You can get a PDF of this fingering chart included with the beginning saxophone class I made, saxstation.com/saxophone-foundations-beginning-saxophone-class
Thank you. I haven’t played my tenor sax in about 30 years . So some friends (brass section) of a former band decided to just pick up our horns again, just to mess around and reconnect. So...here we go...again!
Thank you for the slow and steady demonstration of the fingering for each note. I am a self-taught hobby player with acceptable standard, and I have never learned to read music either. Trying to figure out what keys for which note is a tedious process which is akin to starting out anew. So I ceased trying and continue on playing by ear. This video just might be the right medicine for me.
I just started tenor sax about a week ago for my middle school jazz band (switching from clarinet) and this video really helped me a lot with the fingerings! But sometimes when I try to play some notes below G, they start to go into the higher octave as if I'm using the octave key even though I'm not.
What happens if you move your finger slowly and go from G down to F#? It might be just a matter of practicing more. Possible there is an issue with your saxophone like a leak.
This might be a bit late, but maybe you're not playing loud enough / not putting enough air into it. From my understanding, the louder you play, the easier notes will come out. You might also hear this a lot but try dropping your jaw aswell. Don't drop it too much, you still want pressure on the reed, but you dont need as much pressure as you think you do
Picking my sax back up. This will be part of my new practice till I get my memory back.. X-marching tenor pulled my dinged up sax out. Thanks for making this!
This is great. I have not played the saxophone (tenor) since 1976. I am thinking about 🤔 Trying to play but my neighbors would burn my house 🏠 😫 down after the first day. Thank you very much.😊 🙋♂️🐈🌞🤜🤛👌👍🎷
Thanks MIchael. If you're aware of the time and conscious of your dynamics, your house might avoid the flames. And/or think of a different location you could practice at first.
@@SaxStation Thank you for the recommendation.😊 I being a bit humerus about the neighbors. But I live in a 55/ over community and the homes are manufactured homes. Rather thin walls. The first thing that I am most definitely have learn is obviously note Fingering And reading sheet music. I have a question sir , Should i focus on fingering or the reading of sheet music 🎼 🎶 and the Italian terms . 🤔 Thank you so very much. I have been very ill for several years and this would give me something to do and help keep my mind off things. A escape from the agony that a Occurs. You have ins
Maybe start with the fingerings for the notes and move into learning some songs fairly quickly. Think about learning some music by ear as well, that will give you more optoins and get you deeper into music.
This is really helpful! I’m just starting out with tenor sax, and I find that my notes sound higher than they should. Any tips on how to lower my pitch?
Keep practicing. Try holding notes and being aware of the sound of the notes. Part of the control is within your throat, which you learn to control, but it´s not immediate.
How important is having the left pinky finger to play the tenor sax? I played in junior high school for two years, but haven’t played in 20 years. I had an accident at work which resulted in the amputation of my left pinky finger. Do you think I would be able to learn to play without the finger?
You need your left pinky to play G# in both octaves as well as to play low C#, B, and Bb. Out of those notes, I would say G# is the most important. Not being able to play the lower notes would be inconvenient, but they're used a bit less than other notes. G#/Ab will be played in quite a few keys. So you could play in some keys, but you would basically be missing one note.
Hello sure what I was looking for was a video showing the fingering and everything that goes along with it for chromatic on a tenor. I did not know in your series if you offered that?
Hello. This has helped me to understand what keys to use for particular notes and I can get many of tgem out correctly. However, I cant get some of the octave notes out. I havent tried the really high ones yet, but D, with octave, for example does not match, when I try it. What am I doing wrong?
I played alto a while back, but pretty much self taught. I have a tenor now and recently picked it back up. I might want some one on one lessons. How does that work?
Go here to ask a question, thanks saxstation.com/ask-a-saxophone-question By providing some information I ask for on that page, you'll get a better answer to your question.
Hi, thanks for posting the video. I'm a guitarist (primarily) who decided to take up Saxophone. I also don't read charts.. I do understand theory I've been been trying to augment my show. I wonder if you've posted any vids about Pentatonic Maj/min and scales and soloing within that realm.
Thanks Jahshira. It can take a while to get the low notes on tenor. Don't be discouraged if you don't get them in the first day, week, etc. What is the lowest note you can play comfortably?
This is great! I am very good at flute so I want to learn another instrument. Im getting a tenor saxophone in 2 weeks. I have never played a saxophone before. How do i make a sound? Thanks! Edit: Most of the fingerings for the notes are the same a flute’s, this will be fun!
Basically, you can start by putting the ligature on the mouthpiece and then putting the reed on and positioning it and then tightening it a bit. Most people put their top teeth on the top of the mouthpiece, but don't put your teeth on the reed itself. Then you blow air into it. Could make a video about that. You can start by just making sounds with the mouthpiece.
Thanks! I'm just picking up sax again after like 30 years and even back when I played (I learned in 6th and 7th grade band) I never knew what ALL the keys did. I found some stuff just by trial and error but some keys I don't think I ever touched.
@@SaxStation I just started a new Yacht Rock band which is what really inspired me to pick it back up (I’m a professional musician on guitar, bass, drums, keys, vocals and more) so I’m actually really looking forward to a lot of cliches like “Baker Street” for that band, plus (not for that band) “Careless Whisper,” the solo from “Rio,” and such. I used to play “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS and “On The Dark Side” from the “Eddie and the Cruisers” soundtrack. “Tender Years” from that same soundtrack is also great. A generous friend gave me her old Buescher Aristocrat S-40 tenor that she played from like 1963-1978 for me to start playing again. I’m excited.
Cool, you could play the Baker St line on tenor an octave lower than the original, but it would be difficult at first to play it in the original octave
Sax Station yeah same with me I find it awkward and non ergonomic at times but it really has a sound I wouldn’t give up for any other sax. And wow really what kind is it? I was almost certain haha
You're talking about the reference horns that Selmer makes? If so, I think the reference horns are very good but sax players I know tend to prefer the originals. They have a lot in common, but are not exactly the same. Different people made and adjusted them in their own ways in the two time periods. The metal is a bit different. The design is slightly different. If you get a chance to try them both out, you can find out which you prefer.
I think also required training and learning.. How to repad the saxophone. And how to put the light inside and check for air leeks.. worst pet peeve. I remember as a child starting on the bassoon.. even as a child I realized borrowing from the school. This is crap adjustment. They might as well have hit me over the head with it. Then also in grade school gravitated to the tenor saxophone.. same dilemma .. then finally my musician older brother gifted me a Selmer Mark 7 with the extra if# key..
@@SaxStation Yea I know, but the best part is in my school everyone plays Bb major scale instead of the main scale determining their instrument, so, I still know the scale, but now it's just better because it's the right instrument
And after about 20 minutes of playing, I've hit low Bb and not high D cuz I haven't tried yet but I don't have much use for hitting high D yet either, I really like the low Bb on this better than the Alto, that is also because Alto is well, Alto and tenor is tenor
@@SaxStation oh, that's ok. Ive been playing by ear and able to remind most of them. Yesterday i tried out "god have must spent a little more time on you" from kirk whalum, but it surely was a little pretentious from me.
There are less saxophone players than married men..... on a more serious note, start with a few notes and learn a few more at a time. Check out this video if you’re just starting, th-cam.com/video/1_3U-rtDiMg/w-d-xo.html
You can get a PDF of this fingering chart included with the beginning saxophone class I made, saxstation.com/saxophone-foundations-beginning-saxophone-class
Look forward more videos.
👌 KEEP THE GOOD WORK.👍
🙋♂️🙋♂️🌞🤜🤛🎷👍🤛🆒️✌
Where’s bass sax?
An octave below tenor sax
You didn’t even mention it though, everyone always talks about alto,
tenor, bari, even soprano, but never bass
he did @@J_Jayden
Thank you. I haven’t played my tenor sax in about 30 years . So some friends (brass section) of a former band decided to just pick up our horns again, just to mess around and reconnect. So...here we go...again!
+jazzyjag1989 You’re welcome. Sounds like fun!
My mother is buying me a tenor sax for Xmas and this video will really help, thank you so much
Cool.
Me too
Me to
you lucky
Thank you for the slow and steady demonstration of the fingering for each note. I am a self-taught hobby player with acceptable standard, and I have never learned to read music either. Trying to figure out what keys for which note is a tedious process which is akin to starting out anew. So I ceased trying and continue on playing by ear. This video just might be the right medicine for me.
Thanks so much!! I went from my clarinet to the tenor for jazz band this year and needed some tips :)
Great! I went from clarinet to tenor sax as well.
Thanks!
I just started tenor sax about a week ago for my middle school jazz band (switching from clarinet) and this video really helped me a lot with the fingerings! But sometimes when I try to play some notes below G, they start to go into the higher octave as if I'm using the octave key even though I'm not.
What happens if you move your finger slowly and go from G down to F#? It might be just a matter of practicing more. Possible there is an issue with your saxophone like a leak.
This might be a bit late, but maybe you're not playing loud enough / not putting enough air into it. From my understanding, the louder you play, the easier notes will come out.
You might also hear this a lot but try dropping your jaw aswell. Don't drop it too much, you still want pressure on the reed, but you dont need as much pressure as you think you do
Brilliant! Answered my problem as a beginning sax player.
Picking my sax back up. This will be part of my new practice till I get my memory back.. X-marching tenor pulled my dinged up sax out. Thanks for making this!
Gracias!!!
Really like the warmer sound of the tenor vs alto
This is great.
I have not played the saxophone (tenor) since 1976.
I am thinking about 🤔
Trying to play but my neighbors
would burn my house 🏠 😫 down after the first day.
Thank you very much.😊
🙋♂️🐈🌞🤜🤛👌👍🎷
Thanks MIchael. If you're aware of the time and conscious of your dynamics, your house might avoid the flames. And/or think of a different location you could practice at first.
@@SaxStation
Thank you for the recommendation.😊
I being a bit humerus about the neighbors. But I live in a 55/ over community and the homes are manufactured homes.
Rather thin walls.
The first thing that I am most definitely have learn is obviously
note Fingering And reading sheet music.
I have a question sir ,
Should i focus on fingering or the reading of sheet music 🎼 🎶 and the Italian terms .
🤔
Thank you so very much.
I have been very ill for several years and this would give me something to do and help keep my mind off things.
A escape from the agony that a Occurs.
You have ins
Maybe start with the fingerings for the notes and move into learning some songs fairly quickly. Think about learning some music by ear as well, that will give you more optoins and get you deeper into music.
Thank you! Being able to have a visual for finger placement is awesome
Glad it helped!
I'm finding this video very useful and I keep coming back to it for help, Thank you
Thank you i am going to play saxaphone in middle school and this really helped
You just helped me decide which sax to first buy.
Since my goal is to play Bari one day I will start with the alto.
Cool, hope it goes well!
Thank you for this extremely useful and comprehensive tutorial. Just restarted playing the tenor after 2 years. Feels great! Thank you!
Glad it helped!
This is the most helpful video I found. I really appreciate you making this
Glad it was helpful!
He plays notes with you at 8:33 I love this lesson
Thank you for this :)
I'm not really into the tenor saxophone because I like my alto saxophone but I like how the tenor saxophone is and how it sounds like.
SO HELPFUL
wow, very very good and helpful...thanks for doing this
You're welcome
Hi Neal, You could include in this list a video showing the baritone sax notes.
The closest video I have made is the fingering chart for alto if you want to hear the notes. I don’t have a bari sax now.
This is really helpful! I’m just starting out with tenor sax, and I find that my notes sound higher than they should. Any tips on how to lower my pitch?
Keep practicing. Try holding notes and being aware of the sound of the notes. Part of the control is within your throat, which you learn to control, but it´s not immediate.
@@SaxStation thank you! i having the exact same problem, started playing yesterday
Great video ! Very helpful ! Do post more
Thanks for saying so Dhiraj
Thank you
Thanks for saying so
How important is having the left pinky finger to play the tenor sax? I played in junior high school for two years, but haven’t played in 20 years. I had an accident at work which resulted in the amputation of my left pinky finger. Do you think I would be able to learn to play without the finger?
You need your left pinky to play G# in both octaves as well as to play low C#, B, and Bb.
Out of those notes, I would say G# is the most important. Not being able to play the lower notes would be inconvenient, but they're used a bit less than other notes. G#/Ab will be played in quite a few keys.
So you could play in some keys, but you would basically be missing one note.
Hello sure what I was looking for was a video showing the fingering and everything that goes along with it for chromatic on a tenor. I did not know in your series if you offered that?
The chromatic scale goes along with this video that you're commenting on.
You could also check out this video, th-cam.com/video/SbQsW-5JcLg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you!
if you want to skip to the fingerings the timestamp is 8:35
Thanks a lot
Thanks for saying so Emiliano
Muchas gracias
Hello. This has helped me to understand what keys to use for particular notes and I can get many of tgem out correctly. However, I cant get some of the octave notes out. I havent tried the really high ones yet, but D, with octave, for example does not match, when I try it. What am I doing wrong?
I haven't heard you play, so I don't know exactly. How long have you been playing saxophone? And did you want to pay for some lessons?
I played alto a while back, but pretty much self taught. I have a tenor now and recently picked it back up. I might want some one on one lessons. How does that work?
I use zoom or skype. You can contact me at SaxStation.com
Any tips for playing low Bb and everything from high D and up? Struggling with those notes
Go here to ask a question, thanks
saxstation.com/ask-a-saxophone-question
By providing some information I ask for on that page, you'll get a better answer to your question.
Thanks brand new beginner van Mcgraw
Welcome!
Hi, thanks for posting the video. I'm a guitarist (primarily) who decided to take up Saxophone. I also don't read charts.. I do understand theory I've been been trying to augment my show. I wonder if you've posted any vids about Pentatonic Maj/min and scales and soloing within that realm.
I have made some classes about chords and scales that you can buy.
First off thank you for this video! Secondly, im not sure how to play lower on my tenor
Thanks Jahshira. It can take a while to get the low notes on tenor. Don't be discouraged if you don't get them in the first day, week, etc.
What is the lowest note you can play comfortably?
hey man great video! very well explained and complete, thanks for the effort you've put into it
Thanks for saying so Johnny
There are 3 f sharp fingerings you can also use the 6th key(d key) to play the f sharp
Thanks, that can work. Do you use that one often?
9:16 C
9:45 D
10:20 E
10:52 G
11:44 A
10:30 F
i might be starting tenor sax soon switching from Bass clarinet. any tips?
There will be some similarities. The reeds/mouthpiece are a similar size even. When you have started playing, try coming up with a specific question.
@@SaxStation ok, thanks!
excellent intro lesson
Thanks Gary
Sax Station...how bout pick up the pieces by AWB
What about it?
Have you tried learning it by ear or buying the sheet music?
Sax Station wonderin why you have not done a mini lesson on that song for tenor and alto like others you have done
I haven’t done lessons for every song. Might do one for that one. Have you learned any music by ear?
Could you play middel C with the fingering of low C but with the octave key?
Yes. Usually you would do that as an effect though. Maybe in a fast passage. Not generally.
This is great! I am very good at flute so I want to learn another instrument. Im getting a tenor saxophone in 2 weeks. I have never played a saxophone before. How do i make a sound? Thanks!
Edit: Most of the fingerings for the notes are the same a flute’s, this will be fun!
Basically, you can start by putting the ligature on the mouthpiece and then putting the reed on and positioning it and then tightening it a bit. Most people put their top teeth on the top of the mouthpiece, but don't put your teeth on the reed itself. Then you blow air into it. Could make a video about that. You can start by just making sounds with the mouthpiece.
are there any concert pitch fingering charts?
Probably someone has made one, but I'm not sure where to find one offhand. If you shift each note down a whole step, you get to concert.
Thanks! I'm just picking up sax again after like 30 years and even back when I played (I learned in 6th and 7th grade band) I never knew what ALL the keys did. I found some stuff just by trial and error but some keys I don't think I ever touched.
Cool. I remember looking at fingering charts quite a bit for clarinet and sax as I learned the notes. What are some songs you like to play?
@@SaxStation I just started a new Yacht Rock band which is what really inspired me to pick it back up (I’m a professional musician on guitar, bass, drums, keys, vocals and more) so I’m actually really looking forward to a lot of cliches like “Baker Street” for that band, plus (not for that band) “Careless Whisper,” the solo from “Rio,” and such. I used to play “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS and “On The Dark Side” from the “Eddie and the Cruisers” soundtrack. “Tender Years” from that same soundtrack is also great. A generous friend gave me her old Buescher Aristocrat S-40 tenor that she played from like 1963-1978 for me to start playing again. I’m excited.
Cool, you could play the Baker St line on tenor an octave lower than the original, but it would be difficult at first to play it in the original octave
@@SaxStation I did wonder about that as I knew it was on alto originally but was hoping Tenor could get up there.
Tenor can get up there, but very unlikely in the first years of playing. Into altissimo
DO you offer chromatic scale help?? Great video
Yes, I could help you with that. What is the problem? Did you want to pay for some lessons with me to help with that?
can you please post a link to the printable? I can't seem to get to it:/
It's included when you buy this class, saxstation.com/saxophone-foundations-beginning-saxophone-class
I have the same sax from the same year how are you liking it so far? it's a martin handcraft I believe
I like it quite a bit. A little tough to play some things on it. Mine is not a Martin, but maybe similar.
Sax Station yeah same with me I find it awkward and non ergonomic at times but it really has a sound I wouldn’t give up for any other sax. And wow really what kind is it? I was almost certain haha
It says Carl Fischer on it, but probably made by Buescher. The biggest issue for me is probably that there isn't a front F key.
my low c# key isn't opening when i press the left left-hand pinky key. it only opens when my sax is on the side. any help?
Could be a weak spring. But I haven’t seen it. What brand of saxophone is it? And do you know someone locally who does instrument repair?
Sax Station i looked at the pad and the rod was just out of place. thanks for the suggestions though!
Whats the different between original and replica saxophone?
That depends on what exactly you're comparing.
@@SaxStation H.Selmer mark VI Original vs H.Selmer mark VI replica
You're talking about the reference horns that Selmer makes? If so, I think the reference horns are very good but sax players I know tend to prefer the originals.
They have a lot in common, but are not exactly the same. Different people made and adjusted them in their own ways in the two time periods. The metal is a bit different. The design is slightly different.
If you get a chance to try them both out, you can find out which you prefer.
The notes on the measure dont look like what they do in class, my C is on the 2nd space.. Going up to down
Sounds like the music in your class is written in bass clef maybe.
Hey I would want to learn please can you teach me please
Do you have a specific question?
I think also required training and learning.. How to repad the saxophone. And how to put the light inside and check for air leeks.. worst pet peeve. I remember as a child starting on the bassoon.. even as a child I realized borrowing from the school. This is crap adjustment. They might as well have hit me over the head with it. Then also in grade school gravitated to the tenor saxophone.. same dilemma .. then finally my musician older brother gifted me a Selmer Mark 7 with the extra if# key..
Being a child of the 50s rock and roll age what key should my sax be …Bb. Or Eb to play in a rock and roll band
I would go with tenor, which is in Bb. The difference is more the range and tone. Essentially the tenor can go about half an octave lower.
Sax Station thank you very much
So same as alto?
Yes, if you want to hear the notes on alto though, check this video, th-cam.com/video/ZUz_iuCSZRg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you.
I'm coming from almost 4 years of alto sax here, I see fingerings are same just different cuz embochures, and the amount of breath needed
Yes. And alto is in Eb vs tenor being in Bb.
@@SaxStation Yea I know, but the best part is in my school everyone plays Bb major scale instead of the main scale determining their instrument, so, I still know the scale, but now it's just better because it's the right instrument
Even though technically there is no right or wrong instrument just some are better for certain things than others
And after about 20 minutes of playing, I've hit low Bb and not high D cuz I haven't tried yet but I don't have much use for hitting high D yet either, I really like the low Bb on this better than the Alto, that is also because Alto is well, Alto and tenor is tenor
Okay, cool, sounds like you might prefer tenor then. What saxophone players do you like to listen to?
Life is easier now
Glad it was helpful.
A lot easier
gosh, I've came for the g6.... just can't do it. thanks though
How long have you played saxophone and how much altissimo can you play?
@@SaxStation I've been playing for a few months, but just self taught. I followed you ok till your f# though never tried it before.
I wouldn't worry about notes higher than that for now. Maybe think about it in a year or so. How many songs can you play by memory?
@@SaxStation oh, that's ok. Ive been playing by ear and able to remind most of them. Yesterday i tried out "god have must spent a little more time on you" from kirk whalum, but it surely was a little pretentious from me.
15:04
I couldn't tell him to take it back and get me on Mark 6 that's a better instrument.. I just build some muscles up in my hands
I think people at the time thought they were improving things. I tried a 7 alto one time, thought it was a good horn.
🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Reed reuse
Are you asking a question?
This is more complicated than womens
There are less saxophone players than married men..... on a more serious note, start with a few notes and learn a few more at a time. Check out this video if you’re just starting, th-cam.com/video/1_3U-rtDiMg/w-d-xo.html
Some notes are not good written
I’m not sure what you mean by that
@@SaxStation no prob i understood better after some reviews.. Nice vid thanks :)
okay, cool
My horn is a full step out of tune. Yikes
Tenor Saxophones are ‘in Bb’ so the more you see displayed on a tuner should be a whole step different. Not sure if that’s what you mean
@@SaxStation yeah i quickly realized that when I play a g it would come out as an f concert. thx for replying tho!
Wish you would've shown your finger placement more. I have more keys than 3 on the time. Zoom in on your fingers dawg. Thumbs down.
Do you not understand the diagrams?
Also, I show diagrams with all the buttons earlier in the video. Maybe you skipped that part
Thanks!
Thank you!