 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Freddysax
Date: 2002-04-18 17:57
I've got a problem i can't play the altissimo notes.
Could somebody pls tell me how to play these notes.
I play 5 year sax alto and i've got a 2 and 1/2 reed.
Pls tell it me with a detailled explenation.
Ps i've got already sax tutor so i no the fingerings but is there some techniek too play altissimo???
Send a mail.
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Author: barisaxrox
Date: 2002-04-19 20:52
developing the embochure for altissmo takes a while. you really cant "just start" doing it. you need and extremely tight embochure and a strong, focused stream of air. ive been able to rip off some altissmo notes on bari sax, but it is too difficult yet for me to do on alto.
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Author: Freddysax
Date: 2002-04-19 23:10
How can i train me to play with an extremely tight emochure?
How do ya focus the air in a thight stream?
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Author: Gnomon
Date: 2002-04-22 20:31
I don't play saxophone, but I play clarinet. I assume a lot of the same principles apply. What barisaxrox says fits in with what I know about the clarinet: you need a tight embouchure for the really high notes. You also need a hard reed. One way to tighten your embouchure is to play with a harder reed. You will have to tighten even to get the normal notes and this will strengthen your cheek muscles. Eventually you will be able to play the high notes as well. The other thing you must do is practise a lot, because this is physical training for your cheek muscles.
As I said, this is for the clarinet. If any of this is wrong for the saxophone, somebody please say so!
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Author: tsax
Date: 2002-04-25 15:26
You don't need a hard reed to play altissimo on alto, Sanborn for example plays a La Voz medium reed and reaches really high notes, and I play a whole octave above the high f with la voz medium, or Van Doren Java 2 1/2. A way to learn altissimo can be found in Sigurd Rascher's book about top tones.
Have you ever played the harmonics on your saxophone (that is the same technique that clarinettists and trumpettists use). You play a low Bflat and sound the octave, the quint above, and so on. So you finger a low B flat and the note you hear should be a middle f (that is the easiest note to try first). A method to accomplish this, is singing that note before you trie to play it, so you know in your mind what note you want. When you master that, you can play the altissimonotes and have learned it the right way. For your high notes, you need to avoid biting, so a (too) hard reed will give no good results...
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Author: Timothy Anzalone
Date: 2002-05-09 06:26
yes, the "get a hard reed and bite" method is terible. it really does take years of developement, i have been playing for nine years and only in the past two do feel comfortable enough with my altisimo to perform it publicly. But don't fret, when you begin to hear and reach those upper tones, you tend to progress more quickly. in two years i went from almost nothing above F to an octave and a second that i am willing to perform in publicly
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Author: Nate West
Date: 2002-10-09 19:18
Freddy,
I know your frustrations because I went to a Gerald Albright Concert and left with my mouth open. I was wondering the same thing about the Altissimo notes. I looked up every book and resource I could find and started studying. First and formost as everyone has mentioned is a developed embouchure. But next in line would be the study of overtones. Sigurd Racher has a excellent book that covers the study of the higer octaves, and he starts with the study of overtones. Its to hard to explain here but the work is all from the diaphram and throat. Once you get that book and start studying, you'll start playing the high notes. I can successfully play up to a high d now after about a year of practicing. Hope this helps
Nate
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Author: Matt Voiers
Date: 2002-12-08 16:02
Mmmmkay....a word from one alto player to another....if you are far enough advanced to use altissimo fingerings....well then it's time you move out of diapers, because altissimo notes WILL NOT SPEAK ON A 21/2 REED!!!!! If they do...then it is usually very flat.....because a lack of strength supporting the air flow and such a high note....so i recommend moving your reed intensity up to at least 31/2 up to 4 1/2 u will see amazing results from it and it will help your tone quality on your low notes too, because with a lower intensity the low note will waiver between the low to middle register of the alto creating a nasty "Jumping Effect" so i strongly recommend if you have been on sax for 5+ years, then let's move from diapers and start growing into your ability for that age.....also you can just magically jump from a 2 1/2 to a 4 1/2 overnight!!!!1 it does take practice with adjusting tone quality and such.....gradually move up and in no time them altissimo note will come out like that........
Good Luck!
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Author: AdamJaz2002
Date: 2003-01-28 03:19
You can tighten your eombatiour (I hope that is readable) by saying ewww to the mirror like you have a zit. Hold this for a few minutes.
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Author: altobuddy
Date: 2004-01-02 22:18
Unless you are the rare once a century prodigy, you need a few things to play altissimo.
1) Good Supplies (Horn, Mouthpiece, Reeds) it will cost $$
2) Know your Horn (Years at it, at least 4 or so)
3) Practice Practice Practice, nobody gets it first try, it might even take years to become great and comfertable.
4) There is hope, if you really try and want it, a very large percentage are succesfully, stick to it, it is going to be hard!
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Author: ryan
Date: 2004-01-22 17:13
i've got a problem i can't play the altissimo notes.
Could somebody pls tell me how to play these notes.
I play 5 year sax alto and i've got a 3 .
Pls tell it me with a detailled explenation.
Ps i've got already sax tutor so i no the fingerings but is there some techniek too play altissimo??? if its possiple can u sent me a print of the fingerings so i can play them
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