Fingering Chart for the Visually Impaired
This can be read by text readers.
On this page I will attempt to provide a fingering guide for the vision impaired. First, I number the fingers on your left hand, One, two and three. The index finger is number one, the middle finger is number two and the ring finger is number three. On the right hand, they are four, five and six. The index finger is number four. The middle finger is number five. The ring finger is number six. If you feel the left hand stack of keys, near the top of the body of the Saxophone, you will feel that there are five buttons. The top one is the front F key, the next one down is the B key, finger number one goes there. The next one down is smaller than the rest, that is the bis B flat key. For the Bis B flat fingering you cover both the B key and the Bis B flat key with finger number one. The next one down is the C key, finger number two. The next one is the G key, finger number three. Now find the thumb hook for your right thumb. It is on the lower part of the horn, in the back. Put your right thumb under this thumb hook. Finger number four goes on the top most key (pearl), that is the F key. Finger number five goes on the next one down. That is the E key. Finger number six goes on the next key down. That is the D key. That leaves your left pinky to operate the left hand plate keys and your right hand is free to operate the right hand spatula keys. Also, if you have a sighted friend to help you, I have a fingering chart here you may want to refer to. Try to keep your hands and fingers as relaxed as possible and your fingers close to the keys at all times.
| Low B flat | 1,2,3,4,5,6, right hand pinky on the bottom most key on the right hand spatula keys, and left hand pinky on the lowest key on the left hand table keys. |
| Low B | 1,2,3,4,5,6, right hand pinky on the bottom most key on the right hand spatula keys, and left hand pinky on the key above the Bb key closest to the bell of the Saxophone on the left hand table keys. |
| Low C | 1,2,3,4,5,6, right hand pinky on the bottom most key on the right hand spatula keys. |
| Low C# | 1,2,3,4,5,6, right hand pinky on the bottom most key on the right hand spatula keys. Add the left hand pinky to the key above the Bflat key furthest from the bell of the Saxophone. |
| D | 1,2,3,4,5,6. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| E flat | 1,2,3,4,5,6 and the right hand pinky on the top most key on the right hand spatula keys. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| E | 1,2,3,4,5. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| F | 1,2,3,4. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| F# | 1,2,3,5. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| G | 1,2,3. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| G# | 1,2,3 and the left hand pinky on the top most key on the left hand plate keys. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| A | 1,2. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| B flat | 1,2 and the side Bflat key. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| B | 1. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| C | 2. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| Middle C# | Nothing, all open. For the note an octave higher add the octave key with the left hand thumb, right above the thumb rest. |
| High D | Palm key number 1 and the octave key. |
| High D# | Palm keys number 1, 2 and the octave key. |
| High E | Palm keys number 1, 2 and the high E key with the right hand, and the octave key. |
| High F | Palm keys number 1, 2, 3 and the high E key with the right hand, and the octave key. |
There are two clusters of keys that you will need to know about. First there are the Palm keys. These are activated by your left hand. I number them one, two and three in relation to how close they are to your body as you are holding the horn. Number one is closest to you and number three is the furthest from you. The other set of keys you need to know about is activated with your right hand. They can be found half way between your right hand thumb and right hand fingers. You use the side of your right hand index finger for these keys. There are three of them. The top one is the high E key. The middle one is the side C key. If you are playing a B you can add this middle C key for a C, either octave. The lowest one is the side B flat key. If you are playing an A and you add this key, it will give you a B flat, either octave. I sure hope this helps you. I have done my best to make sure a text reader can read the text. Good luck and practice hard.
