
Eb D
3|
E
123
T
Eb D
13|
Bb
123
T
Eb D
13|
Bb
123
C

T
Eb D
3|
C
123 For tenor.
T
Eb
23
G#
|
E
&ood for baritone.
T
D
|
E

T 12|12
Eb

T 1|12
T 1|12
Eb

T 1
F
|12
Eb

T 1|1 &ood for alto.
T 13|13
T 13|13
Eb

T 13|1
T 13|
Bb
1
T 13|
Bb
13 &ood for alto.
T 13|23
T f23|1
2seful for alto in 4uick
transitions with
5
! fingered
by the same fingering.
T 23|
C
1
T 23|123 &ood for tenor.
T f|1
T f3|1
T f|12
T 123
Bb
|123
C

T 123|123
C

T 123|123
C
6
(
6
T
Eb D
|
E

T
Eb
|
T
Eb
1|12
T 1
F
|12
T
Eb
f3|1
T
Eb
f3|
Bb
1
T
Eb
f|12
Eb

T f|1
T f2|
Bb
1
T f2| &ood for tenor.
T f|1
Eb

T f|
E
1
T f|
C
123 For tenor.
T
Eb D
f3|
E
123
T
Eb
f3|
E
123
T
D
f3|
E
123
T 13|
Bb
13 &ood for alto.
T 13|
Bb
1 &ood for alto.
T 13|
Bb
1
Eb

T 13|
E
1
T 13|
Bb
2
Eb

T 13|
T 123
B
|123
C

T 123
C#
|123
C

T 123|123
Eb

T
Eb D
23|
C

T
Eb D
23|
E

T
Eb D

F
3|
T
Eb D

F
3|
C
&ood for tenor.
%pper A!tissimo: D
$
to D
&
This fingering chart includes both basic fingerings and alternatives that are
more appropriate in some passages. )ome alternate fingerings are designed
for fast passages! while others modify the tone! colour! or pitch at normal
and extreme dynamic levels. These fingerings are the same on all si-es of
saxophone +soprano! alto! tenor! baritone! and bass, unless specified
otherwise.
0ote 1ritten #in$erin$ (es!ription
(
6
T
Eb
1|
T f|
Bb
2
C

T f|
Bb

T f| &ood for alto and tenor.
T f|
E

T f|
C
3 For tenor.
T
Eb D

F
|
E
&ood for alto.
T
Eb D

F
|
Bb
&ood for alto and tenor.
T 13|
E

T
Eb D

F
3|
E
&ood for tenor.
T 2| &ood for tenor.
T f23|1
2seful for alto! especially in
4uick transitions with '
5
!
fingered by the same
fingering.
(
6
)
6
T f2|1
T f2|1
Eb
&ood for alto and tenor.
T
Eb
f|
C

T f|
C
&ood for alto.
T 3| &ood for tenor.
T 3|
C
For tenor.
T 2|
T 2|1
T 2|2
T
Eb D

F
|
E f#
&ood for alto.
T
Eb D

F
|
E C
&ood for alto and tenor.
T f23
Bb
|123
C

)
6
#
6
T 2|12
T 2|12
Eb

T |13
T |13
Eb

T |123
T
D
3| &ood for tenor.
T
D
| &ood for alto and tenor.
T 13|
C Bb
1 &reat for baritone.
T
D
12|
Bb
23
T 13|12
T 2|2
T 2|2
Eb

T f|1
T f|3 For tenor.
T f3| For tenor.
T 23|123
C
(n effective harmonic
fingering. The 67th harmonic
on '
0
.
)
6
#
6
T 13|13 3eak on tenor.
T 13
C#
|13 &ood for alto.
T 13|13
Eb

T
D
1|
Bb
23
T 13|1
T
Eb D
3| &ood for tenor.
T
Eb D
2|12
T
Eb D
2|12
Eb

T
Eb D
2|2 &ood for alto and tenor.
T
Eb
1| &ood for alto.
T
Eb
f3| For tenor.
T
Eb
f|3 For tenor.
#
6
'
6
T
Eb D
13|13 &ood for tenor.
T
Eb D
|12 &ood for alto.
T
Eb D
2|
E C
12
T
Eb D

F
3| &ood for tenor.
'
6
T 2|12 &ood for tenor.
T
Eb
2|12 3orks for alto.
T f2|12 &ood for alto.
T 2|1 &ood for alto and tenor.
T 3|
C
3 &ood for tenor.
T f23|1
2seful for alto. .e4uires fast
air stream.
'
6
A
6
T 2|2
T | &ood for alto and tenor.
T 1
F
|
Bb

&ood for alto. 'an be reached

by the 68th harmonic on
'#
0
or the 60th harmonic on
Bb
9
.
A
6
T
D
23|3
T 123|123 &ood for alto and tenor.
T f| &ood for alto.
A
6
B
6
T
Eb D
23|23
T |
Bb
&ood for alto and tenor.
B
6
C
7
T
Eb D

F
23|
E C
23
B
6
C
7
T
Eb D
23|23
C
7
(
7
T
Eb D
23|23 $ip up from '
:
to achieve '#
:
.
(
7 T
Eb D
23|23 $ip up from '
:
to achieve
:
.
(
7
)
7