There are three fingerings for Bb on saxophone. Depending on the situation (key signature, notes before and after) a particular fingering may be easier in that context. What happens is that a certain Bb fingering lets you move less and be less likely to have a messy connection.
It’s good to have the ability to play all of them. Relying on only one will limit your saxophone technique.
“Side Bb” |
“Bb with ‘bis’ key” |
“Bb with F fingering”
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Thanks to Bret Pimentel for his fingering software.
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A couple more, less-common options:
1) using “1 and 5″. That is a “B” fingering in left hand, F# fingering in right hand. Useful in a quick passage between Bb and F#. Like the “1 & 4″ fingering, it’s not totally in tune and has a fairly weak tone, especially compared to the 1st two fingerings listed (side Bb & bis).
(2) using a low Bb with the octave key. Useful when you want a different timbre on this note. Swing era sax players (Ben Webster, Lester Young, etc) would use this (and a low C with octave key) for effect, alternating between this fingering and the “normal” mid-register fingering. I’ve heard Sonny Stitt use it, too.
Happy B-flatting!
~ Rick
Rick Hirsch recently posted..Swingin Santa- free Xmas lead sheets
Thanks Rick, those two will both work fine in passing. Convenient depending on the notes before and after. Probably wouldn’t want to hold the note with the F# Bb fingering. The low Bb with octave key can get you a cool sound though. I use a similar technique with D alternating with side D for a change in sound sometimes.
-Neal
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