Altissimo Devolopment

[woodwindmaster06]

How long did it take you after you played your first altissmo note to play a different pitch altissimo note?

[Tsax]

I honestly do not remember

:P

but it didn't take me long to learn

:D

[tyler_terlecki]

the basics dont take that long if you have good control of your instrument,

whats hard and long, is getting it to sound pleasant, its one thing to hit the note, its another for people not to cringe when you do.

and dont forget, not because it takes one man a week to get it right, doesnt mean your not good if you only get it after 1 year.

our bodies are all different and it influences alot on how hard or easy it will be to learn the "advanced" stuff.


as for me, it took me a few days to get the whole range to play, but its a contiuning journey for me to make it sound great in all styles and volumes. well, on the whole sax, its a continuing journey of learning til you either quit or die for everyone.

Coltrane wasnt the best when he first took the horn in his hands:)

[michaelbaird]

Altissimo notes can be fun and very scary. I've had almost as many break on not speak on me as I've had come screaming out. I use them more sparingly with ballads.

[Howlin]

As Larry Teal says in The Art Of Sax Playing -
"High tones should be attempted only by advanced saxophomne players who have a well developed embouchure and an accurate sense of pitch discrimination." and "...tones in this register must be heard ahead of their sounding."

[Shante]

exactly howlin.

to be better at altissimo practice playing overtones using the low Bb B C C# and D fingerings.
training you ear to hear the notes comes first, then trainging your mouth to play what your ear hears, then you can play the altissimo fingerings better.

[UOPJohnny]

Altissimo took me FOREVER to learn, but when it clicked... absolutely everything fell into place.

[Razzy]

Taking forever, heh... mostly due to my sax. Vito student model... it's like tackling a brick wall. I've played some pro-level Yanis, Yamahas, Selmers etc. and the altissimo just seems to pop right out, it's amazing. However I think it's good that I'm learning it on such a more difficult instrument, all the better control I'll have on my reference alto coming in the fall 8)

[MB-913]

It's not too difficult can play different altissimo pitch (from G3 up to F4, G#4..etc).

You can do this if you spend time, patient + understand the track.

** The most difficult part in altissimo is to connect a series of Upstair notes to a phrasing.

[Fun Bun]

Crap, I don't remember. I just remember focusing mostly on overtone/voicing practice.

[Dr_sax]

I just remember my brother next door really had bare nerves :lol: