Difference between revisions of "Read a Fingering Chart"

''Q: How do you know that a [[Assemble a Tenor Saxophone|saxophone]] player is intelligent?''<br>''A: When they understand the whole fingering chart, except for the L.th and R.th.''<br><br>

''Q: How do you know that a [[Assemble a Tenor Saxophone|saxophone]] player is intelligent?''<br>''A: When they understand the whole fingering chart, except for the L.th and R.th.''<br><br>

Okay, so the average [[Clean a Saxophone|sax]] player isn't that stupid. However, that well-known band joke does have some truth to it... fingering charts can be very confusing. When learning to play a wind [[Choose an Instrument|instrument]], your best friend will definitely be your fingering chart. This handy piece of paper should always be included in your music folder, as it shows all the notes in your [[Learn to Play an Instrument|instrument]]'s range, as well as a fingering (or often, multiple fingerings) to play each note. They can be a bit difficult to understand at first, though, especially if you're unfamiliar with the instrument. Luckily, not all is lost. If you know how to get started, it shouldn't take you too long to get the hang of it.

Okay, so the average [[Clean a Saxophone|sax]] player isn't that stupid. However, that well-known band joke does have some truth to it... fingering charts can be very confusing. When learning to play a wind [[Choose an Instrument|instrument]], your best friend will definitely be your fingering chart. This handy piece of paper should always be included in your music folder, as it shows all the notes in your [[Learn to Play an Instrument|instrument]]'s range, as well as a fingering (or often, multiple fingerings) to play each note. They can be a bit difficult to understand at first, though, especially if you're unfamiliar with the instrument. Luckily, not all is lost. If you know how to get started, it shouldn't take you too long to get the hang of it.

== Steps ==

== Steps ==

#'''Obtain a fingering chart.''' You may be able to get one from your band director, or you can find one in most method books. However, keep in mind that some very, very beginning books may not have a complete chart, as they'd leave out notes that you probably wouldn't be learning that early on (mainly [[Play Altissimo Notes on Clarinet|altissimo]] notes). If you don't mind this, go right ahead and find any chart that will do. Otherwise, you'll need to be more selective. You can also find charts on the internet (see [http://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Fingering-Chart#Sources_and_Citations below]).

#'''Obtain a fingering chart.''' You may be able to get one from your band director, or you can find one in most method books. However, keep in mind that some very, very beginning books may not have a complete chart, as they'd leave out notes that you probably wouldn't be learning that early on (mainly [[Play Altissimo Notes on Clarinet|altissimo]] notes). If you don't mind this, go right ahead and find any chart that will do. Otherwise, you'll need to be more selective. You can also find charts on the internet (see [http://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Fingering-Chart#Sources_and_Citations below]).