Alto sax fingering chart

The keys for every written note on an E♭ alto sax, from low B♭ (B♭3) to high F (F6). Filled circles are pressed keys: the small one is the octave key under your left thumb, then left-hand fingers 1 to 3 above the line and right-hand fingers 1 to 3 below it. Extra keys are listed under each note. Tap a note to hear it.

Every note

left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + low B♭ key (left pinky) · + low C key (right pinky) · sounds D♭3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + low B key (left pinky) · + low C key (right pinky) · sounds D3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + low C key (right pinky) · sounds E♭3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + low C♯ key (left pinky) · + low C key (right pinky) · sounds E3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · sounds F3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + low E♭ key (right pinky) · sounds G♭3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 · sounds G3
left 1 2 3 · right 1 · sounds A♭3
left 1 2 3 · right 2 · sounds A3
left 1 2 3 · sounds B♭3
left 1 2 3 · + G♯ key (left pinky) · sounds B3
left 1 2 · sounds C4
left 1 2 · + side B♭ key (right hand) · sounds D♭4
left 1 · sounds D4
left 2 · sounds E♭4
nothing pressed (open) · sounds E4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · sounds F4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 3 · + low E♭ key (right pinky) · sounds G♭4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · right 1 2 · sounds G4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · right 1 · sounds A♭4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · right 2 · sounds A4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · sounds B♭4
octave key · left 1 2 3 · + G♯ key (left pinky) · sounds B4
octave key · left 1 2 · sounds C5
octave key · left 1 2 · + side B♭ key (right hand) · sounds D♭5
octave key · left 1 · sounds D5
octave key · left 2 · sounds E♭5
octave key · sounds E5
octave key · + palm D key · sounds F5
octave key · + palm E♭ key · + palm D key · sounds G♭5
octave key · + palm E♭ key · + palm D key · + side E key (right hand) · sounds G5
octave key · + palm E♭ key · + palm D key · + palm F key · + side E key (right hand) · sounds A♭5

How to read it

The second octave (D5 to C♯6) uses the same fingers as the first, plus the octave key.
From D6 up, the palm keys take over: press them with the side of your left hand.
Alto sax music is written a major sixth higher than it sounds: a written C sounds as E♭ on the piano.

The notes our 102 alto sax songs use most: A4, G4, B4, D5, C5, F♯4 / G♭4.

Source: The Woodwind Fingering Guide, Saxophone basic fingering chart.

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Updated November 6, 2026