Altissimo G on Tenor

[Eric Bessette]

Here is a great thread on this topic from last April. Pay particular attention to Heath's post #4. It bears reading and re-reading.

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthr...070#post790070

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showpos...40&postcount=4

[TooSaxy]

www.wfg.woodwind.org <--- prepare to try fingerings for like an hour! One should work. My best G on tenor is Octave Key LH1 hiF# side Bb

[Mzhickteno]

You can also check the way the front F opens up the high F key. I've found alt is easiest if it just opens a crack...

Just got G to speak for the first time on my YTS-23 after reading this. I did side Bb, and instead of front F, fingered B and just opened F by a crack... voila! Popped right out. Cool! No idea how to adjust the front F to open less though.

[buddy lee]

Octave key + left hand 1 (b key) + high f# key

pops every time for me on a Mauriat 66R

[jicaino]

depending on the horn, you can go LH13|RH23 and add side C for G#

[densbel]

I was struggling a lot with this fingering (front F + side Bb). The sound was stuffy and inconsistent, it was like it always wanted to escape from subtone into the tone area... But then one day I tried it without an octave key and was amazed at the clearness and strength of the sound I got! I don't know if someone else had same experience?

[cabe277]

I've actually had more success using just the front F key without the octave key. I can get the note with or without it but when I don't use the octave key I find the note to be clearer and very difficult to split. However I tend to use the octave key anyways because I LOVE the split tone on that note

[rsclosson]

Man! I am glad I found this thread! I was unable to get high G on my Chu (no problem with my Vito) until I read here about not using the octave key. Tried it on the Conn and it popped right out! Thanks!!!

[reedsburn62]

Play the alternate high F and lift the A key so you're just pressing the front F key, can also start at alternate high E and slur up, F then G. Altissimo G is not easy, for that matter altissimo takes some serious study and practice.

[Allen Halstead]

[QUOTE=martysax;1024407]My Mark VI is nice and clear using just the front F and octave key.



That's my dependable choice also ....but you have to "hear" before you tackle it ... "hear it ...feel it....trust it..."

[martysax]

[QUOTE=Allen Halstead;1803424]

My Mark VI is nice and clear using just the front F and octave key.



That's my dependable choice also ....but you have to "hear" before you tackle it ... "hear it ...feel it....trust it..."

That also works with women in the dark.

[JeffT]

I was struggling a lot with this fingering (front F + side Bb). The sound was stuffy and inconsistent, it was like it always wanted to escape from subtone into the tone area... But then one day I tried it without an octave key and was amazed at the clearness and strength of the sound I got! I don't know if someone else had same experience?

+1

That was exactly my experience! Like someone else suggested also check that you front-f does not open the f vent too much.

[ChuckSax]

Do you have a high F# key? If you do: left hand -octave key and B key, right hand - side Bb and high F#.

Agreed - this is the one that works great for me - however, I also play a Couf style sax, not sure if Selmer has the same fingerings.

[ChuckSax]

Now is not the time to tack it on as the last note of a solo.

LOL, took the words out of my mouth. I must agree here.

[jazz groove master]

Yeah man middle d and high g are some of the hardest notes to get in tune

[mpjbiker]

Thanks, just discovered it works fine on my 66R, too-result!

[hornstar]

G altissimo used to be my toughest until I discovered this fingering, now it just pops:

LH: Octave key, 1 (B) key
RH: side Bb + F# trill

The F# trill key meaning the key used for slurs from F or F. I don't have a high F# key. Anyway, try it you'll be amazed.
Now one of the least important keys on the sax becomes one of the most important. It still wigs me out.

[ekilgore]

G altissimo used to be my toughest until I discovered this fingering, now it just pops:

LH: Octave key, 1 (B) key
RH: side Bb + F# trill

The F# trill key meaning the key used for slurs from F or F. I don't have a high F# key. Anyway, try it you'll be amazed.
Now one of the least important keys on the sax becomes one of the most important. It still wigs me out.

I had the same experience. Once I found a fingering for G# that works with that I was all set

[The Daddymac]

Interesting thread. Coincidently I found this thread not 10 minutes after I found this:

http://www.google.com/patentsid=oHUI...=0CDEQ6AEwADgU

It's a (very recent) patent describing a key mechanism for playing altissimo G. There's also some interesting discussion on Rosseau's technique for playing altissimo G, and why this works. In short the solution it is very similar to what SactoPete mentioned above - adjust the opening height for front F.

I suspect different brands of horn are different because of the very specific configurations of tone holes and how that affects air flow and the multiphonics produced. essentially with altissimo we're picking certain frequencies from the complex waveform produced by a mouthpiece and reed.

Does that make it any easier to play altissimo G? Probably not. But I can't wait till tomorrow when I can try this without waking my kids.

[piwikiwi]

Octave key + left hand 1 (b key) + high f# key

pops every time for me on a Mauriat 66R

Works like a charm on my ref 54 and is the easiest imho