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NoteAtlas

High E on the Tenor Saxophone

To play High E (E6) on tenor sax: Left hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ key, side E key.

Full chart
BackPalm keysLeft handSide keysL pinky tableRight handR pinkyOctave key: pressedOctFront F key: openfFPalm D key: pressedDPalm E♭ key: pressedE♭Palm F key: openFLeft index key: open1Bis key: openbisLeft middle key: open2Left ring key: open3Side E key: pressedESide C key: openCSide B♭ key: openB♭Left pinky G♯ key: openG♯Left pinky low C♯ key: openC♯Left pinky low B key: openBLeft pinky low B♭ key: openB♭Right index key: open4Right middle key: open5Right ring key: open6High F♯ key: openF♯Right pinky low E♭ key: openE♭Right pinky low C key: openC
Now showing
High EE6
Left hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ key, side E key
Written
E6
Sounds
D5
E6 on the treble staff

Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.

Press or cover
  • Octave key
  • Palm D key
  • Palm E♭ key
  • Side E key
Tip · High E

Drill rolling the right hand onto the side key while the left palm stays put; the front (fork) E alternate is easier when you are already using front F.

B♭3Low B♭B3Low BC4Low CC♯4Low C♯D4Low DE♭4Low E♭E4Low EF4Low FF♯4Low F♯G4G♯4A4B♭4B4C5C♯5D5E♭5E5F5F♯5G5G♯5A5B♭5B5C6C♯6D6High DE♭6High E♭E6High EF6High FF♯6High F♯
Practice this
Speed72BPM
Tip · High E

Drill rolling the right hand onto the side key while the left palm stays put; the front (fork) E alternate is easier when you are already using front F.

Sound and display

Next moves

Previous noteHigh E♭Left hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ keyNext noteHigh FLeft hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ key, palm F key, side E keyFull chartAll 33 tenor sax notesThe whole fingering chartScaleConcert B♭ majorWritten C major, fingering under every noteTrainerNote trainerRead treble clef notesPrintPrintable PDFLetter · A4 · blank

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Alternate fingerings for High E

Each alternate has its own link. Send it to a student and the page opens with that fingering on the big diagram.

More for advanced players

Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works

About this note

High E is written E6 and sounds concert D5.

The D and E♭ palm keys, the side E key under the right index knuckle, and the octave key. Drill rolling the right hand onto the side key while the left palm stays put; the front (fork) E alternate is easier when you are already using front F.

  • Primary fingering: Octave key + Palm D key + Palm E♭ key + Side E key
  • Written pitch: E6 · Concert pitch: D5
  • Sounding frequency: 587.33 Hz

What to press, key by key

  • Octave key
  • Palm D key
  • Palm E♭ key
  • Side E key

Alternate fingerings for High E

  • Front (fork) E: Octave key + Front F key + Left middle key + Left ring key. When approaching from C6 or C♯6, or when the surrounding line already uses front F. Less stable than the palm-key fingering.

Questions

How do you play High E on tenor sax?

To play High E (E6) on tenor sax: Left hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ key, side E key. High E is written E6 and sounds concert D5. Press: Octave key, Palm D key, Palm E♭ key, Side E key.

Is High E written or concert pitch?

The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ tenor sax it sounds concert D5.

Is there another fingering for High E?

Front (fork) E: When approaching from C6 or C♯6, or when the surrounding line already uses front F. Less stable than the palm-key fingering.

Tenor Saxophone fingering data last updated . Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.