 The Fingering Forum
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Author: lou
Date: 2001-08-28 00:11
I'm a keybd player occasionally doubling on alto sax, I play just well enough to get by fine in any popular/rock song. I've always wanted to master altissimo, but find I can't begin to get anything above F#3, I've tried all fingerings.
I'm using a Boosey-Hawkes 'Oxford' sax, Selmer mouthpiece and VanDoren 3 reeds. I've been told that my instrument needs an overhaul, but is not worth spending the money on.
Is the altissimo more dependant on the condition of the instrument than the general registers? Or, am I missing something in the technique? Or am I just not trying hard enough?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Lou
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Author: george
Date: 2001-08-28 04:42
ok, first thing you need to do when trying to get altisimo notes is BITE very hard on the mouthpiece. These notes aren't actually built into your horn so to speak, you are just forcing harmonics out of it. The condition of your horn isn't that important concerning altissimo. Also, 3 reeds are a little too hard for playing pop stuff. You could use about a 2, no higher than 2 and a half. 3 and above is more geared towards classical stuff and will give you a hard time when trying to go high. Hope that helps
-george
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Author: lou
Date: 2001-08-28 19:34
thanks for the help, I switched to a 2 1/2 that I had in my case and I'm already hitting A3's.(not very well, but at least I'm hitting them. Practise, practise, practise....)
I'll pick up some 2's and try them as well.
Cheers
Lou
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Author: Curt
Date: 2002-04-10 00:58
you might also try and hum the note before you play it. that often helps me when im playing altissimo.
humming the note before you play it gives you an idea of how the overtone will sound like once its played on the horn. this will help you in the begining, later on you wont even need to hum anymore and altisimo will come naturally to you. this way also will save your lip from biting down so hard on your mouthpiece.
another factor for playing GOOD altissimo notes depends on what kind of mouthpiece you are useing. if you have a classical oriented mouthpiece, it WILL be difficult play the higher notes because of the large inner bore. in jazz mouthpieces the bore size is very small compared to concert mouthpieces.
hope this new info can help ya in the longrun and happy playin!
- Curt
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Author: Dan
Date: 2002-04-16 22:41
Well i have played the alto saxaphone ever since i was 16. However when i came to Canada i dident pick it up. Now that i have tryied to relearn the instrument i find it very hard to learn. I was wondering if anyone had a good website where i could download portuguese songs in music writting so i could get back into the "grove".
Dan
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Author: bryan
Date: 2005-11-24 00:34
Well. I read the most disguisting thing I have EVER read just recently. Here on some tips on playing altissimo
1) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER BITE. Do you know what happens when you bite? NOTHING! You sound AWFUL when you bite.
2) Figure out the fingering. Hum a couple pitches below it. (So if you're playing F#, then you might sing a D, D#, E, F, F#). Then, play up to it.
3) In the upper register, it is ESSENTIAL that you tighten your grip. NO, THIS IS NOT BITING. This is just simply making the mouthpiece fit firmer in your mouth from all sides, not the top and bottom of your mouth.
4) You may now begin to slur up to your F#. Once you get to it, very slightly push your jaw forward. It won't come out right away, but with practice, it will.
Good luck,
Bryan
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