Alto Sax - mid C#?

Question:I'm relearning to play the alto sax after 20 + years of not playing. I have two new fingering charts and both have a blank -- don't press anything to play mid C#.

When I first learned how to play I took lessons (four years). I do remember that you are supposed to play C# using all my fingers and that mid C# was where you needed to start using the octave key.

After hit or miss I think I have found the old method, octave key and using my two pinkies, one on a right side key and the other on a left side key.

I have a brand new Selmer and I'm wondering if saxophones have changed and you have to play C# differently on newer saxes.

So should I just leave everything open or should go with what I learned over 20 years ago. Both fingerings can't be correct, there is too much difference. I'm not totally sure I am using the correct "old" method. If you know what I'm talking about, could you describe it? Thanks.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm relearning to play the alto sax after 20 + years of not playing. I have two new fingering charts and both have a blank -- don't press anything to play mid C#.

When I first learned how to play I took lessons (four years). I do remember that you are supposed to play C# using all my fingers and that mid C# was where you needed to start using the octave key.

After hit or miss I think I have found the old method, octave key and using my two pinkies, one on a right side key and the other on a left side key.

I have a brand new Selmer and I'm wondering if saxophones have changed and you have to play C# differently on newer saxes.

So should I just leave everything open or should go with what I learned over 20 years ago. Both fingerings can't be correct, there is too much difference. I'm not totally sure I am using the correct "old" method. If you know what I'm talking about, could you describe it? Thanks.

I think that the C# fingering you're thinking about is called covered C#. Its fingering is the G key in the left hand (ring finger) and the octave key. Once you put down these keys in the left hand you can basically put down any finger you want to in the right hand (out of your index, middle, and ring fingers)--these fingers affect the intonation of the note, so find the ones that work best for you. This fingering is used to raise the pitch of the typically flat open C# and it also changes the timbre a little to create a warmer sound more similar to D in the staff. It works well for slower passages, but in faster runs it is much easier to simply play open C#, as intonation and timbre won't be quite as important.

yes

u have to change your air to hot air. otherwise it wont come out. :)

ive only been playing 8 years... but i play the C# open

1. get a tuner/metronome & pick up (all together costs estimated $ 65)

2. tune both fingerings on calib. 440

3. which ever is more in tune, go with that fingering.

4. it will probably be no fingers down.

As stated previously, C# is open. It has been for over 50 years. There are alternates for special cases, but the basic, standard fingering is C#. The use of the low C# (middle C#) fingering for the next octave up is one of the only alternates for intonation, but a person shouldn't worry about that until they can comfortably play the instrument and have intonation more of an issue than basic learning and techniques.

The proper way to play #C is to play it with no fingers down.. However, you may be thinking of one of the alternate ways to play it, like covered #C.