Alto Sax Fingering Chart (and Tenor Sax)
An alto sax fingering chart shows which keys to press for each written note. The E♭ alto saxophone reads from low B♭3 to high F6 (F♯6 on saxes with a high F♯ key) and sounds a major 6th lower than written. Notes from D4 to C♯5 use the six main keys; add the octave key with your left thumb for the octave above. Tenor sax fingerings are exactly the same.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses UK music words (bar, semitone, stave); the US version uses measure, half step and staff. · US version of this page
Key facts
- Alto sax: E♭ instrument – written C sounds as concert E♭, a major 6th lower.
- Tenor sax: B♭ instrument – written C sounds as concert B♭, a major 9th (an octave and a tone) lower.
- Written range: B♭3 to F6, or F♯6 with a high F♯ key (alto sounds concert D♭3 to A♭5).
- Six main keys: left hand 1, 2, 3 (B, A, G) and right hand 1, 2, 3 (F, E, D).
- Octave key (left thumb): same fingering, one octave higher, from D5 up.
- Palm keys D, E♭ and F (left hand) plus the side E key give the top notes D6 to F6.
- Soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes all use the same written fingerings.
Interactive saxophone fingering chart
Private by design: this page never uses the microphone. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent – quiz answers stay on this device.
Classfern's free saxophone fingering chart on lessonplanner.info: press a note to see the keys and hear how it should sound. Choose alto or tenor: the keys are the same, only the sound changes.
Keyboard: Tab to the notes, then the arrow keys move from note to note and play each one. The ▶ buttons in the tables below show and play that note.
How do you read an alto sax fingering chart?
Find the written note in the first column, then press every key listed beside it. "L1, L2, L3" are the left-hand pearl keys from the top, "R1, R2, R3" the right-hand ones, and "octave key" is the small key under your left thumb.
Your left hand always goes on top. The little finger keys are named by their note: the left little finger plays G♯, low C♯, low B and low B♭; the right little finger plays low E♭ and low C. In the interactive chart above, a filled shape means "press it" and an outline means "leave it up", and the keys are always written out in words as well.
| Written note | Keys to press | Alto sounds (concert) | Tenor sounds (concert) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♯3/B♭3 | L1, L2, L3, low B♭ key, R1, R2, R3, low C key | C♯3/D♭3 | G♯2/A♭2 |
| B3 | L1, L2, L3, low B key, R1, R2, R3, low C key | D3 | A2 |
| C4 | L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, low C key | D♯3/E♭3 | A♯2/B♭2 |
| C♯4/D♭4 | L1, L2, L3, low C♯ key, R1, R2, R3, low C key | E3 | B2 |
| D4 | L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3 | F3 | C3 |
| D♯4/E♭4 | L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, low E♭ key | F♯3/G♭3 | C♯3/D♭3 |
| E4 | L1, L2, L3, R1, R2 | G3 | D3 |
| F4 | L1, L2, L3, R1 | G♯3/A♭3 | D♯3/E♭3 |
| F♯4/G♭4 | L1, L2, L3, R2 | A3 | E3 |
| G4 | L1, L2, L3 | A♯3/B♭3 | F3 |
| G♯4/A♭4 | L1, L2, L3, G♯ key | B3 | F♯3/G♭3 |
| A4 | L1, L2 | C4 | G3 |
| A♯4/B♭4 | L1, R1 | C♯4/D♭4 | G♯3/A♭3 |
| B4 | L1 | D4 | A3 |
| C5 | L2 | D♯4/E♭4 | A♯3/B♭3 |
| C♯5/D♭5 | All open | E4 | B3 |
| D5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3 | F4 | C4 |
| D♯5/E♭5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, low E♭ key | F♯4/G♭4 | C♯4/D♭4 |
| E5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2 | G4 | D4 |
| F5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3, R1 | G♯4/A♭4 | D♯4/E♭4 |
| F♯5/G♭5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3, R2 | A4 | E4 |
| G5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3 | A♯4/B♭4 | F4 |
| G♯5/A♭5 | Octave key, L1, L2, L3, G♯ key | B4 | F♯4/G♭4 |
| A5 | Octave key, L1, L2 | C5 | G4 |
| A♯5/B♭5 | Octave key, L1, R1 | C♯5/D♭5 | G♯4/A♭4 |
| B5 | Octave key, L1 | D5 | A4 |
| C6 | Octave key, L2 | D♯5/E♭5 | A♯4/B♭4 |
| C♯6/D♭6 | Octave key | E5 | B4 |
| D6 | Octave key, palm D key | F5 | C5 |
| D♯6/E♭6 | Octave key, palm D key, palm E♭ key | F♯5/G♭5 | C♯5/D♭5 |
| E6 | Octave key, palm D key, palm E♭ key, side E key | G5 | D5 |
| F6 | Octave key, palm D key, palm E♭ key, palm F key, side E key | G♯5/A♭5 | D♯5/E♭5 |
| F♯6/G♭6 | Octave key, palm D key, palm E♭ key, palm F key, side E key, high F♯ key | A5 | E5 |
★ marks notes outside the usual beginner range (D4 to G5). The concert columns show what a piano would play for the same sound. B♭4 is shown as L1 + R1; the "bis" key (L1 together with the small key between L1 and L2) is a common alternative, and your teacher may prefer it.
To keep a printable copy, use your browser's Print and choose "Save as PDF". The tables print without the buttons and pictures.
What are the first notes to learn on alto sax?
Most beginners start with B, A and G (L1, then L1 + L2, then L1 + L2 + L3), because they use only the left hand. Then add C (L2), D (all six main keys) and F♯ and E with the right hand.
- Play B, A and G with the left hand only – that is enough for Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb.
- Add the right hand: F (R1), E (R1 + R2) and D (R1 + R2 + R3). Keep the fingers curved and close to the keys.
- Add the octave key to the same fingerings for the upper notes from D5 to G5.
- Practise C♯5 to D5 slowly: it is the biggest change on the saxophone, from no keys at all to all six keys plus the octave key.
When the notes come easily, open the alto sax play-along and play a tune with the right fingering shown for every note.
Quiz: name the saxophone fingering
Eight quick questions on the beginner notes of the instrument chosen in the chart, then a short "I can" checklist.
- Marked by Classfern – the eight fingering questions, checked straight away.
- Self-assessed – the "I can" checklist: you tick it when you have done it.
Is the tenor sax fingering chart the same as the alto?
Yes. All saxophones use the same written fingerings, so this chart works for tenor sax too. Only the sound is different: the tenor is a B♭ instrument and sounds a major 9th lower than written, while the alto sounds a major 6th lower.
That is why tenor and alto parts are written in different keys for the same tune. For example, a concert C (the C on the piano) is written A for alto sax and D for tenor sax. Choose Tenor saxophone in the chart to hear the tenor's lower sound and see each note's concert pitch.
How do you play the high notes (palm keys) on a saxophone?
The top notes D6 to F6 use the palm keys under the left hand, always with the octave key. D6 is the palm D key; E♭6 adds the palm E♭ key; E6 adds the side E key (right hand); F6 adds the palm F key.
Many altos and tenors also have a high F♯ key for F♯6 (F6 plus the high F♯ key, right hand). Notes above that are "altissimo" and use special fingerings that differ between instruments, so this chart stops at F♯6. Play palm-key notes with a steady, fast air stream rather than biting the reed.
How do you play low B♭, B, C and C♯ on the sax?
Low notes add little finger keys to the D fingering (all six main keys). Low C uses the right little finger C key; low C♯, B and B♭ use the left little finger keys, and the standard chart keeps the right little finger on the low C key for those notes too.
Low notes need a relaxed mouth and slow, warm air. If they will not sound, check that every pad closes – a small leak stops the lowest notes first.
More fingering charts and music tools
The fingering charts are Classfern's own, written from the standard published basic fingerings; there are often other fingerings for the same note, and your teacher may prefer one of them. Mr Chopin and Miss Clara Schumann are Classfern's own cartoon characters, named in honour of the composers Frédéric Chopin and Clara Schumann – they are not portraits of the real people.
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