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Re: What is the highest note?

Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2021-12-11 00:45

I think there is a limit. For one thing, as any overtone series ascends, subsequent pitches get closer together. The series therefore tend in the real world to converge to limits.

Also, there's something going on involving what, for lack of a more learned term, I'll call "focal length." Higher pitches seem to have an external vibratory focus nearer the tip of the reed plus an internal one nearer the tip of the tongue. The ability of either reed or tongue to support tiny vibratory lengths is limited.

There's ways around those factors that I'm unclear on, but one thing seems to do with almost a multiphonic effect where a combination of pitches can result in a higher overtone than a single one. I admit I don't know what I'm talking about, but that's the feeling I get.

As for teeth on the reed, that can help reach very high pitches, but it's hard to control. The exact placement and pressure of the teeth can have more to do with what pitch comes out than any other factor, including which holes are being opened and closed on the instrument. It's also tricky to switch smoothly between lip on reed and teeth on reed or vice versa.

Decent sound through G#7 is doable with practice. It seems to get harder from there, but up to C or C#8 also seems potentially usable. Up through E8 can be done, maybe requiring teeth on reed, but ultimately those notes may not be very repeatable or usable. Going out further on my limb, I'll suggest that F8 is the limit.

Incidentally (and off-topic,) the singer Dimash Kudaibergen has a performance range between C2 and D8.

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What is the highest note? new

Won Kim

2001-10-23 03:23