C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / C Sax fingering chart

musicandy
User ID: 3257544 Apr 10th 4:03 PM
Hi, I'm new at woodwinds and just happened on a C Sax. Is a fingering chart available anywhere ?

Thanks, Andy

Jungle Jim
User ID: 8945823 Apr 10th 4:34 PM
All saxophone fingering charts are the same. Punch it in on a Google Search.

Sam (ie)
User ID: 0331974 Apr 10th 5:03 PM
The advantage of the C Melody is that when you play a "Saxophone C" it isn't a Bb or an Eb, it's a concert C. Almost all other saxophones are transposing instruments, there's more information at

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transposing_instrument

Essentially, the C Melody is the one of the only non transposing saxophones.
The only problem arises when you are reading music written for other types of saxophone and playing in a group, in which case you would have to transpose the written part.

I think Alan explains it better at

www.cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/question-answer.htm

Jeff
User ID: 0011434 Mar 9th 12:04 PM
Is it true that all fingering is the same for all saxophones?
I have a Frank Holton C-Melody.
I am also new to the sax, but I think that there are a few different buttons to push here and there.

Jeff
User ID: 0011434 Mar 9th 12:10 PM
Is it true that all fingering is the same for all saxophones?
I have a Frank Holton C-Melody.
I am also new to the sax, but I think that there are a few different buttons to push here and there.

Mal-2k8
User ID: 9335603 Mar 9th 3:04 PM
No, the fingerings are exactly the same, UNLESS you have a "home model", which will be missing some notes at the top and bottom of the range. You also may have (and lack) additional alternate fingerings due to mechanisms that are no longer made, but all the basic fingerings on the chart will work.

You may have these keys not present on a more recent sax:

Right hand G# trill: This will be sticking out between the index and middle finger keys, and will probably be very close to the body of the instrument. When you open the G# key with the left hand, this touchpiece will allow you to close it again so that you do not have to trill with your left pinky.

Fork Eb mechanism: This allows you to finger Eb by use of the fingering XXX | XOX (as opposed to the normal XXX | XXX Eb ).

And you will probably be missing a few of the niceties of a modern horn:

Linked spatula keys: On a more recent instrument, pressing any of the left hand pinky keys will open the G# key. Yours probably will not do this, you must specifically press the G# key.

High F# key: Located between the index and middle fingers of the right hand, this is where you will probably have your G# trill. Since the 1960's or so, this has become the preferred place to put the high F# key instead.

Front F key: Located above the touchpiece for the left index finger, this creates some alternate fingerings for high E and F, and makes possible a high F# even if you do not have a high F# key.

FXX | OOO produces high E
FXO | OOO produces high F
FXO | Bb OOO produces high F# even without a high F# key

If you are lacking the Front F, you must resort to the "fistful of palm keys" method for producing high E and F, and will not have an easy way to produce high F#.

All this said, the core fingerings have not changed in over 100 years. If you make a point of not habitually using the right hand G# trill or forked Eb, you will have no trouble picking up a different sax later.

musicandy User ID: 3257544	Apr 10th 4:03 PM Hi, I'm new at woodwinds and just happened on a C Sax. Is a fingering chart available anywhere ? Thanks, Andy
Jungle Jim User ID: 8945823	Apr 10th 4:34 PM All saxophone fingering charts are the same. Punch it in on a Google Search.
Sam (ie) User ID: 0331974	Apr 10th 5:03 PM The advantage of the C Melody is that when you play a "Saxophone C" it isn't a Bb or an Eb, it's a concert C. Almost all other saxophones are transposing instruments, there's more information at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transposing_instrument Essentially, the C Melody is the one of the only non transposing saxophones. The only problem arises when you are reading music written for other types of saxophone and playing in a group, in which case you would have to transpose the written part. I think Alan explains it better at www.cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/question-answer.htm
Jeff User ID: 0011434	Mar 9th 12:04 PM Is it true that all fingering is the same for all saxophones? I have a Frank Holton C-Melody. I am also new to the sax, but I think that there are a few different buttons to push here and there.
Jeff User ID: 0011434	Mar 9th 12:10 PM Is it true that all fingering is the same for all saxophones? I have a Frank Holton C-Melody. I am also new to the sax, but I think that there are a few different buttons to push here and there.
Mal-2k8 User ID: 9335603	Mar 9th 3:04 PM No, the fingerings are exactly the same, UNLESS you have a "home model", which will be missing some notes at the top and bottom of the range. You also may have (and lack) additional alternate fingerings due to mechanisms that are no longer made, but all the basic fingerings on the chart will work. You may have these keys not present on a more recent sax: Right hand G# trill: This will be sticking out between the index and middle finger keys, and will probably be very close to the body of the instrument. When you open the G# key with the left hand, this touchpiece will allow you to close it again so that you do not have to trill with your left pinky. Fork Eb mechanism: This allows you to finger Eb by use of the fingering XXX \| XOX (as opposed to the normal XXX \| XXX Eb ). And you will probably be missing a few of the niceties of a modern horn: Linked spatula keys: On a more recent instrument, pressing any of the left hand pinky keys will open the G# key. Yours probably will not do this, you must specifically press the G# key. High F# key: Located between the index and middle fingers of the right hand, this is where you will probably have your G# trill. Since the 1960's or so, this has become the preferred place to put the high F# key instead. Front F key: Located above the touchpiece for the left index finger, this creates some alternate fingerings for high E and F, and makes possible a high F# even if you do not have a high F# key. FXX \| OOO produces high E FXO \| OOO produces high F FXO \| Bb OOO produces high F# even without a high F# key If you are lacking the Front F, you must resort to the "fistful of palm keys" method for producing high E and F, and will not have an easy way to produce high F#. All this said, the core fingerings have not changed in over 100 years. If you make a point of not habitually using the right hand G# trill or forked Eb, you will have no trouble picking up a different sax later.