Soprano sax fingering chart
On a B♭ soprano saxophone, written C5 uses only the left middle finger, without the octave key, and sounds B♭4. The chart names the written notes on your soprano part, from low B♭3 to C6, and shows the concert pitch alongside.
Fingering chart
On a B♭ soprano saxophone, written C5 uses the left middle finger, without the octave key, and sounds B♭4.
| Written note | Finger position |
|---|---|
| A♯3/B♭3 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, C, B♭ |
| B3 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, C, B |
| C4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, C |
| C♯4/D♭4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, C, C♯ |
| D4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| D♯4/E♭4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, E♭ |
| E4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| F4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| F♯4/G♭4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| G4 | Press: 1, 2, 3 |
| G♯4/A♭4 | Press: 1, 2, 3, G♯ |
| A4 | Press: 1, 2 |
| A♯4/B♭4 | Press: 1, B♭ |
| B4 | Press: 1 |
| C5 | Press: 2 |
| C♯5/D♭5 | All open |
| D5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8va |
| D♯5/E♭5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8va, E♭ |
| E5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8va |
| F5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8va |
| F♯5/G♭5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8va |
| G5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 8va |
| G♯5/A♭5 | Press: 1, 2, 3, 8va, G♯ |
| A5 | Press: 1, 2, 8va |
| A♯5/B♭5 | Press: 1, 8va, B♭ |
| B5 | Press: 1, 8va |
| C6 | Press: 2, 8va |
How to use it
- Check the selected instrument; the page opens with the B♭ soprano saxophone named in the title.
- Choose a staff note, list entry or keyboard key. Filled circles show the keys to press.
- Use Hear the note to compare pitches; the microphone switches off before playback to avoid feedback.
- Enable the microphone, allow access and play a single note without accompaniment. Let the reading settle.
- Match the A reference to your lesson or ensemble, then use Print / PDF to save the chart.
Help and explanations
If you already play alto or tenor, the fingerings will look familiar: the saxophone family shares one key system, so a written note uses the same keys on every size. Straight and curved sopranos are fingered the same way too. What changes is the sound. The soprano is pitched in B♭, one whole tone below the written note, and it reacts quickly to small changes in air and mouth shape.
Reading the diagram
Numbers 1–3 are the left-hand fingers and 4–6 the right-hand fingers, counted from the top of the instrument. 8va marks the octave key under the left thumb. Other labels name extra keys: C is the low C key under the right little finger, B and B♭ are the low keys under the left little finger, and bis B♭ is the small key next to the left index finger. The lowest entries, written B♭3, B3 and C4, use all six fingers plus one or two of these little-finger keys.
From written D5 upwards the octave key joins the finger patterns used an octave lower, so D4 and D5 differ only by the thumb. On soprano the top of the chart can easily go sharp; listen to the reference sound and keep the jaw relaxed instead of biting the reed.
Soprano pitch and what the chart covers
A B♭ soprano part sounds a major second lower than written, the same transposition as a tenor saxophone but one octave higher. Written C5 is B♭4 on the piano and written G4 is F4. The microphone hears the sounding note and converts it to the written soprano note, which helps when you tune with a keyboard player.
The chart stops at written C6. Palm-key D6 to F6, the high G key found on some sopranos and altissimo fingerings are not included yet. Use the soprano sax tuner for long tones and intonation checks.
Tips
- Start in the middle register, written G4 to C5, before working down to low B♭.
- Take in a little less mouthpiece than on alto; the soprano reacts to small changes.
- If a low note will not speak, check that the pads close fully before blowing harder.
- Print the chart and add the alternate fingerings your teacher uses.
Frequently asked questions
Is soprano sax fingering the same as alto sax?
Yes. A written note uses the same keys on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Only the sounding pitch changes.
Do curved and straight sopranos have different fingerings?
No. The key system is the same; the shape changes the feel and the sound, not the fingering.
What concert note is written C on soprano sax?
Written C5 sounds B♭4, one whole tone lower.
What is the lowest note on the chart?
Written B♭3, with all six fingers, the low C key and the low B♭ key.
Can I get a soprano sax fingering chart as a PDF?
Use Print / PDF with soprano sax selected. The saved chart lists written B♭3 to C6.