High F♯ on the Tenor Saxophone
To play High F♯ (F♯6) on tenor sax: Left hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ key, palm F key, side E key, high F♯ key.
Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.
- Octave key
- Palm D key
- Palm E♭ key
- Palm F key
- Side E key
- High F♯ key
Many student tenors stop at F and have no such key, in which case written F♯6 is an altissimo note. Even with the key it runs sharp and stuffy — drop the jaw and keep the air fast.
Many student tenors stop at F and have no such key, in which case written F♯6 is an altissimo note. Even with the key it runs sharp and stuffy — drop the jaw and keep the air fast.
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Alternate fingerings for High F♯
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 F♯ is written F♯6 and sounds concert E5.
The high F fingering plus the high F♯ key, pressed with the right middle finger. Many student tenors stop at F and have no such key, in which case written F♯6 is an altissimo note. Even with the key it runs sharp and stuffy — drop the jaw and keep the air fast.
- Primary fingering: Octave key + Palm D key + Palm E♭ key + Palm F key + Side E key + High F♯ key
- Written pitch: F♯6 · Concert pitch: E5
- Sounding frequency: 659.26 Hz
What to press, key by key
- Octave key
- Palm D key
- Palm E♭ key
- Palm F key
- Side E key
- High F♯ key
Alternate fingerings for High F♯
- Fork (front) F♯: Octave key + Front F key + Left middle key + High F♯ key. When the line already uses front F, and when moving on into altissimo G and above.
Questions
How do you play High F♯ on tenor sax?
To play High F♯ (F♯6) on tenor sax: Left hand: octave key + palm D key, palm E♭ key, palm F key, side E key, high F♯ key. High F♯ is written F♯6 and sounds concert E5. Press: Octave key, Palm D key, Palm E♭ key, Palm F key, Side E key, High F♯ key.
Is High F♯ written or concert pitch?
The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ tenor sax it sounds concert E5.
Is there another fingering for High F♯?
Fork (front) F♯: When the line already uses front F, and when moving on into altissimo G and above.

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.