Damn, I sat through this for almost ten minutes to find out you didn't teach the g sharp/a flat that I was looking for!!! LOL, oh well... Nice post anyways, thanks :0)
I can get most octaves and a few twelths but much past that I'm stumped. I got plenty of chop strength being an Altimisso Trumpeter but I must be missing something so far. Any suggestions?
i can hit up to a altissimo c on my soprano which is first finger third finger, fourth finger and sixts finger as the alternat fingering, but its harder on my alto and tenor and difficult on my bari sax
i play a C**. its a little more open than the C*. i swapped it out of a school loaner sax case in high school because i liked it better with out realizing what it was. i pretty much traded a 120 dollar mpc for a 20 dollar yamaha stock mpc. by the time i realized what i had done it was too late to do anything about it. :-)
@solodude10 she might need to, it's altissimo, of cource you shouldn't normally but trust me she knows her shit. She's a professor, or at least teacher.
lol! i'm flattered! i'm not a professor yet. plan to be eventually. i have a masters, just need to get that doctoral degree and wait for the current profs to retire. i am a teacher tho.
when it comes to puffed cheeks, its not good technique, but peoples faces and muscle structure are different. some can't help a little cheek puffing when they play. doesn't mean they are using bad technique. sometimes its just a physiological thing.
You helped alot! Thank you! Im a alto my self. Ive been playing for 4 years. I was wondering if you could make a video all about overtones because I need help on it. If you could, would you mind sending me the video on a private message
Good to see someone who actually gives an in-depth breakdown of the overtones difficulty. Also it's helpful to see how you struggle with some overtones more than others-- I hate watching tutorial videos of people who hit all their overtones perfect like they could do it from day one then just say "Just keep practicing" haha
front fingerings are notoriously sharp. you gotta voice them lower if you plan to hold them out for more than a few seconds or if you are trying to blend with other musicians.
@ssingagirl Absolutely not. It takes years to develop a correct altissimo register. What you're actually doing is altering the airflow to play overtones of different fingerings on your horn. For example, by fingering high D and blowing correctly, I am able to play altissimo B. If I go up chromatically through the fingerings to high F#, I play altissimo B, C, Db, D, and Eb. These are not "incorrect", as they are part of the overtone series. If you don't know what an overtone is, start there.
Hi, I have been playing sax for about 6 years and I recently learned how to play an altissimo G, however I'm looking to go further in my range, what should I look for to do so? I also never practiced my overtones for this either. Would that help if I can play this high now? Good video btw.
Hey Jasmine, do u have any recomendations to hit altissimo notes...like what i should do with my embouchure (excuse spelling) ..cuz my school is really competitive and i want to get an advantage on other saxophones
@Empoleon2568 It takes years to build the skills to play in the altissimo range successfully. It all comes from practicing your overtones and becoming fluent with them. If your normal playing isn't developed enough to impress people, trying to develop your top tones too quickly won't help you at all, and you'll just develop bad habits. If you really want to work on them, though, I'd suggest buying a book on the altissimo register and learning that way. "Top Tones" by Sigurd Rascher, preferably.
@confoozled3737 Well im not exactly a beginner ive been plating alto for around 4 1/2 years and my note range is at its max...other than altissimo notes of course...so i can easily play from a low Bb to a hi F# except id like to get some hints on playing altissimo...i sort of figured out the fingering for hi G but im having trouble with G#...any suggestions?
@Empoleon2568 I've been playing for almost eight years and it's taken me two years to develop my altissimo register, and I still have a ways to go to become absolutely fluent. It's not about fingerings, because if you learn the fingerings and try to hit the notes without proper preparation, you'll either be unsuccessful or develop extremely bad habits that will take even more time to correct. Where you need to start is with the overtone series. This is what all teachers will tell you. Heed it.
Firstly, just simply fyi....the Mark VI saxes had a high F# factory installed on certain serial number ranges throughout the entire line of Mark VI's. They were simply experimenting with it at the time. It caught on on the Mark VII series and they were a permanent fixture.
Also, on the altissimo high G, you may want to try ON ALTO ONLY 1,3,4,6, Octave fingering....(that's left hand Octave key, B and G keys.....and....right hand F and D keys). For high G#/Ab, simply add side C.
@irontailpikachu That is called a mute. Some classical players use then to 1)soften the tone and 2) add mass to the bottom end of the horn. The argument is to aid the lower end in articulation and balance.
did you figure out how to do the overtone series first? can you play your low notes with a full round sound without honking or dropping your jaw? don't skip steps. you gotta crawl before you walk. practice turning your lowest Bb into a midrange Bb without moving any fingers or adding the register key. when you can do that, come back for more. :-) this it takes years for many to learn this. and even longer to be able to master it. be patient with yourself.
@claridiva2000 yeah My Bb is in tune and I'm able to bring all the notes up without the octave key pretty simply. Not biting I promise! I'm not new to the saxophone. I've been playing for about 6 years, I'm a sophomore and 1st chair but I don't feel im really all that good and want to be better. Plus playing music in 2 and a half octaves is boring.
awesome, now go for the next few partials up while keeping that low Bb fingering. it should sound like an F with the octave key. that F is a tricky partial to control. if you can keep that under control then you're off to a good start. after that id high Bb. even with the worlds greatest teacher, alot of learning altissimo is trial and error.
patience. :-) if you want to really test your control,try to play bugle taps w/o moving any fingers.
This is BY FAR the greatest and easiest altissimo lesson to learn from! I hate it when i want to play those Billy Joel saxohphone solos, when at the end it goes way up in the altissimo..
no idea. your embouchure might be a bit too tight. its not unheard of to drop the register key on some altissimo notes, but thats usually with the higher ones. so i'm leaning towards a super tight embouchure.
i'm finally getting settled in my new apartment in kc and might start posting sax lessons again. list any topics you want me to cover. try to be pretty specific about what you want me to cover. annnnnnnnd.....GO!
its a mute. takes some edge off your low notes and brings the low Bb and Bnatural in tune. those notes tend to be flat just because of the shape of the instrument.
voicing is the biggest factor. could also be the fingering you use. on a horn without the high F# key the fingering i use is: (front-F, LH 1, RH 1 + side Bb key+ Eb key)
if your horn has a high F# key there are 2 options(same as previous fingering plus high F#) or (Front-F LH1, RH Bb key + F# key)
it's all about voicing. if you can do pitch bending, that also means you can manipulate naturally sharp or flat notes to be more in tune.
be careful not to bite your notes in altissimo. ideally, you should keep the same embouchure in all ranges. but if you must change your embouchure at all, ONLY push your bottom jaw forward towards the heart of the reed. anything more than that will produce a choked-off or really sharp sound. also try a few different fingerings.
@claridiva2000 Thanks, i just hit the Ab, A, B, C and C# over the last month haha, that's a huge a achievement for me. I still can't do voicing or over tone, i simply just use firm embouchure and found the sweet spot. but could you PLEASE teach me some tips of how to do over tone and voicing? i know that you have to change the air pressure inside your mouth without changing the embouchure, but i never succeed.
i hit the high G before i hit any other altissimo, which is really weird... i still struggle with the A and G# but for some reason the G is just good...
@jiangson For Altissimo G# finger an F natural with the octave (1 2 3 : 1) then also press the Bb and C trill keys which are right next to each other.
For A, i know 3. The first is this fingering ( 2 3: 1 2 3 low C) and the octave key. So finger a low c, then lift your first finger and add the octave key. If that doesnt work, let go of the low c key. another fingering is just your middle and fourth finger on your left hand with the octave key. Hope this helped. Email for questions.
@nejihyuga665 Thanks, i have a fingering chart for all the keys, so i just play the ones on there. the problem with me is i just can't hit it, my teacher told me to hiss like a cat, but it doesn't work. i can hit D,C#,G and E. but but just not G# and A.
being able to play the super high notes and not G or Ab is very common. they are the hardest notes to produce.
your teacher is right. it does feel a bit like hissing like a cat.
try whistling. whistle low and high notes and really pay attention to how your throat and tongue change position. the same concept is there in altissimo. you create a larger space in your oral cavity for low notes and a smaller space for higher notes.
also practice singing the notes you are trying to hit.
I am having a little trouble. I'm pretty good at my overtones. But how good should I get at them. I can only get up to a high F# Barely. Please do help.
I can get a variety of altissimo notes with the high F# key (134). I have never heard double tonguing being used effectively or well sounding on sax. Unless there is a certain reason you're trying to do it, tonguing light should let you get up to fairly rapid speeds. If you are a new player, I'd say check your mouth position and embouchure on the mouthpiece and use lots of air, otherwise check for an air leak. Softer reeds are easier to play, but produce a more flimsy tone, vise versa for hard.
@Liynkx Double tounging works better when you tongue light and use this mind set: tu-da-ca tu-da-ca. The lighter you tongue and use this concept the faster and cleaner your double tonguing effect can become. I hope i helped you.
they're there to make it easier for her to reach. HOWEVER, in my opinion, unless your hands are oddly shaped, I believe you shouldn't need them, but she is definitely a good player
those are palm key risers. i use them because i have very long fingers. w/o the risers its a long way between my palm and the palm keys. I only have them on the Eb and D. the F key is fine as it is.
I learned a trick from a friend yesterday for hitting those low notes. The trick is to put no pressure on the top, only lightly rest your upper lip/teeth on the mouthpiece. Makes those lower notes come out a lot easier.
Well overtones are always very fun. I remember playing a solo on a night in Tunisia, on alto, which is hard chords but fun. But i got so altissimo it was crazy.
that's a mute. its something my sax professor had us do. it takes a little edge off of your low notes and brings low B and Bb in tune which are both notes that can lean towards being flat because of the conical shape of the instrument. jazz musicians hate them. i only use it for classical saxophone.
to hit higher notes, think "EEE" which will raise the back of your toungue and speed the air up to hit the overtone. being able to sing the pitch you're aiming for helps too.
yeah i was practicing over tones and i was having some trouble getting teh high Bb out but then i found a wierd side key next to my low Bb key and it shot up it suprised the crap out of me. lol but at least i got it up there.;D
lol! a little late for that. i do this for a living.
i don't expect every comment to be nice. everyone has their opinions. but at least post something that is useful to other musicians. you're not helping anyone here.
for some reason my cannonball just stopped playing my low Bb but it will play everything else. i am trying to play altissimo notes, but some are not coming out. i can get up to the Ab. I have been playing for 5 or 6 years so i am not new at this. do you know what is wrong?
if your low Bb isn't coming out anymore, you might have a leak. did you drop your horn or bump it into something?
you can get away w/ a leaky pad on midrange or high notes, but low notes will not work well w/ an air leak.
take your sax to a GOOD repairman and have him run a leak-light through it. if its just the one note giving you trouble, then a slight adjustment will probably fix it. try to take it to a sax specialist if you can. i've had some botched repair work before.
Very, very good. Thx for the tips I see a lot of it in jazz. I have a D.C. horn a knock off from the mark VI. I try this video helped me a lot. Thx again
altissimo G and Ab are the hardest to hit. even more difficult than the higher notes like double high c.
try pushing your jaw forward (not biting, but forward as in away from your face) a bit toward the heart of the reed, it might help. also try to start the note with a good puff of air to get the note started as if saying "HAH!". don't worry about tonguing until you get the sound.
lol.. im in 8th grade.. if you know wat all region is in 7th grade i made 1st band first chair!!! it was my first year tryin out!!!!!!! i wass happy my scores were close to 700...... but i really wanna move up a step and learn alttisimo. thanks girl!! i can play the high in alttisimo f# the only one bt ill try to go higher!!!!
before i try to play alttisimo, what is the mouth poster i have to make to get those high notes out?? i hae a fingering chart i got from school but, i try and i end up hurting my lips from bitting to hard. Thanks if you can help me commet asap!
mouth poster? like a poster to show what your emboucher should look like?
there's no such thing. but what i'll tell you is that you should use the same emboucher as you do when you play low notes and practice voicing instead, which is when you change the shape of your tongue and throat. but your jaw and lips should stay about the same. make sure you can get good soundling low notes, then slowly follow the first few minutes of the video on playing overtones on low Bb.
yea lips the throat and tounge i guess... i can play the low noes and make it high with out moving any fingers but idk if i do it right... like if i play the low Bb when i play it to make it high does it supose to come out like a normal Bb????
I tried the altissimo with my tenor sax but I had problem with all the note. Each time I'm using the key above the B one, nothing came out of the sax.
Gosh, I really left myself only able to hit F# and G on the high end, something's really weird with me...
Trying the Bb overtones, I CANNOT hit the first one (the 8vA Bb), but the F pops out no problem. With some effort (moving my mouth around, not biting, I promise :P ), I can hit the 3 octave Bb. Is this normal?
what a puzzle. usually its the F that's hard to hit, not the 8va Bb. I've had students who play the 8va Bb by accident even. but if i were to take a guess, you might be aiming a bit too high, either by biting or voicing. its tough to say for sure since i can't see or hear you. you can try playing a low Bb w/ the octave key and then remove the octave key and try to maintain the middle Bb sound. It might help, it might not. but give it a shot.
So I didn't think I was biting at all, but after about half an hour trying this I started getting quite a sore lip and teeth marks were showing. How can I avoid this? Also, I can't hit anything above G yet. Do you know of any resources that could help with the overtone series? I can't hit that third B flat yet, though I have managed it once. Thank you so much for this vid!
lol i feel stupid right after i posted the comment i did it lol anyway but i cant get higher than the F do I need to ajust my mouth or something.... or tighten up my mouth
don't tighten your mouth. try lifting the back of your tongue as if you were saying the vowel "EE". that speeds up the air (same volume of air being forced through a smaller space). if you must "cheat" to get the next highest overtone, don't tighten or bite down, instead push your lower jaw out a little toward the heart of the reed. that sometimes forces the overtones out. ideally you want to be able to do it using voicing only and leave your emboucher the same.
i love this video i have watched it at LEAST 10 time in one day but i can play a very rich low Bb but i try to raise the octive but it skips the Bb on the staff and goes straight to the F... i really need help can you help me
I recently hit an altissimo G for the first time... but i kinda modified your fingering for it... the right hand stays the same, but i finger an A and the add front F and it comes out slightly flat.
and also... on the over tones... for some weird reason i cant seem to hit the Bb in staff; i go directly from low Bb to F... and btw i'm using a selmer right now if that info helps anyway.. lol
Wowza. I'm an Alto Sax player AND A Bari player, and I'm really happy to be able to reach altissimo notes *Up to G, with this vid* on an Alto sax, but I also love it when I can get the same mid-range Alto notes (The octave notes on the Alto (Durr)) on the Bari.
Makes certain chords THAT much more awesome, when you have a bari sax who can hit a ridiculously high note. Not really that expected.
:D I love being like the egotistical trumpet section.
We have a really cool chord, then at the end one trumpet usually hits a high C. So I want to be crafty and hit the high G. (I have a low G on the chart), And I hit it, and it's like WOW.
so yeah. Thank you, you helped me make that happen. :D
most of them should work. vito and conn bari's may or may not have the high F# key. if not, then use the G fingering w/ it.
keilworths should have the high F# key.
from my experience, playing altissimo is easier on bigger saxophones. its easier to cotrol the reed and even hit higher overtones. its like the difference between hitting a baseball and hitting a soft ball. the bigger one is easier.
biting is when you clench your jaw while playing. it restrict the reed from vibrating the way it should and makes you go sharp.
vibrato is something that if you're not used to it, its a pain in the butt. and once you learn it, its almost impossible to turn it off when you switch from classical to jazz. if you have a good ear, start listening to classical saxophonists, violinists and opera singers and try to copy thier vibrato in your playing. this might be my next video topic.
Ahhhhh roussou is da bomb. I'm an 11th grader trying to get into Sinta's studio...........i went to a couple years of his summer camp, and hopefully some connections will be connected....*prays*
i could safely say that sinta is also one of few gods in the sax world.
sorry its taking so long to post another video, i took my middle school band students to a music festival to perform and someone stole my camcorder right out of my purse. i'll try to get another one posted as soon as my new one arrives.
wow. i;m at saxophone player at mabank high school, i'm a junior and i've been trying to get the hang of altissimo notes for about 3 months now and i havn't quite been able to do it. But after watching this tutorial i feel like i can go and do it =] you have helped me alot and will be on my road to greatness now. I just wanted to say thank you very much and your amazing =]
Greetings, I am a saxophonist with over 25 years of professional experience and I think you are sharing a wonderful example of the overtone series. As a matter of fact, one of the best that I have seen on you tube. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing. Post some more if you please.
If you feel someone can't teach then that doesnt give u any right to use racist remarks against them. You can simply say" she doesnt know what shes saying " or "she cant teach" instead of saying nIggers shouldnt teach music.
The best jazz players that i have met are nigerians.
Damn, I sat through this for almost ten minutes to find out you didn't teach the g sharp/a flat that I was looking for!!! LOL, oh well... Nice post anyways, thanks :0)
latinkeys1 2 weeks ago
How do you get the higher overtones?
I can get most octaves and a few twelths but much past that I'm stumped. I got plenty of chop strength being an Altimisso Trumpeter but I must be missing something so far. Any suggestions?
Xanthippow 1 month ago
i wonder what happened to A flat altissimo finger position ?
mrLbelostrino 2 months ago
Now that's sexy! Play those altissimo notes!
ilovesaxmusic 3 months ago
i can hit up to a altissimo c on my soprano which is first finger third finger, fourth finger and sixts finger as the alternat fingering, but its harder on my alto and tenor and difficult on my bari sax
frenchhornist203 4 months ago
With the towel in the bell you should be able to soften the tone naturally.
TripleOctaveMusic 7 months ago
I need to learn how to do this!!!
Tamster107 7 months ago
i think the overtones are exactly the same notes on all instruments, but some are just more accented ?
treinspore 8 months ago
Did the exterminator come in at the end because he thought that he heard a mouse? (Otherwise, a very useful video.)
soulgriot 8 months ago
how come when i tried to play a alto sax it blared louder then naturall? could it be that im used to bass clarinet embechour?
altosaxophoneist203 8 months ago
hey um my high G doesnt come out so clear even with the F auxilery key
DiruBackslash 10 months ago
Is that a C*? Nice. I have one, but I can't get the dried spit off of it...
natennateproductions 10 months ago
@natennateproductions
i play a C**. its a little more open than the C*. i swapped it out of a school loaner sax case in high school because i liked it better with out realizing what it was. i pretty much traded a 120 dollar mpc for a 20 dollar yamaha stock mpc. by the time i realized what i had done it was too late to do anything about it. :-)
claridiva2000 10 months ago
@solodude10 she might need to, it's altissimo, of cource you shouldn't normally but trust me she knows her shit. She's a professor, or at least teacher.
natennateproductions 10 months ago
@natennateproductions
lol! i'm flattered! i'm not a professor yet. plan to be eventually. i have a masters, just need to get that doctoral degree and wait for the current profs to retire. i am a teacher tho.
when it comes to puffed cheeks, its not good technique, but peoples faces and muscle structure are different. some can't help a little cheek puffing when they play. doesn't mean they are using bad technique. sometimes its just a physiological thing.
claridiva2000 7 months ago
@alberto831481 sax mute, makes low
notes less buzzy.
natennateproductions 10 months ago
You helped alot! Thank you! Im a alto my self. Ive been playing for 4 years. I was wondering if you could make a video all about overtones because I need help on it. If you could, would you mind sending me the video on a private message
KyleHarrelson 11 months ago
what the hell is in your bell
alberto831481 11 months ago
DO NOT PUFF YOUR CHEEKS
solodude10 11 months ago
THUMBS UP FOR THE JANITER (Y)
Onlyforthesaxophone 11 months ago
Good to see someone who actually gives an in-depth breakdown of the overtones difficulty. Also it's helpful to see how you struggle with some overtones more than others-- I hate watching tutorial videos of people who hit all their overtones perfect like they could do it from day one then just say "Just keep practicing" haha
Your video is much more helpful to me
quiksilverlad 11 months ago
Do the front fingered notes have a more open tone? Or are they slightly sharp?
SubZeroSuperNova 1 year ago
@SubZeroSuperNova
front fingerings are notoriously sharp. you gotta voice them lower if you plan to hold them out for more than a few seconds or if you are trying to blend with other musicians.
claridiva2000 7 months ago
she is Victor wooten sister :D
lalosax2006 1 year ago
I thought that was voicing...? On the clarinet it is maybe different name, same meaning?
venskus2009 1 year ago
Not to be rude, but the altissimo just sounds like tighting your embechur (bad speller) creating wrong notes. Is that supposed to be like that?
ssingagirl 1 year ago
@ssingagirl Absolutely not. It takes years to develop a correct altissimo register. What you're actually doing is altering the airflow to play overtones of different fingerings on your horn. For example, by fingering high D and blowing correctly, I am able to play altissimo B. If I go up chromatically through the fingerings to high F#, I play altissimo B, C, Db, D, and Eb. These are not "incorrect", as they are part of the overtone series. If you don't know what an overtone is, start there.
confoozled3737 1 year ago
Hi, I have been playing sax for about 6 years and I recently learned how to play an altissimo G, however I'm looking to go further in my range, what should I look for to do so? I also never practiced my overtones for this either. Would that help if I can play this high now? Good video btw.
steevo7111 1 year ago
Hey Jasmine, do u have any recomendations to hit altissimo notes...like what i should do with my embouchure (excuse spelling) ..cuz my school is really competitive and i want to get an advantage on other saxophones
Empoleon2568 1 year ago
@Empoleon2568 It takes years to build the skills to play in the altissimo range successfully. It all comes from practicing your overtones and becoming fluent with them. If your normal playing isn't developed enough to impress people, trying to develop your top tones too quickly won't help you at all, and you'll just develop bad habits. If you really want to work on them, though, I'd suggest buying a book on the altissimo register and learning that way. "Top Tones" by Sigurd Rascher, preferably.
confoozled3737 1 year ago
@confoozled3737 Well im not exactly a beginner ive been plating alto for around 4 1/2 years and my note range is at its max...other than altissimo notes of course...so i can easily play from a low Bb to a hi F# except id like to get some hints on playing altissimo...i sort of figured out the fingering for hi G but im having trouble with G#...any suggestions?
Empoleon2568 1 year ago
@Empoleon2568 I've been playing for almost eight years and it's taken me two years to develop my altissimo register, and I still have a ways to go to become absolutely fluent. It's not about fingerings, because if you learn the fingerings and try to hit the notes without proper preparation, you'll either be unsuccessful or develop extremely bad habits that will take even more time to correct. Where you need to start is with the overtone series. This is what all teachers will tell you. Heed it.
confoozled3737 1 year ago
Hi Jasmine.
Firstly, just simply fyi....the Mark VI saxes had a high F# factory installed on certain serial number ranges throughout the entire line of Mark VI's. They were simply experimenting with it at the time. It caught on on the Mark VII series and they were a permanent fixture.
Also, on the altissimo high G, you may want to try ON ALTO ONLY 1,3,4,6, Octave fingering....(that's left hand Octave key, B and G keys.....and....right hand F and D keys). For high G#/Ab, simply add side C.
jaaredsaxsong 1 year ago
What is in your bell?
musicmanson 1 year ago
Why have you got a cloth in the bell?
irontailpikachu 1 year ago
@irontailpikachu That is called a mute. Some classical players use then to 1)soften the tone and 2) add mass to the bottom end of the horn. The argument is to aid the lower end in articulation and balance.
manosaxy 1 year ago
hello i just wanted to know what you meant by dont bite. do you mean the bottom teeth or the top teeth?
vvedoy8 1 year ago
Hello there it's Jasmine, a.k.a. Dark Chocolate.
fuzzmaster56 1 year ago
could you tell me what im supposed to do with my throat and mouth? like i can get the overtones but i cant get above and altissimo f sharp
daltoncpierce 1 year ago
Gr8 vid wat is ur mouthpiece
fucho1017 1 year ago
ok. I get the fingerings but how am i supposed to accually make the note come out? Is there a special thing to say or way to position mouth?
(Learning alltisimo with just you tube is frustrating)
shrillz 1 year ago
@shrillz
did you figure out how to do the overtone series first? can you play your low notes with a full round sound without honking or dropping your jaw? don't skip steps. you gotta crawl before you walk. practice turning your lowest Bb into a midrange Bb without moving any fingers or adding the register key. when you can do that, come back for more. :-) this it takes years for many to learn this. and even longer to be able to master it. be patient with yourself.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@claridiva2000 yeah My Bb is in tune and I'm able to bring all the notes up without the octave key pretty simply. Not biting I promise! I'm not new to the saxophone. I've been playing for about 6 years, I'm a sophomore and 1st chair but I don't feel im really all that good and want to be better. Plus playing music in 2 and a half octaves is boring.
1.Bb is in tune
2. bring notes up without octave key
Whats next?
shrillz 1 year ago
@shrillz
awesome, now go for the next few partials up while keeping that low Bb fingering. it should sound like an F with the octave key. that F is a tricky partial to control. if you can keep that under control then you're off to a good start. after that id high Bb. even with the worlds greatest teacher, alot of learning altissimo is trial and error.
patience. :-) if you want to really test your control,try to play bugle taps w/o moving any fingers.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
I guess I'm doing it wrong if I feel like I have to throw up after.
Hitsugayafan12 1 year ago
This is BY FAR the greatest and easiest altissimo lesson to learn from! I hate it when i want to play those Billy Joel saxohphone solos, when at the end it goes way up in the altissimo..
Thanks!
funkymunky159753 1 year ago
Hi Clari, You tips on the Altissimo notes were really helpful. Thanks much
FIRSTDEGREEBAND 1 year ago
why is it easier to play the alternate e without the register key?
shrillz 1 year ago
@shrillz
no idea. your embouchure might be a bit too tight. its not unheard of to drop the register key on some altissimo notes, but thats usually with the higher ones. so i'm leaning towards a super tight embouchure.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
i'm finally getting settled in my new apartment in kc and might start posting sax lessons again. list any topics you want me to cover. try to be pretty specific about what you want me to cover. annnnnnnnd.....GO!
claridiva2000 1 year ago
how can you play with the mouthpiece (if spelled right) upsight down?? :P
nyxta2 1 year ago
@nyxta2
my mouthpiece isn't upside-down. i have a rovner ligature. the screws for are on top of the mouthpiece instead of on top of the reed.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@claridiva2000 does it count on playing?
nyxta2 7 months ago
it gives it a nice sound. :]
NowYouHaveJazz 1 year ago
you look like female victor wooten, no offense.
123jesse123 1 year ago
@123jesse123
ummmm...thanks???
i've been asked if i was related to him before. no relation. would be cool to be connected like that tho.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@claridiva2000
for sure!
123jesse123 1 year ago
IMO I am not usually into the high F# key on the pro horns, it is usually a bit out of tune. Good explanation of the overtone series. =)
Owner46 1 year ago
whats in your bell?
NowYouHaveJazz 1 year ago
@NowYouHaveJazz
its a mute. takes some edge off your low notes and brings the low Bb and Bnatural in tune. those notes tend to be flat just because of the shape of the instrument.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
Trying to get the altissimo A for a piece im playing, found this video, and noticed your high G is a lot more in tune then mine. Any tips?
TehChaps 1 year ago
@TehChaps
voicing is the biggest factor. could also be the fingering you use. on a horn without the high F# key the fingering i use is: (front-F, LH 1, RH 1 + side Bb key+ Eb key)
if your horn has a high F# key there are 2 options(same as previous fingering plus high F#) or (Front-F LH1, RH Bb key + F# key)
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@TehChaps
it's all about voicing. if you can do pitch bending, that also means you can manipulate naturally sharp or flat notes to be more in tune.
be careful not to bite your notes in altissimo. ideally, you should keep the same embouchure in all ranges. but if you must change your embouchure at all, ONLY push your bottom jaw forward towards the heart of the reed. anything more than that will produce a choked-off or really sharp sound. also try a few different fingerings.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@claridiva2000 Thanks, i just hit the Ab, A, B, C and C# over the last month haha, that's a huge a achievement for me. I still can't do voicing or over tone, i simply just use firm embouchure and found the sweet spot. but could you PLEASE teach me some tips of how to do over tone and voicing? i know that you have to change the air pressure inside your mouth without changing the embouchure, but i never succeed.
jiangson 1 year ago
great stuff - do you have the fingerposition for the altissimos on the tenor sax - I have the G an A already but than I am lost - thanks
azoro13 1 year ago
@azoro13 fingerings for the altissimo register a bit misleading, since they can differ drastically between modern and vintage saxes.
Owner46 1 year ago
thnks for this video, i learn alot including ti and do :D
pythgorean 1 year ago
very nice
PAULSAX 1 year ago
i hit the high G before i hit any other altissimo, which is really weird... i still struggle with the A and G# but for some reason the G is just good...
jiangson 1 year ago
@jiangson For Altissimo G# finger an F natural with the octave (1 2 3 : 1) then also press the Bb and C trill keys which are right next to each other.
For A, i know 3. The first is this fingering ( 2 3: 1 2 3 low C) and the octave key. So finger a low c, then lift your first finger and add the octave key. If that doesnt work, let go of the low c key. another fingering is just your middle and fourth finger on your left hand with the octave key. Hope this helped. Email for questions.
nejihyuga665 1 year ago
@nejihyuga665 Thanks, i have a fingering chart for all the keys, so i just play the ones on there. the problem with me is i just can't hit it, my teacher told me to hiss like a cat, but it doesn't work. i can hit D,C#,G and E. but but just not G# and A.
jiangson 1 year ago
@jiangson
being able to play the super high notes and not G or Ab is very common. they are the hardest notes to produce.
your teacher is right. it does feel a bit like hissing like a cat.
try whistling. whistle low and high notes and really pay attention to how your throat and tongue change position. the same concept is there in altissimo. you create a larger space in your oral cavity for low notes and a smaller space for higher notes.
also practice singing the notes you are trying to hit.
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@nejihyuga665 also i play on a Selmer Reference. Which is a remake of the Mark 6.
jiangson 1 year ago
I am having a little trouble. I'm pretty good at my overtones. But how good should I get at them. I can only get up to a high F# Barely. Please do help.
kodasurfer 1 year ago
@kodasurfer that's like saying "how good should i get at poker..."
songsmadeforyou 1 year ago
I am 72,european, I think admiring female nature is healthy, thanks on my part, and you play the alto very good, do you have any jazz?
valvetrom 1 year ago
Can't take my eyes of the two generous ....
valvetrom 1 year ago 11
@valvetrom
wow...um.....thanks???? i think.....
lol try to focus on the saxophone stuff. :-)
claridiva2000 1 year ago
@valvetrom
wow...um.....thanks???? i think.....
lol try to focus on the saxophone stuff. :-)
claridiva2000 1 year ago
over 20,000 views...that is awesome! i feel all special n' stuff.... :-)
claridiva2000 1 year ago
8:22 wins. This video helps a lot though, thank you :D
AbramoMike 1 year ago
@AbramoMike
lol!!
claridiva2000 1 year ago
thanks, this was helpful :D
instrumentalityyy 2 years ago
I can get a variety of altissimo notes with the high F# key (134). I have never heard double tonguing being used effectively or well sounding on sax. Unless there is a certain reason you're trying to do it, tonguing light should let you get up to fairly rapid speeds. If you are a new player, I'd say check your mouth position and embouchure on the mouthpiece and use lots of air, otherwise check for an air leak. Softer reeds are easier to play, but produce a more flimsy tone, vise versa for hard.
Liynkx 2 years ago
@Liynkx Double tounging works better when you tongue light and use this mind set: tu-da-ca tu-da-ca. The lighter you tongue and use this concept the faster and cleaner your double tonguing effect can become. I hope i helped you.
revronnieford 2 years ago
what are those black things covering your palm keys?
xcvfr57 2 years ago
they're there to make it easier for her to reach. HOWEVER, in my opinion, unless your hands are oddly shaped, I believe you shouldn't need them, but she is definitely a good player
jgcgsgmg 2 years ago
those are palm key risers. i use them because i have very long fingers. w/o the risers its a long way between my palm and the palm keys. I only have them on the Eb and D. the F key is fine as it is.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
are they availiable at any local music store or do i have to order them?
xcvfr57 2 years ago
yeah, any music store has them. or you can buy them online. just google saxophone palm key risers.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
I learned a trick from a friend yesterday for hitting those low notes. The trick is to put no pressure on the top, only lightly rest your upper lip/teeth on the mouthpiece. Makes those lower notes come out a lot easier.
mephiska 2 years ago
Well overtones are always very fun. I remember playing a solo on a night in Tunisia, on alto, which is hard chords but fun. But i got so altissimo it was crazy.
GunMaestro 2 years ago
nice vid
blackjack95129 2 years ago
Whats the little blue thing hiding in your bell?
valvetrom 2 years ago
@valvetrom
that's a mute. its something my sax professor had us do. it takes a little edge off of your low notes and brings low B and Bb in tune which are both notes that can lean towards being flat because of the conical shape of the instrument. jazz musicians hate them. i only use it for classical saxophone.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
you are a very good teacher, with the tip ur sharing are you moving ur tongue or air flow thank for a great class
alee5656 2 years ago
@alee5656
kind of both actually. :-)
to hit higher notes, think "EEE" which will raise the back of your toungue and speed the air up to hit the overtone. being able to sing the pitch you're aiming for helps too.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Just say, this is how to play harmonics!
funki22duck 2 years ago
Good Video. One fingering for high G that has always worked for me is first finger and thrid finger on the left hand and the right hand and side Bb.
anothersaxguy 2 years ago
Nice video... I've been trying to get this down for a while... it's really kicking my butt... I don't know why I can't get it...
jaleelshaw 2 years ago
yeah i was practicing over tones and i was having some trouble getting teh high Bb out but then i found a wierd side key next to my low Bb key and it shot up it suprised the crap out of me. lol but at least i got it up there.;D
dpk2029 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Post a text comment? yea I have one, don´t become a sax teacher !!!!!!
24262748 2 years ago
@24262748
lol! a little late for that. i do this for a living.
i don't expect every comment to be nice. everyone has their opinions. but at least post something that is useful to other musicians. you're not helping anyone here.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Uhhhhhhh ???????????
24262748 2 years ago
for some reason my cannonball just stopped playing my low Bb but it will play everything else. i am trying to play altissimo notes, but some are not coming out. i can get up to the Ab. I have been playing for 5 or 6 years so i am not new at this. do you know what is wrong?
btsax2 2 years ago
if your low Bb isn't coming out anymore, you might have a leak. did you drop your horn or bump it into something?
you can get away w/ a leaky pad on midrange or high notes, but low notes will not work well w/ an air leak.
take your sax to a GOOD repairman and have him run a leak-light through it. if its just the one note giving you trouble, then a slight adjustment will probably fix it. try to take it to a sax specialist if you can. i've had some botched repair work before.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
i have a small leack in my alto sax and i can get all the low notes out fairly well but there is still alot of resistance.lol
dpk2029 2 years ago
yeha make sure your sax is in check you know no bad pads and what not.:D
dpk2029 2 years ago
what reed strength are you using?
255icerabbit 2 years ago
@255icerabbit
i use a 3.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
woot! i got more views than the expert village guy! :-)
claridiva2000 2 years ago
happy thanksgiving everyone!!!
-jazz
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Very, very good. Thx for the tips I see a lot of it in jazz. I have a D.C. horn a knock off from the mark VI. I try this video helped me a lot. Thx again
kodasurfer 2 years ago
Hi umm help me. I have a selmer and I can't get high g to come out. Any suggestions?
Jamieable 2 years ago
@Jamieable
altissimo G and Ab are the hardest to hit. even more difficult than the higher notes like double high c.
try pushing your jaw forward (not biting, but forward as in away from your face) a bit toward the heart of the reed, it might help. also try to start the note with a good puff of air to get the note started as if saying "HAH!". don't worry about tonguing until you get the sound.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
lol.. im in 8th grade.. if you know wat all region is in 7th grade i made 1st band first chair!!! it was my first year tryin out!!!!!!! i wass happy my scores were close to 700...... but i really wanna move up a step and learn alttisimo. thanks girl!! i can play the high in alttisimo f# the only one bt ill try to go higher!!!!
000dayana 2 years ago
glad i could help!
claridiva2000 2 years ago
before i try to play alttisimo, what is the mouth poster i have to make to get those high notes out?? i hae a fingering chart i got from school but, i try and i end up hurting my lips from bitting to hard. Thanks if you can help me commet asap!
000dayana 2 years ago
mouth poster? like a poster to show what your emboucher should look like?
there's no such thing. but what i'll tell you is that you should use the same emboucher as you do when you play low notes and practice voicing instead, which is when you change the shape of your tongue and throat. but your jaw and lips should stay about the same. make sure you can get good soundling low notes, then slowly follow the first few minutes of the video on playing overtones on low Bb.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
yea lips the throat and tounge i guess... i can play the low noes and make it high with out moving any fingers but idk if i do it right... like if i play the low Bb when i play it to make it high does it supose to come out like a normal Bb????
000dayana 2 years ago
yeah! you got it.
the first overtone is an octave. so it goes from low Bb to mid Bb. the next highest overtone should sound like an F.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
oh so i had it right the whole time??? :> wow :> haha okay then ill try to do a Bb to a F
000dayana 2 years ago
thank you!!!!
000dayana 2 years ago
omg!!!!!!!!! this blows my mind! im only in middle school and i didnt even know these things existed!!! you are amazzzzzing girl!!!!
2 thumbs up!!!!!!!
goodyfox11 2 years ago
thanks!
claridiva2000 2 years ago
I tried the altissimo with my tenor sax but I had problem with all the note. Each time I'm using the key above the B one, nothing came out of the sax.
Do you have tricks that can help me please.
Thanks a lot
SirMaxweller 2 years ago
i'm not sure i understand your question.
post again please?/
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Gosh, I really left myself only able to hit F# and G on the high end, something's really weird with me...
Trying the Bb overtones, I CANNOT hit the first one (the 8vA Bb), but the F pops out no problem. With some effort (moving my mouth around, not biting, I promise :P ), I can hit the 3 octave Bb. Is this normal?
polypolyman 2 years ago
Same problem over here! I can't hit the first one either.
Nico13531 2 years ago
what a puzzle. usually its the F that's hard to hit, not the 8va Bb. I've had students who play the 8va Bb by accident even. but if i were to take a guess, you might be aiming a bit too high, either by biting or voicing. its tough to say for sure since i can't see or hear you. you can try playing a low Bb w/ the octave key and then remove the octave key and try to maintain the middle Bb sound. It might help, it might not. but give it a shot.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
@polypolyman same problem here, i get it sometimes though. Work on hearing the tone before trying to play it.
drumstyx6464 2 years ago
So I didn't think I was biting at all, but after about half an hour trying this I started getting quite a sore lip and teeth marks were showing. How can I avoid this? Also, I can't hit anything above G yet. Do you know of any resources that could help with the overtone series? I can't hit that third B flat yet, though I have managed it once. Thank you so much for this vid!
Jobasa 2 years ago
lol i feel stupid right after i posted the comment i did it lol anyway but i cant get higher than the F do I need to ajust my mouth or something.... or tighten up my mouth
FohChrisWii 2 years ago
don't tighten your mouth. try lifting the back of your tongue as if you were saying the vowel "EE". that speeds up the air (same volume of air being forced through a smaller space). if you must "cheat" to get the next highest overtone, don't tighten or bite down, instead push your lower jaw out a little toward the heart of the reed. that sometimes forces the overtones out. ideally you want to be able to do it using voicing only and leave your emboucher the same.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
i love this video i have watched it at LEAST 10 time in one day but i can play a very rich low Bb but i try to raise the octive but it skips the Bb on the staff and goes straight to the F... i really need help can you help me
FohChrisWii 2 years ago
You rock :D
But no seriously you do :D
But anyways... to my point...
I recently hit an altissimo G for the first time... but i kinda modified your fingering for it... the right hand stays the same, but i finger an A and the add front F and it comes out slightly flat.
and also... on the over tones... for some weird reason i cant seem to hit the Bb in staff; i go directly from low Bb to F... and btw i'm using a selmer right now if that info helps anyway.. lol
pietdepsi 2 years ago
yay! i hit 10, 000 views! woot!
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Wowza. I'm an Alto Sax player AND A Bari player, and I'm really happy to be able to reach altissimo notes *Up to G, with this vid* on an Alto sax, but I also love it when I can get the same mid-range Alto notes (The octave notes on the Alto (Durr)) on the Bari.
Makes certain chords THAT much more awesome, when you have a bari sax who can hit a ridiculously high note. Not really that expected.
RCCeptor5665 2 years ago
awesome!! glad i could help!
claridiva2000 2 years ago
:D I love being like the egotistical trumpet section.
We have a really cool chord, then at the end one trumpet usually hits a high C. So I want to be crafty and hit the high G. (I have a low G on the chart), And I hit it, and it's like WOW.
so yeah. Thank you, you helped me make that happen. :D
RCCeptor5665 2 years ago
you are such a good altissamo teacher thank you sooo much!
rf1308 2 years ago
would it work with a vito alto, conn tenor, and julius keilwerth bari saxs?
rf1308 2 years ago
most of them should work. vito and conn bari's may or may not have the high F# key. if not, then use the G fingering w/ it.
keilworths should have the high F# key.
from my experience, playing altissimo is easier on bigger saxophones. its easier to cotrol the reed and even hit higher overtones. its like the difference between hitting a baseball and hitting a soft ball. the bigger one is easier.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
hey im a high school player, and i love the video. I was just wondering what is biting, and how do u get so used to adding vibrato to your playing?
Franko94 2 years ago
biting is when you clench your jaw while playing. it restrict the reed from vibrating the way it should and makes you go sharp.
vibrato is something that if you're not used to it, its a pain in the butt. and once you learn it, its almost impossible to turn it off when you switch from classical to jazz. if you have a good ear, start listening to classical saxophonists, violinists and opera singers and try to copy thier vibrato in your playing. this might be my next video topic.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
who did you study with in college? :)
jkjimmy 2 years ago
i studied w/ Dr. Randall Smith, who was a student of Eugene Roussou (AKA the DEMIGOD of classical saxophone).
Dr. Smith is pretty awesome. two of my former sax students now study with him too.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Ahhhhh roussou is da bomb. I'm an 11th grader trying to get into Sinta's studio...........i went to a couple years of his summer camp, and hopefully some connections will be connected....*prays*
i could safely say that sinta is also one of few gods in the sax world.
jkjimmy 2 years ago
sinta is pretty kick ass. good luck! i wish you the best!
-jazz
claridiva2000 2 years ago
sorry its taking so long to post another video, i took my middle school band students to a music festival to perform and someone stole my camcorder right out of my purse. i'll try to get another one posted as soon as my new one arrives.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
you have the nicest smile!
jamesvargassax 2 years ago
thanks!! my parents paid alot of money for it! :-)
claridiva2000 2 years ago
no... thats a smile that money cant buy
jamesvargassax 2 years ago
its crazy how people sre so racist in this world ............ just live your live black,white w/e
psychoticman79 2 years ago
wow. i;m at saxophone player at mabank high school, i'm a junior and i've been trying to get the hang of altissimo notes for about 3 months now and i havn't quite been able to do it. But after watching this tutorial i feel like i can go and do it =] you have helped me alot and will be on my road to greatness now. I just wanted to say thank you very much and your amazing =]
23killswitchengage 2 years ago
Greetings, I am a saxophonist with over 25 years of professional experience and I think you are sharing a wonderful example of the overtone series. As a matter of fact, one of the best that I have seen on you tube. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing. Post some more if you please.
LYFEenter 2 years ago
Thank you very much for taking time to explain this so well. I found this quite informative and helpful, Jazz.
Mrfamu96 2 years ago
Take the mute out of the bell!!
Zeltrax11 2 years ago
hehe!
another jazz player i see. :-)
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Haha yeah but i also play classical as well and the mute is just annoying! haha but good work...
Zeltrax11 2 years ago
Is that Winston from Ghostbusters?
checkster12 2 years ago
Also, stop puffing your cheeks. If you have all these degrees and shit, it seems like you would know your embouchure.
chicostacos4 2 years ago
i'm not puffing my cheeks.
good advice for beggining players tho.
you should post a video about it.
:-)
-jazz
claridiva2000 2 years ago
Jazz, Jasmine, clever.
False.
checkster12 2 years ago
that nickname has nothng to do with me being a sax player. i've always been called jazz by family and friends. even before i ever picked up a horn.
claridiva2000 2 years ago
My comment was aimed @ chicostacos4
Dhruv1223 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Niggers shouldn't teach music.
chicostacos4 2 years ago
Shut up you peice of crap.
Dhruv1223 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This nigger doesn't know shit about teaching!
chicostacos4 2 years ago
If you feel someone can't teach then that doesnt give u any right to use racist remarks against them. You can simply say" she doesnt know what shes saying " or "she cant teach" instead of saying nIggers shouldnt teach music.
The best jazz players that i have met are nigerians.
Dhruv1223 2 years ago 3
You shouldn't be breathing, KKK retard! Chicostacos4 blows dick cuz he couldn't satisfy a saxophone!!!
zhamilton91 2 years ago