Saxophone Tuner

Saxophone tuning notes

Tuning note	Alto sax (E♭, written) reads	Tenor sax (B♭, written) reads	Soprano sax (B♭, written) reads	Baritone sax (E♭, written) reads	Concert pitch	Frequency (A4 = 440)
Concert B♭ (band tuning note)	G4	C5	C4	G5	B♭3	233.08 Hz
Concert F	D5	G5	G4	D6	F4	349.23 Hz
Concert A (orchestra)	F♯5	B5	B4	F♯6	A4	440.00 Hz
Concert B♭, octave up	G5	C6	C5	G6	B♭4	466.16 Hz

Concert pitch vs written pitch

Saxophones are transposing instruments. The alto and baritone are in E♭: concert B♭ is your written G. The tenor and soprano are in B♭: concert B♭ is your written C. A normal tuner shows concert pitch, which is why your notes "look wrong". Pick your sax above and the tuner shows the written note instead.

How to tune a saxophone with this tuner

Warm up for a few minutes. Saxes rise in pitch as they warm.
Press Start tuner, allow the microphone and point the bell slightly away from the phone or laptop.
Play a long, steady tuning note at mezzo-forte: written G on alto or bari, written C on tenor or soprano (both are concert B♭).
If you are flat, push the mouthpiece further onto the cork. If sharp, pull it out a millimetre or two. Twist gently; grease the cork if it is stiff.
Check a second note an octave apart (for example written G in both octaves). If the upper octave is sharp, relax the embouchure rather than moving the mouthpiece again.

Saxophone tuning tips

Mark the cork

Once you find the right spot, mark the cork with a pencil line so you start in roughly the right place every time.

Embouchure first

Biting makes the sax sharp, especially in the upper octave. A loose, dropped jaw makes it flat. Tune with your normal sound, not a pinched one.

Tuning the neck octave

Low notes and palm-key notes drift the most. Use the tuner during long tones to learn which notes on your horn need lipping up or down.

Reeds

A soft or worn-out reed makes the upper register flat and unstable; a too-hard reed can push it sharp.

Tune by ear with reference notes

No microphone? Press a reference note above to hear it for three seconds and match it, listening for the "beats" (a wobble) to slow down and disappear. The buttons are labelled with the note you read in the selected setting, with the concert pitch underneath.

FAQ

What note does an alto sax tune to?

Concert B♭ in a band, which is written G on alto sax. Many players also check concert F (written D) and concert A (written F♯).

What note does a tenor sax tune to?

Concert B♭, which is written C on tenor sax, a major ninth above the sounding note.

Why does the tuner show the wrong note for my sax?

Ordinary tuners show concert pitch. An alto sax's written C sounds as concert E♭, and a tenor's written C sounds as concert B♭. Select your saxophone above to see written notes.

Is this good for baritone and soprano sax?

Yes. Baritone is in E♭ like alto (an octave lower) and soprano is in B♭ like tenor (an octave higher). Select them in the list.