Mouthpiece and altissimo

[SaxInJax]

Ok, here's an interesting one. I play a Selmer Mk VI tenor. My altissimo is kind of strange. I can't seem to get G3 no matter what I do. Some of the fingerings work, but produce an in-tune F or F#. Any ideas?

I've recently been trying out both a Phil Barone Hollywood and a Guardala Studio. The altissimo is not there on the Barone. Many of the notes just pop right out on the Guardala, but alas, not the G3.

[colibri]

Do you get the notes above G3?
It might not be a mouthpiece thing, although some are easier than others. The palm key that goes under your left middle finger might not be opened enough, and cause the G3 to be flat. You might want to get your horn adjusted.

[SaxInJax]

Well, on the Guardala I can get A3, B3, C3 pretty well. Most of the G3, and G#3 fingerings don't speak (except much higher/squeaky). The ones that do sound F or F#.

On the Barone, the altissimo is extremely hard to get; even the A3.

Which key are you saying doesn't open enough? I recently had my sax adjusted by one of the more prominent repair guys.

[steve]

If your VI has an F# key, try playing that together with an L1 . I can get the G3 ( F3 concert) on my Berg 130, but its a bit stuffy.

[SaxInJax]

The Mk VI doesn't have an F# key, only a front F. All the notes I've listed are "tenor sax" not concert.

Thanks.

[hornstar]

SaxInJax

I'm playing an SBA, and this G3 fingering always works for me:

LH: Alt-F
RH: side-Bb

Try trilling to it from this F#3 fingering:

LH: Alt-F
Bis
RH: side-Bb

good luck!

[JL]

This has been discussed on some other threads, but hitting G3 requires a very specific "voicing" with throat and tongue. It's difficult to describe, but I find I have to back off a bit on the airflow, compared to other altissimo notes, and voice it very carefully to avoid jumping up to a higher overtone. On a MK VI tenor, the front F/side Bb fingering should work fine (also use the octave key). You just have to experiment with how you voice it.

[SteveS]

This G3 works well on a lot of horns:

LH: 1, 3 (the B and G keys)

RH: 3 (the D key)

Good luck! Practice your overtones patiently. :-)

SteveS

[jazzbluescat]

The Mk VI doesn't have an F# key, only a front F. All the notes I've listed are "tenor sax" not concert.
Thanks.

My VI tenor has a high F# key, down near the regular alt F#.

I use ok, B or pearl above the B, and the high F# key for G3.

[Howlin]

dude my horn is the same cat as yours - the fingering is ok,alt F,side Bb and the bottom F key - skank it up :!:

[SaxInJax]

:idea:
I may have solved this. There is a screw that slides a tab on my aux-F key. It controls how much the F key opens over the hole. Right now it opens almost as much as pressing the side high F itself. I tried manually opening it just a little. I was able to get the G3.

Tomorrow I'm going to adjust the aux-F to see if making it open just a little improves the situation. I think this will work.

Stay "tuned"...

[Razzy]

Yea, for some reason on mark VI tenors I've found the front F key doesn't open the hole nearly as far as it should.

Just keep doing those overtones man. Practice the 5th overtone of low C and alternate that between whatever fingering has come closest for you. On my particular tenor, front F key, octave key, and side Bb seems to do the job. But this took a little bit of work to get. Before I started doing the overtones studies about 20 minutes a day, i'd just get squeaks and squawks! Now I'm pretty comfy embouchure-wise up to a D4.

[johnny]

Adjusting the amount that the aux-f vents the side f key can be somewhat helpful, but watch that it doesn't change the intonation/clarity of the front E3. Ultimately, learning the correct voicing for G/G#3 is the universal solution.

[SaxInJax]

Why would that change the E? The F is closed when you play the E.

[Razzy]

Heh, it's definitely open man... perhaps that's your problem? In case you're confused, he's talking altissimo E3, not palm E3. The fingering for the note in question is LH FrontF 1 2 3 and OK.

[jazzbluescat]

Heh, it's definitely open man... perhaps that's your problem? In case you're confused, he's talking altissimo E3, not palm E3. The fingering for the note in question is LH FrontF 1 2 3 and OK.

You mean E6?
[I ain't got but one E3. I mean, this here Selmer can do lots of things, but......] Anyhow, that's purty darn high.

[SaxInJax]

E3 is played with the palm key and the F palm key is definately closed.

[Razzy]

Yes, palm E3, but not front E3. Front F with the G key down, is another way of saying the fingering I explained above. And let me assure, if your instrument is capable of playing front F, it is capable of playing front E: add the G key! 8)

[JL]

Razzy is right. There is an altissimo fingering for E3, using the front F key + LH 2 3, with OK. But I still suspect this is more a voicing problem, not a fingering/key height problem. E6 ??!! Give me a break.....is that even in the range of the human ear?

[basti 15]

hi I play an old jamaha tenor and i have problemes with these top tones to . my big problem is that the reeds i use are done after some days can anybody give me a hint which reeds i could try , thanks.