Every beginner saxophone student can benefit from a fingering chart. Whether you’re playing the alto, baritone, tenor or soprano sax, get to know the basics of which finger to press on which note to ensure accuracy. Learning these saxophone fingering techniques early will put you in good stead for playing more advanced tunes.
Although it might seem uncomfortable at first, the key thing to remember is to avoid trying to look at your fingers. Each finger presses one key only, so once your hand is in the correct position, there is no need to look. Find your thumb positions and your hand will naturally find the correct position - that's how well designed the saxophone is!
Basic Saxophone Fingering
As a beginner the sheer number of keys visible on the saxophone can be overwhelming. It's easy to lose track of which keys correspond to which note. Saxophone fingering charts can contain so much information that it can be counter productive. That is why we've included this basic alto saxophone fingering chart streamlined for beginners to show notes in the order they are usually taught.
This guide is limited to just the basic and essential notes, so if you are looking for a complete listing of all regular saxophone note positions, please do scroll down the page to find our comprehensive guide. Click on the button below to download your printable saxophone fingering chart pdf:
Full Saxophone Fingering Chart
As an intermediate player, you may need to check a fingering for a certain note, or need an alternate saxophone fingering for Bb. Alternate fingerings are very important to establish a smooth and flexible technique - using the correct fingering in the correct context is vital to achieving this. Our full fingering chart below is downloadable in PDF format, with full enharmonic equivalence (whether notes are written as either a sharp or a flat):
How to get a Low A from a Baritone Saxophone
The low A is probably the most fun and satisfying note to play on a saxophone! Apart from the vibrations that fill your body, and the feeling of sheer power you get from playing this note, it's a mainstay of many classic big band arrangements. The Baritone saxophone Low A key is located below the left thumb pad on the back of the saxophone. It has a similar appearance to the octave key, but is orientated below the thumb pad instead of above it.
How Can I Practise Saxophone Fingering
The first thing to remember is that saxophone fingerings are the same for all sizes of saxophones (excluding the advanced altissimo fingerings, which differ from individual instrument models). So whether you are looking for a soprano, alto, tenor or baritone saxophone fingering chart, the basic fingerings in our guide will be applicable to all instruments.
In terms of practical advice, there are two elements to developing familiarity and confidence with saxophone fingerings. These are note recognition (from reading music) and physical movement. The aspiring saxophone student must develop these two abilities separately. Most students struggle with one or both aspects of this. First, ensure you are able to recognise notes on the page easily. This can be done by reading the notes of a passage of music aloud. Click here to see our comprehensive guide on sight-reading which explains this in detail.
Once you've established that you are able to read and recognise notes on the page clearly, you must equate this ability with physical movements on the saxophone. Combine reading the notes aloud with fingering the notes on the saxophone. Try to do this in time, even if it at a very slow pace. This practice technique will help ensure that you develop a clear understanding of the physical movements required, and will ensure you do not develop any confusion in your muscle memory when fingering the saxophone.
How do I Book Private Saxophone Lessons?
Do you need help with using the saxophone fingering chart, or practising saxophone fingerings securely? Just visit our Saxophone Lessons Page to find out more, or click the link below if you're ready to get in touch and start taking private saxophone lessons!