Saxophone Fingering Chart
Table of Contents
- Saxophone Fingering Chart
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- C note fingering on Saxophone
- B note fingering on Saxophone
- B♭ note fingering on Saxophone (A♯)
- The A note fingering on Saxophone
- The A♭ note fingering on Saxophone
- The G note fingering on Saxophone
- The F♯ note fingering on Saxophone
- The F note fingering on Saxophone
- The E note fingering on Saxophone
- The E♭ note fingering on Saxophone
- The D note fingering on Saxophone
- The C♯ note fingering on Saxophone
- Saxophone Fingerings
- Hand positions
- LEFT HAND position on Saxophone
- Palm Keys on Saxophone (left hand)
- RIGHT HAND position on Saxophone
- Side Keys on Saxophone (right hand)
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Hi there, I'm Greger Hillman and I'm a saxophone teacher who have been teaching saxophone for the past 20 years.
I've made a saxophone fingering chart that I always use with my sax students and you are welcome to use it too. It's the easiest way to learn all saxophone fingerings.
Make sure to Download the Saxophone Fingering Chart PDF and watch the videos below to see exactly how finger each note on saxophone.
Play On!
Greger Hillman, your friendly saxophone teacher online
C note fingering on Saxophone
The C note on Saxophone is one of the easier notes to play.
- High C: Left hand middle finger › press middle key › Octave key with left thumb
- Middle C: Left hand middle finger › press middle key
- Low C: Left hand 3 main keys (B-A-G). Right hand 3 main keys (F-E-D) and the pinky on lowest pinky key.
B note fingering on Saxophone
The B note on Saxophone is one of the first notes beginners learn to play.
- High B: Left hand index finger › press top main key › Octave key with left thumb
- Middle B: Left hand index finger › press top main key
- Low B: Left hand 3 main keys (B-A-G) and left pinky on B plate key. Right hand 3 main keys (F-E-D) and the pinky on lowest pinky key.
B♭ note fingering on Saxophone (A♯)
The B flat note on Saxophone has both regular and alternate fingerings. The fingerings are the same for B♭ and A♯ on your sax.
- High B♭ : Left hand index- and middle fingers (B-A) and octave key (left thumb) › Right hand first side key (B flat key)
- Middle B♭: Left hand index- and middle fingers ( B-A) › Right hand first side key (Bb)
- Low B ♭: Left hand index-, middle- and ring finger (B-A-G) on the 3 main keys with the B♭ plate pinky key. Right hand index-, middle- and ring finger (F-E-D) with the low C pinky key.
The A note fingering on Saxophone
The A note on Saxophone is one of the easiest notes to play.
- High A: Left hand index- and middle fingers (B-A keys) and the octave key with left thumb
- Middle A: Left hand index- and middle fingers (B-A keys).
- Low A: Nope! This can only be played on Bari Saxophones with Low A key.
The A♭ note fingering on Saxophone
The A flat note and G sharp (G♯) on Saxophone are fingered the same even though they are considered to be two different notes.
- High A flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G) and the top plate key with left hand pinky + octave key.
- Low A flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G) and the top plate key (G♯) with your left hand pinky.
The G note fingering on Saxophone
The G note on Saxophone is one of the first notes most saxophone beginners learn how to play.
- High G: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G keys). Add octave key with left thumb.
- Low G: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G keys)
The F♯ note fingering on Saxophone
The F sharp note on Saxophone has both regular and alternate fingerings in all three octaves that are really good to know. The fork F sharp fingering along others. See details for more.
- High F♯: Left hand 3 palm keys and octave key. Right hand top side key and the F sharp key.
- Middle F♯: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers. Right hand middle F sharp key with middle finger. Add octave key with left thumb.
- Low F♯: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers. Right hand middle F sharp key with middle finger.
The F note fingering on Saxophone
The F note on Saxophone is using just 4 keys in the basic fingering. However, there's also an alternate fork F fingering for high F.
- High F: Left hand octave key and 3 palm keys. Right hand top side key pressed with side of hand.
- Middle F: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index finger on F key (top key in right hand). Add octave key.
- Low F: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index finger on F key (top key in right hand).
The E note fingering on Saxophone
The E note on can be played in 3 octaves on Saxophone. There's also an alternate high E Fork fingering that is really useful to learn.
- High E: Left hand octave key and 2 palm keys (D and Eb keys). Right hand top side key pressed with side of hand.
- Middle E: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index- and middle fingers (F-E). Add octave key.
- Low E: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index- and middle fingers (F-E).
The E♭ note fingering on Saxophone
The E flat note on Saxophone and D sharp share the same fingerings
- High E flat: Left hand octave key and 2 palm keys (D and E flat)
- Middle E flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (F-E-D) and E flat pinky key. Add octave key.
- Low E flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (F-E-D) and E flat pinky key.
The D note fingering on Saxophone
The D note on Saxophone can be played in 3 octaves on the saxophone.
- High D: Left hand octave key and first palm key (D palm key).
- Middle D: Left hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys. Right hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys. Add octave key
- Low D: Left hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys. Right hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys.
The C♯ note fingering on Saxophone
The C ♯ note and D♭note share the same fingering on Saxophone and can be played in 3 octaves.
- High C♯: Octave key with left thumb
- Middle C♯: No keys pressed
- Low C♯: Left hand index-, middle and ring fingers + pinky on outer side plate C♯ key. Right hand index-, middle and ring fingers + pinky C key
Saxophone Fingerings
Saxophone neckstrap – the correct position
Avoid this common beginner sax mistake
Hand positions
Here's how to position and place your hands and fingers on the Saxophone. Make sure to get this right. It will make it easier to learn to finger all the notes on your saxophone.
Tip: If you palm your hand as a “Lego hand” it will help especially with your left hand fingerings
LEFT HAND position on Saxophone
- Place your thumb on the “Thumb plate” on the backside of the sax
- Palm your fingers around the body of the saxophone
- Place your index finger on the 2nd key from the top
- Place your middle finger on the 4th key from the top
- Place your ring finger on the 5th key from the top
Palm Keys on Saxophone (left hand)
However, If you are having trouble playing any other note on your saxophone you should double check that you are not accidentally pushing one of these palm keys by mistake.
It's a common issue that most beginner saxophone players run into before getting a hang on how to hold the saxophone correctly.
You use the palm keys to play the High D note , the High E flat note and the High F note on your saxophone.
RIGHT HAND position on Saxophone
- Place your thumb under the “Thumb grip” on the back of the sax
- Palm your fingers around the body so the rest on the keys
- Place your index finger on the 1st key from the top
- Place your middle finger on the 2th key from the top
- Place your ring finger on the 3th key from the top
Side Keys on Saxophone (right hand)
However, you need to make sure that you do not press them by accident as the do not work together with more that a few other fingerings. Keeping your hand formed like a lego hand helps preventing accidental side key play
You use these keys to play the B Flat note , The Alternate C fingering and the High E note on your saxophone.
