Altissmo D

[Tears June]

What I found from http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/ is up to C#. Which altissimo note is the limit for saxophone - D?

Can recommend one or two altissimo D fingering (4th octave). Need easy, in-tune fingering. Both for alto & tenor. Thanks.

:cry:

[max]

Theoretically, there is no upper limit.

The alitissimo charts at the site you mentioned go up almost another octave - it's in the "upper" altissimo register (the "middle" chart ends at C#).

In case you can't find it, here's the link to the "upper" chart:
http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/sax_alt_6.html

[colibri]

I agree. The only limit to altissimo is your own chops. To get the D4 I use LH1 + LH3 + RH1 + RH2.

After you really get your altissimo voicing going, you don't need the fingerings anymore. 8)

[Les22]

After you really get your altissimo voicing going, you don't need the fingerings anymore.

Is this true? I've only been using altissimo for a few months now, with wonderfull success, but only up to 4thC#. In the heat of the moment, however, I sometimes hit much higher notes by accident that often, not always, happen to sound very good. These "accidentals" happen without any specific fingerings. Does this mean with more practice I will be able to hit altissimo notes at will, without specific fingerings? Does Lenny Picket do his thing all by airstream with little or no regard to fingerings?

Les [/quote]

[colibri]

Yes this is true. Altissimo fingerings only help you get the note, but you can play altissimo with or without the fingering. It is really like practicing the mouthpiece pitch bending exercise. You can bend notes up or down in the altissimo range with the help of your lips, tongue and throat. The most important thing is to "hear" the correct note in your head and execute it with the same pitch and tone color with the help of your chops.

The overtone exercises and mouthpiece pitch are THE most important if you want good sounding altissimo, because it gives you flexibility all over your horn. You can still play altissimo without practicing these exercises, but chances are you'll always have bad altissimo that sounds edgy and constrained.

[Tears June]

max

The link you show is only up to altissimo C. I'm not hurry reach to the altissimo D, still takes me time to be familiar on G to C#. I just want to get information what's the altissimo D fingering.

colibri, max, colibri
Have a question about altissimo & overtone exercise. I'm able reach to Altissimo C# after practice 6 weeks of Rascher Sigurd 's overtone exercise as a supplement and foundation. Usually I will put altissimo & overtone exercise on each session. Overtone first then follow by altissimo exercise. Depends if I've good shape, usually I spend 10 minutes on each.


1) Overtone exercise
Now, I'm able to use Low C fingering to make a high C pitch (3rd octave). But unable go to C# (low C# fingering to make high C#, 3rd octave pitch). It block me for a week already.... I tried many ways, either sing the pitch first, or use high C# fingering to play the pitch a few beats then immediately change to low C# fingering. In occasionally, the 2nd method works but I consider it's cheating. Any tips & suggestion?


2) Altissimo note

* Tonguing
I can only make statacco up to altissimo B, what is the most important thing to make tonguing on altissimo note? Air, throat, tongue position. Yes, I know. But could you please explain a little bit in details this combination.

I think this is a very difficult topic. My teacher is difficult to show me (not only me I think but for all new comer) because we can't see how's the air flow, throat and tongue position in our teacher's mouth.

* Reed
Does reed affect the result? I found sometime diffcult on alt A on some reed but much easiler on other reeds - I use same fingering - either Octave + L-2 + L-3/ Eb or without Eb.


:cry:

[colibri]

Tears June,
The higher overtones will require you to put less bottom lip on the reed, because your lips will only dampen the vibrations of the reed. If you bite to get the higher overtones, you will either get an ugly note an octave lower, or you'll squeak. Let the reed vibrate freely. Your 2nd method is not cheating at all. People use all sorts of weird ways to help themselves practice overtones, as long as there are good results in the end.

To play staccatos in the altissimo range, you first have to get the lip/tongue position of each altissimo note in muscle memory. There's a "breaking" point for every note, meaning if your tongue goes too low, the note will become an overtone lower. Keep your tongue at the border of this "breaking" point and play the notes like the way you play normal staccatos.

Reeds does affect the result. An old soft reed won't play altissimo properly. A harder reed can enable you to play high range easier, but at the same time you can lose your low notes.

I tried my best to explain. Good luck. 8)

[Tears June]

colibri

Many thanks for your valuable information! You may really point out the fact, I got to do the experiment in next session.

You said " The higher overtones will require you to put less bottom lip on the reed + staccatos in the altissimo range".
I remember if my low lip roll a little bit inside, sometime it's more easy to get the overtone (C). In the mean time, I put less low lip on the reed. Is that correct I should also roll my low lip in instead of out?

For reeds - Yes, new reed after break-in process is much more easy to get the overtone. You really hit the corner in every aspect. Thank you!


:cry:

[singlereed]

I think altissimo D is possibly the easiest of all altissimo notes - just use the front F and the octave key. Works on all my horns.

[colibri]

Tears June,
By saying "using less lip" I meant there should be a thinner piece of bottom lip between the reed and your bottom teeth. When I do this, my lower lip is rolling out. You might have to roll yours in, since we have different embouchure.

Hope you find this helpful. Have fun.

[sax2003]

I agree. The only limit to altissimo is your own chops. To get the D4 I use LH1 + LH3 + RH1 + RH2.

After you really get your altissimo voicing going, you don't need the fingerings anymore. 8)

can you explain the fingering????????????
like in

x

x
x

x
x
x .??????????????????

[hornstar]

in my primary band, I'm playing wildass music that allows me considerable freedom in what I can play, and begs for altissimo. consequently, my altissimo chops have gone up considerably during that time, and I have preferred that I use fingerings for each note. however, I often hear altissimo notes that I want to hit, without being conscious of what they are to know which fingering to use. in those case, I lip 'em, using ear and embouchure, without a specific fingering. in fact, I find that a preferred altissimo fingering will inhibit lipping, whereas a non-specific fingering that won't nail the note opens the horn right up for this. I can think of three ways I do this. one is fingering low B or Bb, with octave key, and lifting a key in the right hand stack (a fingering often used for multiphonics). that one's my favorite for a lip glissando on sax. another is the octave key and altF key. a third technique I use is to fan the keys slightly while lipping at will. sounds sloppy, but works quite well. my guess is that it breaks up the stability of the air column, which allows wide variation of pitch through embouchure.

[JL]

I agree with singlereed. I find the D altissimo note fairly easy, using the same fingering(s) as for G3:

octave + front F key

LH 1,3 with RH 1,3 + Eb key

When you go for a G3 and the note shoots way up there, you are probably hitting the D.

Also, the front F key fingering allows considerable leeway in voicing several altissimo notes or slurring up and down from the D4.

[JL]

Whoops, that second fingering (LH 1,3 RH 1,3 + Eb key) is what I use to get a C4. Sorry about that, I need more sleep! But the front F key (with octave key) yields a nice D4.

[saxboy]

Tears, I just use that key above the B on Alto and Tenor.
For chromatic or line type passages I use 23 for A, 3 for Bb add the palm D for B, add palm Eb for C, add palm E for C#, add palm F for D, palm F# for D#.
Works good for both horns for me. You really need safe fingerings when getting started, but to use this stuff and own it, you need a scale that you can get around in too.
SAXBOY

[JL]

Right on saxboy, that makes a good altissimo chromatic scale.
Going back to the D4, using front F key, I found that adding the palm side C key to the front F makes the D pop out better and more in tune. Try it, you'll like it.

[saxboy]

I have to think about fingerings because I have played up there for a long time. You are right about the side key add. I do use the side key with that high D fingering.
Thanks for pointing it out as it might help TearsJune get it easier.

SAXBOY
www.gregvail.com

[Wailin']

How about getting above D4...try playing high F# with an overtone embouchure. This should pop out Eb4, then do it with high G for E4. I've gotten up to G4 by using high Bb4.
A good book to get is the Saxophone Altissimo by Robert A. Luckeh, Phd. It contains an indepth study of the altissimo ranges and overtone studies.