Are the notes the same on tenor as on an alto

[jdh3000]

I have an alto sax, and I'm considering getting tenor, and while I know the fingerings must be the same, I don't know if the notes are the same. In other words, will the fingering I use to make a "G" on the alto, make a "G" on the tenor? Or is will I have to transpose?

Thanks,

JD

[singlereed]

The answer is yes and no....What follows is a brief summary and I have glossed over a few technicalities.

As far as you are concerned, your 'G' is the same fingering on any sax and if you play music for Bb sax or Eb sax, the arranger will have done the transposition for you, so that you fit with the other instruments. So, playing the right part is no problem for your fingering.

A 'C' written on the page sounds as Bb (actually one octave and one tone lower) on tenor and Eb on an alto (actually a sixth lower) so the parts written for these instruments are different. Your Bb part will have two more sharps or two less flats than concert (e.g.piano, flute, guitar), and it is three more sharps or three less flats on tenor. You should play one tone higher than written for a non-transposing instrument with a Bb sax and one and a half tones lower on Eb sax.

You can learn to transpose from concert pitch (e.g. flute parts) or from any other part (instruments in Bb, Eb, F or written on other clefs).

[Gandalfe]

For beginners the answer is, "Yes, the fingerings for sop, alto, tenor, bari, bass saxes are the same."

[WantSmSax?]

yes, the fingerings are the same, but the actual concert note that will come out will be different. A good rule of thumb is to transpose from a 0 (c) instrument (a tenor being 2) is to go one note above what is written for them.(the 0's such as flutes and trombones. And on a scale of fiths, to go to the right two spaces ie. if it is c concert than you will play d concert.

[kcp]

See Beginner corner #1 Key Signatures & Scales (http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Beginner_Corner1.html)
Explains the basics of transposition for your instruement.