Every note from low B♭ to the altissimo — written and concert pitch, with a key diagram for each. From the studio of a Henri Selmer Paris artist.
⚠️ Draft prototype. Layout, branding and structure are final; the fingerings shown are sourced from a reference library and are pending verification by Prof. Thomas Hornig before this page is published.
Quick answer. The alto saxophone is an E♭ transposing instrument — it sounds a major sixth lower than written. Its standard written range is B♭3–F♯6 (sounding concert D♭3–A5); notes above that are the altissimo / K-register. The full fingering chart is below, grouped by range, each note showing its written name, its concert pitch, and which keys to press.
key pressedkey openaltissimo
Normal range
Written B♭3 to F♯6 — the everyday range of the instrument.
Bb3sounds Db3
LH 1·2·3 + B♭ pinky | RH 1·2·3 + low C
Lowest note on the alto. ● beginner
B3sounds D3
LH 1·2·3 + B pinky | RH 1·2·3 + low C
Low B. ● beginner
C4sounds Eb3
LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2·3 + low C
Low C. ● beginner
C#4sounds E3
LH 1·2·3 + C# pinky | RH 1·2·3
Low C#. ● beginner
D4sounds F3
LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2·3
Low D — all six fingers down. ● beginner
Eb4sounds F#3
LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2·3 + E♭ pinky
Low E♭. ● beginner
E4sounds G3
LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2
Low E. ● beginner
F4sounds Ab3
LH 1·2·3 | RH 1
Low F. ● beginner
F#4sounds A3
LH 1·2·3 | RH 2 only
Low F#. ● beginner
G4sounds Bb3
LH 1·2·3 | RH open
Low G. ● beginner
G#4sounds B3
LH 1·2·3 + G# pinky | RH open
Low G#. ● beginner
A4sounds C4
LH 1·2 | RH open
A. ● beginner
Bb4sounds Db4
LH 1·2 + bis | RH open
B♭ (bis key). ● beginner
B4sounds D4
LH 1 only | RH open
B. ● beginner
C5sounds Eb4
LH 2 only | RH open
C. ● beginner
C#5sounds E4
All open
C# — all fingers up. ● beginner
D5sounds F4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2·3
D (2nd octave). ● beginner
Eb5sounds F#4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2·3 + E♭
E♭ (2nd octave). ● beginner
E5sounds G4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 | RH 1·2
E (2nd octave). ● beginner
F5sounds Ab4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 | RH 1
F (2nd octave). ● beginner
F#5sounds A4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 | RH 2
F# (2nd octave). ● beginner
G5sounds Bb4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 | RH open
G (2nd octave). ● beginner
G#5sounds B4
Octave + LH 1·2·3 + G# | RH open
G# (2nd octave). ● beginner
A5sounds C5
Octave + LH 1·2 | RH open
A (2nd octave). ● beginner
Bb5sounds Db5
Octave + LH 1·2 + bis | RH open
B♭ (2nd octave). ● beginner
B5sounds D5
Octave + LH 1 | RH open
B (2nd octave). ● beginner
C6sounds Eb5
Octave + LH 2 | RH open
C (2nd octave). ● beginner
C#6sounds E5
Octave key only
C# (2nd octave). ● beginner
D6sounds F5
Octave + palm D
High D — palm key. ● intermediate
Eb6sounds F#5
Octave + palm D + E♭
High E♭ — palm keys. ● intermediate
E6sounds G5
Octave + palm D·E♭·E
High E — palm keys. ● intermediate
F6sounds Ab5
Octave + palm D·E♭·E·F
High F — all palm keys. ● intermediate
F#6sounds A5
Octave + all palm keys + RH 2
High F# — highest standard note. ● intermediate
Altissimo · the K-register
Above written F♯6. Overtone fingerings — firm embouchure, fast air. Practise as long tones.
G6sounds Bb5
Octave + LH 1·3 | RH 1
Altissimo G — first note above the staff range. ● advanced
G#6sounds B5
Octave + LH 1·3 | RH 1 + C
Altissimo G#. ● advanced
A6sounds C6
Octave + LH 2·3 | RH 1
Altissimo A. ● advanced
Bb6sounds Db6
Octave + LH 2·3 | RH 1·3
Altissimo B♭. ● advanced
B6sounds D6
Octave + palm D | RH 1
Altissimo B. ● advanced
C7sounds Eb6
Octave + palm D·E♭ | RH 1
Altissimo C. ● advanced
Useful alternative fingerings
Faster or smoother options for specific passages.
Bb4 (alt)sounds Db4
LH 1 + B♭ pinky | RH open
Side/long B♭ — for fast passages. ● intermediate
Bb4 (alt)sounds Db4
LH 1 | RH 1 (one-and-one)
One-and-one B♭. ● intermediate
C5 (alt)sounds Eb4
LH 1 + side C
Side C — useful in fast passages. ● intermediate
F#4 (alt)sounds A3
LH 1·2·3 | RH F# pinky
Pinky F#. ● intermediate
Now play these in every key.
Open The Whole Horn and choose Alto Saxophone — the 12 scales transpose automatically into the alto's written pitch, with a play-along metronome.
The alto saxophone's standard written range is B♭3 to F♯6. Because it is an E♭ instrument, that sounds a major sixth lower — concert D♭3 to A5. Notes above written F♯6 are the altissimo (K-register) and need advanced technique.
How does the alto saxophone transpose?
The alto saxophone is in E♭, so it sounds a major sixth lower than written. When an alto reads a written C, the concert pitch is E♭. To play a concert-pitch melody, an alto part is written a major sixth higher than it sounds.
What are the palm keys for?
The palm keys (D, E♭, E, F) sit on the upper body of the saxophone and are pressed with the heel/palm of the left hand. They produce the high written D6–F6 at the top of the standard range.
What is the altissimo or K-register?
Altissimo (often called the K-register) is the range above written F♯6. These notes use overtone fingerings and require a firm, focused embouchure and fast air. Practise them as long tones first.
How do I practise these notes in all 12 keys?
Open The Whole Horn app, choose Alto Saxophone, and the scales transpose automatically into the alto's written pitch — play along with the metronome in every key.
References & verification
Every fingering on this page is cross-referenced against standard published sources and reviewed by Prof. Thomas Hornig — Henri Selmer Paris artist — before publication. Where a modern instrument uses a different fingering than older charts, the modern fingering is preferred.
The Woodwind Fingering Guide — the long-standing standard online reference for saxophone fingerings, alternates, trills, and altissimo.
A fuller annex of authoritative method-book and library references accompanies the complete chart series. Fingerings shown here remain subject to the author's final verification before publication.