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Alternate Fingering Chart for Saxophone

First Octave: A3 to C#5

This fingering chart includes both basic fingerings and alternatives that are more appropriate in some passages. Some alternate fingerings are designed for fast passages, while others modify the tone, color, or pitch at normal and extreme dynamic levels. These fingerings are the same on all sizes of saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass) unless specified otherwise.

 

Note

Written

Fingering

Description

Src.

A3

A0 A 123|123C Basic. Also press the low A key. For models with a thumb low A key.  
123A|123C Basic. Also press the low A key. For models with an RH 4 low A key. AP

A3
B3

Bb0 123Bb|123C Basic.  

B3
C4

B0 123B|123C Basic.  

B3
C4

C1 123|123C Basic.  

C4
D4

C#1 123C#|123C Basic.  

D4

D1 123|123 Basic.  

D4
E4

Eb1 123|123Eb Basic.  

E4
F4

E1 123|12– Basic.  

E4
F4

F1 123|1–– Basic.  

F4
G4

F#1 123|–2– Basic.  
123|1–F# Chromatic, use in combination with F4 or F5.  

G4

G1 123|––– Basic.  

G4
A4

G#1 123G#|––– Basic.  
123C#|––– Use in combination with C#4.  
123B|––– Use in combination with B3.  
123Bb|––– Use in combination with Bb4.  

A4

A1 12–|––– Basic.  

A4
B4

Bb1 12–|Bb––– Basic.  
1Bb––|––– Use in passages in flat keys where there is no B4 or B5.  
1––|1–– Use in combination with F4 or F5.  
1––|–2– Use in combination with F#4 or F#5.  
1––|––3   MS
1–3|––– Use in fast passages in combination with G4 or G5. Dark and cloudy tone. PS4
T 123Bb|123 Good for passages where Bb4 appears along with third octave and altissimo notes. Dark, closed sound. Response is more difficult than for other fingerings. AS2

B4
C5

B1 1––|––– Basic.  
T 123B|123 Good for passages where B4 appears along with third octave and altissimo notes. Dark, closed sound. Response is more difficult than for other fingerings. AS2

B4
C5

C2 –2–|––– Basic.  
1––|C––– Use in combination with B4 or B5.  
23G#|––– Use in fast passages in combination with A4 or A5. PS4
T 123|123C For ease when coming from a higher note. Harmonic (C4).  

C5
D5

C#2 –––|––– Basic.  
T 123C#|123C Harmonic (C#4).  
T ––3|123 In tune for leading tone to D. HR
T ––3|––– Sharper. VW
GG
T D1––|––– Sharper. HB
T ––3G#|––– Sharper than basic fingering. ST2
–––|123 Use in combination with D5. Anon.
–––|123Eb Use in combination with E5. Flat at ff dynamics on soprano models. Anon.
–––|12– Use in combination with E5. Slightly sharp on soprano models. Anon.
–––|1–– Use in combination with F5. Flat at ff dynamics on soprano models. Anon.
–––|–2– Use in combination with F5. Flat at ff dynamics on soprano models. Anon.
–––|1–F# Use in combination with F5. Flat at ff dynamics on soprano models. Anon.
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