Tenor Saxophone

Quick Facts

Instrument Key
B-flat
Transposition Interval
Major 9th down (octave + major 2nd)
Written C sounds as
Bb2
Instrument Family
woodwind
Instrument Page
Tenor Saxophone on Tunable

Written vs. Sounding Pitch — Frequency Table

Each row shows a written pitch (as it appears in the score) and the concert-pitch note that sounds when played. Frequencies are equal temperament at A4=440Hz.

Written Note Written Hz Sounding Note Sounding Hz
C4 261.63 Hz Bb2 116.54 Hz
D4 293.66 Hz C3 130.81 Hz
E4 329.63 Hz D3 146.83 Hz
F4 349.23 Hz Eb3 155.56 Hz
G4 392.00 Hz F3 174.61 Hz
A4 440.00 Hz G3 196.00 Hz
B4 493.88 Hz A3 220.00 Hz
C5 523.25 Hz Bb3 233.08 Hz

Key Signature Conversion Table

When the conductor names a concert key, this table shows what key signature the Tenor Saxophone player reads. The player reads the written key; the audience hears the sounding key.

Written Key (Player Reads) Sounding Key (Concert Pitch)
D major C major
A major G major
E major D major
B major A major
F# major E major
C# major B major
Ab major F# major
G major F major
C major Bb major
F major Eb major
Bb major Ab major
Eb major Db major

Practical Scenarios

Jazz Saxophone Section: Concert Pitch F

The alto saxophone is playing a concert-pitch F4. The tenor saxophone plays the same written note (C4 written) but sounds Bb2 — two octaves below. Wait: to sound the same F4 concert pitch as the alto, the tenor plays a written G4 (sounds F3, one octave below). Part-writing must account for the octave displacement.

Reading Treble vs. Bass Clef Parts

The tenor saxophone always reads treble clef with Bb transposition, but sounds in the baritone voice range. A pianist seeing the tenor part must mentally transpose down a major 9th (major 2nd + octave) to find the concert pitch.

Tuning with a Tuner: Target Concert Pitch

The band is tuning to concert Bb3 (233.08 Hz). The tenor saxophone player tunes their written C4 (261.63 Hz written, sounds Bb2 = 116.54 Hz). For concert Bb3, the player must play written C5 — sounds Bb3 (233.08 Hz).

Why Does the Tenor Saxophone Transpose?

The tenor saxophone sounds an octave lower than the soprano saxophone — both are in Bb but in different registers. This octave displacement within the Bb key group is a deliberate part of the saxophone family design. Adolphe Sax paired larger instruments with the same transposition key but in the lower octave, so the written range of all Bb saxophones (soprano and tenor) is identical on paper, despite sounding an octave apart. The tenor's rich, full sound made it the central voice of jazz saxophone sections from the 1920s onward.

Tune Your Tenor Saxophone with Precision — Get Tunable.

Tunable's chromatic tuner shows exact Hz values in real time. Tune to equal temperament A4=440Hz or explore all 16 temperament systems.

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Related Instruments

Soprano Saxophone same key group (Bb) Alto Saxophone same family (saxophone) Baritone Saxophone same family (saxophone)

How to Transpose for B-flat Instruments

All Transposing Instruments · Circle of Fifths · Keys Reference · Temperament Systems