G3

[Gandalfe]

I've started working on Harlem Nocturne and the last note is tough for me. It is a G3 and is supposed to be fingered like:

o
x x(octave)
x

x
x
x

I can play to F#3 with easy and volume, but the high G won't sound. I've tried to hear the sound before I blow and even that doesn't work. Any ideas out there?

[ferrari]

What kind of horn do you have? Mouthpiece, reed?

[Gandalfe]

Couf Superba I, selmer jazz with an E facing or a couf rubber 8*. I favor the La Voz reeds at med soft strength. I've also got some Vandoren Java reeds in the green box at a 2.5 strength, but they play like a 2.75.

Gandalfe

[Merlin]

Try using the following fingering for G3 (on alto)

x
o
x
-
x
o
x

+ side Bb key and OK

[singlereed]

Try LH 1,3 RH1, side Bb, side Eb.

[Gandalfe]

I got so excited I strapped on the couf, but to no avail. My instructor comes Wednesday, so I will be interested to see if it is the instrument or me. All through high school I never fooled around with altissimo. After a 27 year hiatus, I guess now I am paying for that. Thanks for the help.

[Subtone Sam]

try LH 1 or front F,side Bb and side F# (if you got one) and OK.(and :twisted: attitude!)

[MS]

Unless you're playing that tune in the key of "G mimor", the last note should be an A3, and the fingering you post is a good one. Most of the big band arrangements I've seen are in the key of A minor. A3 should be one of the easier altissimo notes to achieve. Good Luck

[brentb]

... A3 should be one of the easier altissimo notes to achieve. Good Luck

I'm currently transcribing "Blue Bossa" and have a long ways to go on it, but there is one run that goes A-B-C#-F-A ending on that A3. I've been working on altissimo only a little bit and it's very hard, well, impossible to get this run yet. The range of this song is low B to alt. A3.

[MS]

Hope you're using the front F3 to A3. If you have access to the old forum archives, look in the altissimo for a thread called "All about the tongue" or some such thing.

If you're not doing the Runyon mouthpiece exercise, that's a good place to start. The concert A=880 will give you a close voicing for F#3, and A3 is just a tad further up. Also read any threads regarding "Overtones" and the overtone series.

Helps if you can pre-hear, sing or match another player who can play the A3 in person. Good luck! 8)

[griggsy]

Man...I cannot seem to remember the fingering on my Tenor for G3. I remember that E (all these with octave key of course) was fingered by using the "Front F" (so named on a great site I refer to---saxlessons.com) with the A and G key. After that, I proceed by releasing the G key, then on to next note by adding the F key on the right hand---while keeping the front F pressed. Now...is the G3 played by pressing the Bis + side Bb key or by Front F + side Bb??? The fingerings on all the sites I visit are not very intuitive, and I didn't see one for G3 on Ingram's site. Thanks for your help

[brentb]

Hope you're using the front F3 to A3. If you have access to the old forum archives, look in the altissimo for a thread called "All about the tongue" or some such thing. ...

Yes, definitely front F3. I'll check the archive, thanks.

[rollen]

here's a fingering from the Luckey book.

OcatveKey + LH123 + RH3 + lowC# .

This is sometimes easier than the Aux F side Bb fingering, although much more cumbersome. However, it's a good fingering to start with. It seems more forgiving to get G3. You have to relax your throat and focus the airstream to get the note to speak. Think of the UHHH sound to get the correct throat position.

[griggsy]

Thanks for the help on that guys! Hey...also, I was wondering what a good source from which to buy Rascher's "Top Tones...". I looked on amazon and barnes and noble, and they are out of new copies. Is there any site on the web where I can buy it? I saw on Amazon they were selling a used copy for $150!!! Is that right?? Maybe there are several volumes of this thing...not sure. I was under the impression that it is just a typical paperback book like most other sax related books I pick up.

[MS]

Paper size is about like typing paper and it's not very thick. Try Dorn Publications: ( WWW.Dornpub.com) or any large store that handles a lot of music instruction books.

Griggsy-
Is the last note in your Harlem Nocturne version a G3 or A3?

[BobH]

I agree with MS: The fingering you showed is for A3, not G3, and that jibes with what I remember of Harlem Nocturne (been years since I've played it). It's a pretty stable altissimo fingering on alto, so if you're not getting it, you may want to look at a couple things:
* Overtone exercises.
* A possible leak. When was the last time you had your horn to the shop?
Good luck!

[griggsy]

I got confused on the last couple of posts. I actually haven't attempted "Harlem Nocturne", so I wouldn't be able to tell if it's G or A3. I found the book on Aebersold's site, but I forgot to ask one key question. Is this book applicable to Tenor???

[brentb]

Go to www.jazzbooks.com -- $10.50, and apparently in stock from checking the website.

[Gandalfe]

And, much to my chagrin, it is an A3. MS called it first. Free soda on me.

[MS]

Diet Coke, please! :D

[rollen]

If you having problems with A3 and that fingering try:

o
x x(octave)
x

o
o
o

If it's flat, you can add side C to sharpen it up a bit.

[MS]

Groiggsy, The Top Tones book is applicable to all saxophones, more or less. There is one version published intended for all saxophones.