The saxophone’s range in notes and hertz
Every saxophone reads the same written range, B♭3 to F6, and sounds it somewhere else. Many have a high F♯ key, and the altissimo register goes higher for strong players.
Written and sounding pitch
The saxophone is a transposing instrument: it sounds a major sixth lower than written, which makes it an E♭ instrument. So the range on its part is B♭3–F6, while the notes you hear are C♯3–A♭5. To convert a part, use the concert pitch to E♭ chart. The transposing-instrument tuner reads out the written note as you play.
Range of each saxophone
| Saxophone | Sounding | Written | Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano (B♭) | A♭3–E♭6 | B♭3–F6 | 2.6 octaves |
| Alto (E♭) | C♯3–A♭5 | B♭3–F6 | 2.6 octaves |
| Tenor (B♭) | A♭2–E♭5 | B♭3–F6 | 2.6 octaves |
| Baritone (E♭) | C♯2–A♭4 | B♭3–F6 | 2.6 octaves |
Tune it, play it
- Saxophone tuner — tune by microphone, with the saxophone’s own target notes.
- Play a saxophone online — the same range, playable in your browser.
Songs that fit the saxophone
36 songs from our public-domain library fit inside the saxophone’s range, each written out in the notation saxophone players read:
- Hot Cross Buns
- Lightly Row
- Going Home (New World Largo)
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Happy Birthday
- Ode to Joy
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- Jingle Bells
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Yankee Doodle
- Silent Night
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a saxophone?
The saxophone’s normal range runs from C♯3 to A♭5 — 138.59 to 830.61 Hz, about 2.6 octaves. Its part is written B♭3–F6, because it sounds a major sixth lower than written.
What is the lowest note on a saxophone?
C♯3 (138.59 Hz).
What is the highest note on a saxophone?
A♭5 (830.61 Hz).
Sources
- The chart behind our playable saxophone, itself checked note by note against published charts.