SAX LESSONS ALTISSIMO #1:Overtones

[Quakerjay]

can you tell me how I sound

[CDsisters]

Dang. I can only play 6 overtones lol ;P

[latinkeys1]

Ironpump, I had the same problem, sometimes a spring comes loose, just finger it and don't play but make sure all your springs are intact

[IronPump89]

hallo I am totally new to alto saxophone: I have this PROBLEM: when I want to play "Bb" at the "1-2 - Bb-low key" position, I get the same sound like the "A" note at the "1-2" position... Its like the pinky pressing the low Bb key doenst change the pitch as it should :( help anyone?

[Jsaxophone]

Question on mouthpiece selection. I've never played an actual altissimo note, but I've been able to do overtones for about 2 years. For low Bb, I can play 3 overtones. For B,C,Db,D,Eb,&E, I can do 2 overtones, and that's it. I've tried like crazy to get higher, and I have a lot of control over the notes I can hit.

As a beginner at altissimo, am I being limited by my mouthpiece? I have a Meyer Rubber 7MM (Tenor), has a nice warm sound that I love, I'm not a fan of 'bright' sounding mouthpieces.

[fabriziodalisera]

@Jsaxophone

there are no "altissimo mouthpieces", it's a matter of study and airstream and larinx control.

You're ok with your meyer , what size of reed do you use? the 7 meyer size is smaller than the standard '100 opening i think ,isn't it? So you should play it with a hard reed ,like a 3,5 or 3 , not less than a 3.

But the most important thing is practicing overtones to get higher , I'm doing prefessional video on overtones and altissimo with detalied explications and progressive exercises

[fabriziodalisera]

@Jsaxophone

You have to improve your control and to do it you need to practice followed by a good teacher, it's very important.

It's difficult to help you since I don't know how do you play.... anyway the most important thing to do is play with a loosen relaxed embouchure and strong diaphragm support. Do NOT produce the overtones by biting the reed and listen to the pitch of the note before playing it (I'm doing a video on this topic)...for now stay tuned, new vids will be super helpful!

[Jsaxophone]

@fabriziodalisera I wasn't saying there was such thing as an altissimo mouthpiece, but I was thinking that maybe a smaller barrel will make the notes a little easier to find. The 7M rubber has a .086" tip and I'm using a 2.5 Vandoren Jazz reed. You're thinking of the 7J Metal, which has a .100" tip. Biting the reed isn't an issue, going between overtones doesn't change my embrasure, it's more mental. Thanks, though.

[imarubberband]

In Soviet Russia, sax learns you!

[coldbeans]

Is it harder to create the lower overtones on an alto than tenor? I can't get the first octave to pop out no matter what I try! It jumps straight up to the fifth above that.

[gjbsaxman94]

do you use a berg larsen mouthpiece?

[londongrl4559]

Uhm....woah...Beast much?

[ruskivolk333]

So what do you do with your larinx?

[horbergaren]

hm, so if i got it right, you do that by tightening the reed with your mouth or something?

[fabriziodalisera]

@horbergaren

No , biting is always a negative thing to do.

You must develop a good control of you air stream and your larinx (throat).

[drum1drum]

i ddnt c yu move ya fingers once

[roxylebon]

Good dear friend !! Thanks. Where do you live ? I offer you a italy holiday in my free flat in tuscany, for your friendships !! Bye Roxy

[RandomAwe]

Thankyou for the video. Vintage saxophone?

[SerginhoD]

After watching this video i was able to finally make my first altissimos. I thought it was magic done by special people, but your simplicity explained it very well and i would like to thank you very much. I can do few altissimos but its already good fun to have a couple of new tricks to show off. :)

[ClueLou]

alto the same?

[fabriziodalisera]

@ClueLou

yes , of course

[97Saxman]

1:00 = smiley face

[JUSfr34k]

WOW 7 Overtones!!!

[4736251]

The best fingering will depend on musical context and your comfort level.

This video shows the best method for getting started. Be patient and know your overtone series. A mouthpiece with a step inside can also help, although it robs the tone out of the lower octave.

Altissimo methods

Sigurd Rascher

Eugene Rousseau

Ted Nash (Excellent fingering charts)

[steevo7111]

Do you know of any websites that have good altissimo fingering charts? I'm really trying to play a piece for a solo and I can't seem to get anything but squeaks out.

[fabriziodalisera]

@steevo7111

Check the video number 3 "altissimo #3 playing legato", I posted fingerings in the comments.

[TheCasey16]

14 and can do this sax rocks......

[TheUberWise]

Wow that's cool, i play the alto saxophone, and i love kenny g's music, but i still can't get my altissimo notes out. so you don't have to finger the notes any different? are there any other fingerings for those notes that will help? thanks

[JanneFlinck1981]

i have problem that i dont get high second octave d,e and f, even if i press all six buttons to get d and then press octave key the sound dont change at all??? to high d, what am i doing wrong...

[thenomadsss]

Any tips on hitting D and Ab? I can hit the highest Bb, and everything else but the D and the Ab arent exactly coming out.

[SaxySweed]

Hey fabrizio i was jus wondering what kind of mouthpiece you are playing on, right now im using a Meyer 5M Metal and i cant really find anything better, im just wonderind what brand mouthpiece your using :D

[Barisaxlover]

i feel like i am so out of it, no ones ever told me about overtones

[marc9901]

Exactly my problem

[l337mas73r18]

@Barisaxlover DUDE!!!! me too, I didn't even know that altissimo was possible on a tenor sax until like 5 minutes ago and I've played for 4 flippin years... granted I've never once had a lesson or another tenor sax player to talk to. hahaha

[Icanactaullyplay]

I dont understand how you can possibly not use your tounge on an overtone series, becuase not only are you voicing in your throat, tongue placement plays a large piece in both altissimo and overtones.

[jkjimmy]

LOL low Bb worst than all others! i have teh same problem.....:) you have really good control i like it!!!!

[therawest601]

The painful truth is that it is easier to play the higher altissimo notes than it is to play 3rd octave G....

[RCCeptor5665]

Yeah, it is for some reason. On Bari, I have a G as a last note on this one tune, and I tried hitting the third octave, and for some strange reason, I missed it, and as I tried to correct it, I just kept going up and up and up until I almost hit a high trumpet C

I was like, "HUH!?"

[Arnetsew]

Hi, I'm a sax beginner, is it because of my incorrect blowing technique that sometimes when I try to make low notes they sound high even though I don't press the octave key?

[Windalf0]

i believe that you just need to lower your jaw more while still keeping it firm and put more air through your horn.

[littleshortkid]

to play low, open up your throat and lower your tongue. to play high lift the back of your tongue. this should help

[madass88]

As i say to my students, when you play low notes, open up your throght and give a lot of air. Make sure you don't squeeze the reed!

Hope it helps ;)

[serenadekcs]

yes, you need the correct "wind" to produce low octave notes.. it might be your technique, otherwise the octave key might be messed up.

[altosaxophonist1]

Good!

[bobbert753]

that is a fine ass sax

[TheOriginalMusicGen]

wow! this video really help get on my way to hitting altissimo! so far i can only go to the 3rd overtone comfortably, but i will soon be able to hit the rest of them hopefully :]

[SerginhoD]

Sounds good!

But can u tell me pls if there is any special work on the reed to make altissimos life easier? TY.

[fabriziodalisera]

No.... pick your best reeds in your box!!!

There are no "altissimo reeds" if a reed is good it will do the "whole job".Bye

[nusua]

I really have to tink about this. I should fuckyus some more.

[iDamieon15]

LMAO

[megagage]

is your sax faded? that looks amazing, or maybe its the ligghting

[lomoman119]

would singing (voicing) along with you playing the overtones help the with the larynx and the tone imagination. is this a good approach at altissimo.

[carmanmusic]

Singing and playing in alternation couldn't hurt! This is especially true if you're having a difficult time hearing (or pre-hearing) the note you are about to play. HOWEVER, the notes you are going after may go beyond your vocal range! In this case sing an octave below or in a relaxed "falsetto" voice.

[love4woodwinds]

GREAT STUFF! What is your mouthpiece you play and the number? What reed do you like to use and the number?

Thanks, CT

[crazydaisydoo]

Thanks for posting this, very clear and you speak english better than most of my compatriates!

[aznsarub0y]

looks painful on your throat.. how much pressure or tightening are you applying?

[broknsaint]

Im sorry but how much time does it usually take to train the altissimo or at least do 5harmonics on the low Sib?

[fabriziodalisera]

It's a "tricky" question...it depends on both time you spend practicing and how you practice.

[broknsaint]

Hmm I try trainning the harmonics 2 half hours during the time I study (Depends, but I usually try studying for 3h at least), thinking about the next harmonic sound and trying to play it, starting on the low Sib. But my improvements are really slow :\ Which is why I'm searching for new ideas on how to train it and which is why I asked that xD.

Thanks for replying :]

[chkz123456]

It took me one and a half year until i was confident in the overtones (Bb, B, C, C#). Practicing time 10-15min a day for the overtones only.

[michaelvandromme]

what a beautiful tenor what is it??

[nottscountyrock]

silver plated mk vi 90xxx i think. i know him :)

[fabriziodalisera]

selmer mark VI 80,XXX (1959) silver tenor.Some of the lacquer starts to wear off and the neck is delaquered

[JazzChaz779]

Very good, what do you mean though by layerings?

[JazzChaz779]

I mean larinx sorry

[theinvisiblelight]

throat= larynx

[carmanmusic]

More specifically "voice box", (although you are not actually singing the notes, only creating the shape.  It feel the same as if you were to "sigh" in pitch.

[stealthswimmer]

thx so much for this vid

=)

[zaenzaen]

Thanks

[BigMacFury]

Sure.

[AktisSax]

caspita, bei video davvero!! molto utili... complimenti!!

[Fatzosax]

Bel lavoro Fabbri, e' molto chiaro e il tuo inglese e' comprensibilissimo.

Keep up the good work!

[CAPICOLLO]

Fabri, lo vogliamo anche in italiano... :)

[dolviSAX]

ma fallo anke in italiano......