Which B-flat?

[allansells]

My instructor is telling me to finger a b-flat by fingering for A and then using the side key. I've always used just my first finger. Is there a difference?

Thanks.

[VegasChris]

I'm a student also (so someone correct me if I'm wrong) but my understanding is that the A fingering with the side key gives the best intonation and purest sound of the different ways of fingering a Bb. So if you're playing a slow passage you want to use that fingering. That way is also best if you're playing a fast passage that goes back and forth between a Bb and an A natural. If you're playing a fast passage that goes back and forth between a Bb and B natural, the two-index-finger method is the best way to go. The other way to finger a Bb is to roll your index finger a little and hit the B key and that little key that's between the B and A keys (so your index finger is playing both keys at the same time). That's best if you are playing a fast passage in the key of Bb (concert Ab) and have few if any B naturals to worry about (playing a Bb major or Bb diminished arpegio for example).

[Dave Dolson]

Chris: That "little key" is called the bisBb (I'm sure someone here can explain why bisBb is called what it is - I don't know). I agree that side Bb is probably the truest sound on most saxophones. I use all of the Bb fingerings depending upon which scale and what I am playing at the moment. Forked L1 and R2 seem to sound a bit better than forked L1 and R1 (and that could be just because of my horns, not common to all), but for a quick Bb hit, either one will work. DAVE