Alternate Fingering (A.K.A."False " Fingerings)
There are many alternative fingerings available for most notes of the saxophone. Some of these sound practically identical to the standard fingering, but some sound slightly different in timbre or pitch. These are the useful ones for this effect. Some are based on the overtones (harmonics) and it’s a good idea to practice these first. With this effect, you alternate between two or more alternative fingerings for the same note, or an alternate fingering in combination with two or more normal notes, as with the following example on the tenor which alternates between high C, G, G alternative (a 2nd harmonic) and G again:
Getting started:
All of these work well on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone. Bb is a good note to start on (the first note of the soundclip above). First of all play a Bb in the lower register (ie one octave above bottom Bb). You can use any of the three alternative standard
Bb fingerings, but the Bb bis is probably the easiest fingering for this. While playing this note finger a bottom Bb without tonguing, it should be very easy to sound the 1st harmonic (octave) so that it is the same pitch as the standard note, but has a much rounder timbre. Alternate rapidly between these two fingerings of the same note to get the effect. The harmonic may be slightly out of tune, but this does not matter, it’s all part of the effect.
The following chart shows fingerings for the notes from this Bb upwards.
| STANDARD FINGERING | ALTERNATE FINGERING | |
| Bb to C# | Low Bb to C# fingering. | The alternate note is the 1st harmonic (octave above the fundamental) |
| D | High D fingering (Palm key 1), but without the octave key | You need to remove your thumb from the octave key and finger the side key simultaneously. If the top D is sounding, practice this slowly and remove the thumb fractionally applying the top D side key. |
| Eb | High Eb fingering (palm keys 1 & 2), but without the octave key | The same as D but with the two side keys |
| E | Add low C key (RH 4) to the standard E fingering. | Keep octave key pressed. This is not a harmonic, it just uses the C to chokethe sound a bit |
| F | Low Bb fingering | Keep octave key pressed. This sounds the second harmonic of the low Bb, which is F (octave and a fifth). This may need a bit of work to get the right overtone sounding, but it sounds great when you finally achieve the effect on this note. |
| F# - G# | Low B - low C# fingering | Keep octave key pressed. Basically the same as for F. For G and G# it’s a ctually easier to keep the low C finger down |
| A | Add RH 1,2 and 3 to the standard A fingering | This is really a second harmonic of D as above. The lack of LH 3 makes the note harmonic easier |
| Bb | Add RH 1,2 and 3 to the standard Bb fingering | As with A, this is really a second harmonic of Eb. You can keep your RH 4 on the low Eb key for both notes. |
| B | Add RH 3 (D key) to the standard B fingering | As with E, this is a choked note rather than a harmoinc of a lower note |
| C | (a) Finger low C (b) Add RH 1,2 &3 |
(a) is is the 3rd harmonic of low C (b) This slightly flattens the note, use this if (a) is too difficult |
| C# | Finger low C# plus octave key |
May also work without RH C# or without LH B key |