Alto Saxophone Fingering Chart
The alto saxophone is an E♭ instrument. Notes are shown in written pitch — the note names you read on the page. Concert pitch is shown alongside for reference.
For the full transposition reference, see the alto saxophone transposition guide.
How to Read This Chart
Each diagram shows a simplified view of the instrument's keys:
- Filled circle (black) — key covered or pressed
- Open circle (white) — key left open
- Small circles — side keys (trill keys, G#, Bb, etc.)
- Main holes are numbered 1–6 (left hand: 1–3, right hand: 4–6)
Standard Fingerings
| Written | Concert | Keys Pressed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb3 / A#3 | Db3 / C#3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + low-Bb + 4 + 5 + 6 + low-C | Low Bb (concert Db3) — written Bb3; all keys + low-Bb (left) + low-C (right) |
| B3 | D3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + low-B + 4 + 5 + 6 + low-C | Low B (concert D3) — written B3; all keys + low-B + low-C |
| C4 | Eb3 / D#3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + low-C | Low C (concert Eb3) — written C4; all 6 main keys + low-C (right) |
| C#4 | E3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + low-C# + 4 + 5 + 6 + low-C | Low C# (concert E3) — written C#4; all keys + low-C# + low-C |
| D4 | F3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 | D (concert F3) — written D4; all 6 main keys, no low keys |
| D#4 / Eb4 | F#3 / Gb3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + Eb | Eb (concert F#3) — written Eb4; all 6 keys + Eb side key |
| E4 | G3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 | E (concert G3) — written E4; LH all + RH index+middle (lift RH ring) |
| F4 | Ab3 / G#3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 | F (concert Ab3) — written F4; LH all + RH index only |
| F#4 | A3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 | F# (concert A3) — written F#4; LH all + RH middle only (fork fingering) |
| G4 | Bb3 / A#3 | 1 + 2 + 3 | G (concert Bb3) — written G4; LH all 3 only, RH open |
| G#4 | B3 | 1 + 2 + 3 + G# | G# (concert B3) — written G#4; LH all + G# side key |
| A4 | C4 | 1 + 2 | A (concert C4) — written A4; LH index+middle only |
| Bb4 / A#4 | Db4 / C#4 | 1 + 2 + Bb-side | Bb (concert Db4) — written Bb4; LH 1+2 + Bb side key (primary) |
| B4 | D4 | 1 | B (concert D4) — written B4; LH index only |
| C5 | Eb4 / D#4 | 2 | C (concert Eb4) — written C5; LH middle only (or alt: LH index + side C key) |
| C#5 | E4 | Open (no valves) | C# (concert E4) — written C#5; all holes open |
| D5 | F4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 | D (concert F4) — written D5; octave key + all 6 main keys; 2nd register |
| D#5 / Eb5 | F#4 / Gb4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + Eb | Eb (concert F#4) — written Eb5; octave + all 6 + Eb key |
| E5 | G4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 | E (concert G4) — written E5; octave + LH all + RH 1+2 |
| F5 | Ab4 / G#4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 | F (concert Ab4) — written F5; octave + LH all + RH index |
| F#5 | A4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 | F# (concert A4) — written F#5; octave + LH all + RH middle |
| G5 | Bb4 / A#4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 | G (concert Bb4) — written G5; octave + LH all 3 |
| G#5 | B4 | oct + 1 + 2 + 3 + G# | G# (concert B4) — written G#5; octave + LH all + G# key |
| A5 | C5 | oct + 1 + 2 | A (concert C5) — written A5; octave + LH index+middle |
| Bb5 / A#5 | Db5 / C#5 | oct + 1 + 2 + Bb-side | Bb (concert Db5) — written Bb5; octave + LH 1+2 + Bb side key |
| B5 | D5 | oct + 1 | B (concert D5) — written B5; octave + LH index only |
| C6 | Eb5 / D#5 | oct + 2 | C (concert Eb5) — written C6; octave + LH middle |
| C#6 | E5 | oct | C# (concert E5) — written C#6; octave key only |
| D6 | F5 | oct + D-palm | D (concert F5) — written D6; octave + D palm key |
| D#6 / Eb6 | F#5 / Gb5 | oct + Eb-palm + D-palm | Eb (concert F#5) — written Eb6; octave + Eb palm + D palm keys |
| E6 | G5 | oct + Eb-palm + D-palm + E-side | E (concert G5) — written E6; octave + Eb+D palm + E side key |
| F6 | Ab5 / G#5 | oct + F-palm + Eb-palm + D-palm + E-side | F (concert Ab5) — written F6; octave + all palm keys; highest standard note |
High Register / Altissimo
Altissimo fingerings require advanced embouchure control. These notes are highly variable by instrument and player — use as a starting point and consult your instrument's specific fingering guide.
| Written | Concert | Keys Pressed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F#6 | A5 | oct + oct + 1 + 2 | Altissimo A5 — two octave keys technique; varies significantly by player and reed |
| G6 | Bb5 | oct + oct + 1 | Altissimo Bb5 — double octave approach; embouchure-dependent |
| G#6 | B5 | oct + 1 + 3 | Altissimo B5 — Rascher/Sinta approach; varies by player |
| A6 | C6 | oct + oct | Altissimo C6 — advanced; consult Sinta's altissimo resource for player-specific fingerings |
Sources: Larry Teal — The Art of Saxophone Playing; fingering positions confirmed against wfg.woodwind.org/sax; Donald Sinta / Joe Allard — Barrick Stees altissimo resource
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