Written B♭3–F♯6 · E♭ alto saxophone

Alto Sax Fingering Chart

Choose the note in your music to see exactly which controls to press, what concert pitch sounds, and what changes into the next note.

Current written note

G4

Treble staff: written G4

Written
G4
Sounds as
B♭3
Keywork
Lower register

Alto sax is in E♭: concert pitch sounds nine semitones below written pitch.

Player view

Controls to press

Player-view G4 fingering: press the left-hand index, middle, and ring pearls.

Synthesized 12-TET reference tone; no recording or autoplay.

Source-verified result

Primary fingering

3 controls

Standard fingering.

Press these controls

Left-hand index pearl (B key), left-hand middle pearl (A key), left-hand ring pearl (G key).

  • LH 1
  • LH 2
  • LH 3

Cross-checked against Yamaha and Woodwind Fingering Guide. Review sources

Same reviewed dataset · text and print fallback

Complete keyed range

Thirty-two universal keyed notes run from written B♭3 to F6. Written F♯6 is included only for a saxophone fitted with a High-F♯ key. Altissimo is intentionally excluded.

Open the 33-note text reference
Primary alto sax fingerings, written B-flat 3 through conditional F-sharp 6
WrittenConcertPlayer controls pressedLimit
Bb3 / A#3D♭3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key), Left-pinky low B-flat key, Right-pinky low C keyUniversal keyed range
B3D3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key), Left-pinky low B key, Right-pinky low C keyUniversal keyed range
C4E♭3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key), Right-pinky low C keyUniversal keyed range
Db4 / C#4E3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key), Left-pinky low C-sharp key, Right-pinky low C keyUniversal keyed range
D4F3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key)Universal keyed range
Eb4 / D#4G♭3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key), Right-pinky low E-flat keyUniversal keyed range
E4G3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key)Universal keyed range
F4A♭3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key)Universal keyed range
Gb4 / F#4A3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key)Universal keyed range
G4B♭3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key)Universal keyed range
Ab4 / G#4B3Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Left-pinky G-sharp keyUniversal keyed range
A4C4Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key)Universal keyed range
Bb4 / A#4D♭4Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Right-hand side B-flat keyUniversal keyed range
B4D4Left-hand index pearl (B key)Universal keyed range
C5E♭4Left-hand middle pearl (A key)Universal keyed range
Db5 / C#5E4No player controls pressed; this is the open fingering.Universal keyed range
D5F4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key)Universal keyed range
Eb5 / D#5G♭4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key), Right-hand ring pearl (D key), Right-pinky low E-flat keyUniversal keyed range
E5G4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key)Universal keyed range
F5A♭4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand index pearl (F key)Universal keyed range
Gb5 / F#5A4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Right-hand middle pearl (E key)Universal keyed range
G5B♭4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key)Universal keyed range
Ab5 / G#5B4Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Left-hand ring pearl (G key), Left-pinky G-sharp keyUniversal keyed range
A5C5Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key)Universal keyed range
Bb5 / A#5D♭5Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key), Left-hand middle pearl (A key), Right-hand side B-flat keyUniversal keyed range
B5D5Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand index pearl (B key)Universal keyed range
C6E♭5Left-thumb octave key, Left-hand middle pearl (A key)Universal keyed range
Db6 / C#6E5Left-thumb octave keyUniversal keyed range
D6F5Left-thumb octave key, Left palm D keyUniversal keyed range
Eb6 / D#6G♭5Left-thumb octave key, Left palm D key, Left palm E-flat keyUniversal keyed range
E6G5Left-thumb octave key, Left palm D key, Left palm E-flat key, Right-hand side E keyUniversal keyed range
F6A♭5Left-thumb octave key, Left palm D key, Left palm E-flat key, Left palm F key, Right-hand side E keyUniversal keyed range
Gb6 / F#6A5Left-thumb octave key, Left palm D key, Left palm E-flat key, Left palm F key, Right-hand side E key, High F-sharp key (if fitted)Requires a High-F♯ key

How to read the result

The drawing shows controls, not every closed pad

Player view. Main pearls sit in the center. Palm, side, and pinky controls are called out beside their physical zones so they do not disappear behind perspective.

Written first. Select the note printed in alto-sax music. The sounding concert pitch is derived nine semitones lower and is what the reference tone plays.

Alternates need context. A variant is never labelled simply “better.” Compare may identify fewer moving controls; tone and intonation still depend on the passage and instrument.

High F♯ is conditional. Some altos have a dedicated High-F♯ key and some do not. No unsupported non-keyed fallback is presented as standard.

Music-stand view

Written G4 fingering

Press LH 1, LH 2, LH 3.

Information