First 5 Notes

Tenor Saxophone Fingering Chart

Every note from low B-flat to high F (written B♭3 to F6). 32 notes, each with its staff notation and its fingering. Free to view, no sign-in.

New players: start with the five notes marked First 5.

Notes are shown as written for tenor saxophone. B♭ instrument: sounds a major 9th lower than written.

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Tenor Saxophone notes, low to high

    1. B♭3

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for B-flat 3 (B♭3): All six + right low C + left B♭

      All six + right low C + left B♭

      Sounds concert A♭2.

      B-flat 3. Also written A♯3 (A-sharp 3).

      Step by step
      • Press all six main keys. Right pinky: low C. Left pinky: low B♭.
      Check it

    2. B3

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for B3: All six + right low C + left B

      All six + right low C + left B

      Sounds concert A2.

      Step by step
      • Press all six main keys. Right pinky: low C. Left pinky: low B.
      Check it

    3. C4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for C4: All six + pinky low C

      All six + pinky low C

      Sounds concert B♭2.

      Step by step
      • All six fingers plus the right pinky low C key.
      Check it

    4. C♯4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for C-sharp 4 (C♯4): All six + right low C + left C♯

      All six + right low C + left C♯

      Sounds concert B2.

      C-sharp 4. Also written D♭4 (D-flat 4).

      Step by step
      • Press all six main keys. Right pinky: low C. Left pinky: low C♯.
      Check it

    1. D4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for D4: All six fingers

      All six fingers

      Sounds concert C3.

      Step by step
      • Left 1,2,3 and right 1,2,3 - no octave key.
      Check it

    2. E♭4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for E-flat 4 (E♭4): All six + pinky E♭

      All six + pinky E♭

      Sounds concert D♭3.

      E-flat 4. Also written D♯4 (D-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • All six fingers plus the right pinky E♭ key.
      Check it

    3. E4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for E4: Left 1,2,3 + right 1,2

      Left 1,2,3 + right 1,2

      Sounds concert D3.

      Step by step
      • Left three fingers, right first and second.
      Check it

    4. F4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for F4: Left 1,2,3 + right 1

      Left 1,2,3 + right 1

      Sounds concert E♭3.

      Step by step
      • Left three fingers, right first finger.
      Check it

    1. F♯4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for F-sharp 4 (F♯4): Left 1,2,3 + right 2

      Left 1,2,3 + right 2

      ALT

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for F-sharp 4 (F♯4): Left 1, 2, 3, right 1, side F♯ key

      Left 1, 2, 3, right 1, side F♯ key

      Sounds concert E3.

      F-sharp 4. Also written G♭4 (G-flat 4).

      Step by step
      • Left three fingers, right middle finger.
      Check it

    2. G4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for G4: Left 1,2,3

      Left 1,2,3

      Sounds concert F3.

      Step by step
      • Left three fingers.
      Check it

    3. A♭4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for A-flat 4 (A♭4): Left 1,2,3 + pinky G♯

      Left 1,2,3 + pinky G♯

      Sounds concert G♭3.

      A-flat 4. Also written G♯4 (G-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • Left three fingers plus the left pinky G♯ key.
      Check it

    1. A4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for A4: Left 1,2

      Left 1,2

      Sounds concert G3.

      Step by step
      • Left first and second fingers.
      Check it

    2. B♭4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for B-flat 4 (B♭4): Left 1, 2 + bottom side key (side B♭)

      Left 1, 2 + bottom side key (side B♭)

      ALT 1

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for B-flat 4 (B♭4): Left 1, bis B♭ key

      Left 1, bis B♭ key

      ALT 2

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for B-flat 4 (B♭4): Left 1 + right 1 (one-and-one)

      Left 1 + right 1 (one-and-one)

      Sounds concert A♭3.

      B-flat 4. Also written A♯4 (A-sharp 4).

      Step by step
      • Left hand: first and second fingers, as for A. Right hand: press the bottom of the three side keys with the side of your first finger.
      Check it

    1. B4

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for B4: Left 1

      Left 1

      Sounds concert A3.

      Step by step
      • Left first finger only - no octave key.
      Check it

    2. C5

      First 5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for C5: Left 2 (middle finger)

      Left 2 (middle finger)

      ALT

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for C5: Left 1, side C key

      Left 1, side C key

      Sounds concert B♭3.

      Step by step
      • Left hand: second (middle) finger down only.
      • No octave key. Everything else open.
      Check it

    3. C♯5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for C-sharp 5 (C♯5): Open - no keys

      Open - no keys

      Sounds concert B3.

      C-sharp 5. Also written D♭5 (D-flat 5).

      Step by step
      • Nothing pressed - middle C♯ is completely open.
      Check it

    1. D5

      First 5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for D5: Octave key + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2, 3

      Octave key + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2, 3

      Sounds concert C4.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb presses the octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, third fingers down. Right hand: first, second, third fingers down.
      Check it

    2. E♭5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for E-flat 5 (E♭5): Octave + all six + pinky E♭

      Octave + all six + pinky E♭

      Sounds concert D♭4.

      E-flat 5. Also written D♯5 (D-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Octave key, all six fingers, right pinky E♭.
      Check it

    3. E5

      First 5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for E5: Octave key + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Octave key + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1, 2

      Sounds concert D4.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb presses the octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, third fingers down. Right hand: first and second fingers down.
      Check it

    4. F5

      First 5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for F5: Octave key + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      Octave key + left 1, 2, 3 + right 1

      Sounds concert E♭4.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb presses the octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, third fingers down. Right hand: first finger down.
      Check it

    1. F♯5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for F-sharp 5 (F♯5): Octave + left 1,2,3 + right 2

      Octave + left 1,2,3 + right 2

      ALT

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for F-sharp 5 (F♯5): Octave key, left 1, 2, 3, right 1, side F♯ key

      Octave key, left 1, 2, 3, right 1, side F♯ key

      Sounds concert E4.

      F-sharp 5. Also written G♭5 (G-flat 5).

      Step by step
      • Octave key, left three fingers, right middle finger.
      Check it

    2. G5

      First 5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for G5: Octave key + left 1, 2, 3

      Octave key + left 1, 2, 3

      Sounds concert F4.

      Step by step
      • Left thumb presses the octave key.
      • Left hand: first, second, third fingers down. Right hand open.
      Check it

    3. A♭5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for A-flat 5 (A♭5): Octave + left 1,2,3 + pinky G♯

      Octave + left 1,2,3 + pinky G♯

      Sounds concert G♭4.

      A-flat 5. Also written G♯5 (G-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Octave key, left three fingers, left pinky G♯.
      Check it

    1. A5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for A5: Octave + left 1,2

      Octave + left 1,2

      Sounds concert G4.

      Step by step
      • Octave key, left first and second fingers.
      Check it

    2. B♭5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for B-flat 5 (B♭5): Octave key, left 1, 2 + bottom side key (side B♭)

      Octave key, left 1, 2 + bottom side key (side B♭)

      ALT 1

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for B-flat 5 (B♭5): Octave key, left 1, bis B♭ key

      Octave key, left 1, bis B♭ key

      ALT 2

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for B-flat 5 (B♭5): Octave + left 1 + right 1 (one-and-one)

      Octave + left 1 + right 1 (one-and-one)

      Sounds concert A♭4.

      B-flat 5. Also written A♯5 (A-sharp 5).

      Step by step
      • Left hand: first and second fingers, as for A. Right hand: press the bottom of the three side keys with the side of your first finger. Press the octave key.
      Check it

    1. B5

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for B5: Octave + left 1

      Octave + left 1

      Sounds concert A4.

      Step by step
      • Octave key and the left first finger.
      Check it

    2. C6

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for C6: Octave + left 2

      Octave + left 2

      ALT

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for C6: Octave key, left 1, side C key

      Octave key, left 1, side C key

      Sounds concert B♭4.

      Step by step
      • Octave key and the left middle finger.
      Check it

    3. C♯6

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for C-sharp 6 (C♯6): Octave key only

      Octave key only

      Sounds concert B4.

      C-sharp 6. Also written D♭6 (D-flat 6).

      Step by step
      • Octave key and nothing else. Every finger lifts.
      Check it

    1. D6

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for D6: Octave + palm D

      Octave + palm D

      Sounds concert C5.

      Step by step
      • Octave key and the D palm key, pressed with the side of the left hand near the first finger. No other fingers.
      Check it

    2. E♭6

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for E-flat 6 (E♭6): Octave + palm D + palm E♭

      Octave + palm D + palm E♭

      Sounds concert D♭5.

      E-flat 6. Also written D♯6 (D-sharp 6).

      Step by step
      • Octave key, the D palm key, and the E♭ palm key just above it.
      Check it

    3. E6

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for E6: Octave + palm D + palm E♭ + side E

      Octave + palm D + palm E♭ + side E

      ALT

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for E6: Octave key, front F key, left 2, 3

      Octave key, front F key, left 2, 3

      Sounds concert D5.

      Step by step
      • Octave key, the D and E♭ palm keys, and the top side key (high E) with the right hand.
      Check it

    1. F6

      Tenor Saxophone fingering for F6: Octave + palm D + palm E♭ + palm F + side E

      Octave + palm D + palm E♭ + palm F + side E

      ALT

      Tenor Saxophone alternate fingering for F6: Octave key, front F key, left 2

      Octave key, front F key, left 2

      Sounds concert E♭5.

      Step by step
      • Octave key, all three palm keys (D, E♭ and F), and the top side key (high E).
      Check it

Practice these notes

The tenor saxophone learning path takes these notes a few at a time: name the note, find the fingering, then play it into the microphone. The first five notes are free to practice, with no account. The microphone only listens while you play, and nothing is recorded.

Start the tenor saxophone learning path

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