In this article, I’d like to share my baritone saxophone altissimo fingering chart with you. The chart starts on high E (the 3rd line above the staff) and extends up to C in the next octave above altissimo C, including quarter tones. For almost every note, I have also included alternative fingerings and intonation adjustments.
Baritone Saxophone Altissimo Fingering Chart
Click on the image to download the fingering chart
When I created this chart in 2015, I had been wanting for some time to bring together in a single document the altissimo fingerings I regularly used. The altissimo register was already commonly found in both original works and transcriptions. In addition, the increasing presence of microtonality in the altissimo register led me to include quarter-tone fingerings as well.
How to Read the Fingering Chart
Next to each written note (transposed in E♭) you will find the corresponding fingering, represented using commonly used numbers, letters and symbols. For the quarter tones, I have used the most widely recognised notation.
I have compiled and compared the fingerings I have used on different baritone saxophones throughout my career. Fingerings for intonation adjustment are shown in brackets, accompanied by an upward or downward arrow depending on whether they raise or lower the pitch. Particularly in the extreme upper register, I have marked with an * notes whose pitch can be adjusted slightly with the embouchure.
Over the years, I have played baritone saxophones both with and without a high F♯ key (C5), so I have indicated the corresponding fingerings as follows:
- No dot: fingerings and intonation adjustments common to all the saxophones tested.
- Red dot: fingerings and intonation adjustments for a baritone saxophone with a high F♯ key (C5).
- Blue dot: fingerings and intonation adjustments for a baritone saxophone without a high F♯ key (C5).
All these fingerings should be regarded as a guide: the results will depend on each player’s technique and individual approach, as well as on their set-up. However, over the years I have found that many of these fingerings also work well for other saxophonists.
Try them patiently over several practice sessions, and I hope you find them useful.
Keep Exploring the Altissimo Register
Since this chart includes quarter tones, I also invite you to explore the microtonal fingerings for the low, middle and high registers that I compiled later in my article on Quarter-Tone Fingerings for Baritone Saxophone.
It is perfectly normal to approach the altissimo register with a certain amount of caution, but there is no need to be afraid of it. As I explain in my Introduction to the Baritone Saxophone, practising natural harmonics, developing good control of the air stream and throat, and maintaining a flexible embouchure will all help you explore the altissimo register.
If you have any questions about the altissimo register, would like to comment on any aspect of this chart or share your own experience with the instrument, feel free to contact me.
Joan Martí-Frasquier
Fingering chart compiled and tested through my professional practice as a baritone saxophonist.
Barcelona, May 2015
Updated: 21 August 2026
