Altissimo notes for alto sax by Steve Bone

[hellodude1021]

Fingerings don't work with m SML

[billybob3257]

I found that different F# fingering that is easier for me. its the AUX F key, the A key and the Bb side key. its just as easy to move to G.

[darthd95]

Managed to do f# and g!!

[sbent518]

I was wondering, what is your set-up? just wondering! Thanks! also, this video allowed me to learn altissimo, i could only get a G about 5 months ago, I now have G to C chromatically! All thanks to this video! 

[JaesonD2]

I can only play g and g#?

[MrLolguy345]

hey im trying to decide which to go with alto or tenor ?? PLAES respond

[HGwatkin]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

FINALLY I've found an altissimo chart that works! you are a legend! thank you thank you thank you! :)

[MrGuywhodoesnothing]

does having a metal mouthpiece make it easier to play altissimo, cause i have a hard rubber Selmer and i really want to play higher

[saxman628]

Thanks so much!! Anybody have any advice on hitting F#-G# I have trouble getting those out, but no problems on A and higher?

[taytay5able]

is there a certain way you have to have your throat or mouth on the saxophone? ive been playing for6 years now and i can play but altissimo is where i lack, any suggestions?

[noah7500]

Does the mouthPiece and the reeds has something to do with altissimo notes? becuase I can play the F# and G following your instructions, I have Selmer MouthPiece and Vandoren Java #3 reed.. any suggestions?

[groovetonemusic]

@noah7500 the notes just in the altissimo register are the hardest to get. If you keep working on these pitches they will come in time and your set up sounds good. Try the octave exercises on these positions it might suddenly happen.

[noah7500]

@groovetonemusic Thanks a million, I will keep on practicing..I´ll get back to you as soon as I get those sounds..God bless you for your help..

[dsaxman71]

@noah7500 it does but it is all about the diaphragm and the air speed and control

[noah7500]

@dsaxman71 Thanks buddy..someone also told me that its better to use metal mouthpiece and a 2 &half reeds would help alot. becos Vandoren no.3 reeds seems too hard for me, I have being playing sax for only 2years now, I was a trumpeter, so I got my lips kind of hard if you know what i mean.. hahahahaaa..thanks again...

[noah7500]

Steve, G# and A is not coming out..any advance on how to get those pitches?

[josehmiguel]

Awesome!, Love your Vibrato, i cant do a virato like that, mine seems very forced and stupid --'

[mastergionni]

Steve, I must congratulate you for your lezzione, you're an excellent teacher, with today's sound without difficulty lezzione totally abandons the high notes, thanks, Nicola from Italy.

[LedZeppeloyd223]

so please help, i cannot get anything but squealing and hissing for altissimo, ive been playing for 6 years and started to learn altissimo for about a year now and its fucking impossible, ive tried all these books and meathods and ect ect and i cant even play one note, i can get a between c and c# but i know thats just coming from the top (removabale) part

im ripping my hair out by the hand fulls PLEASE HELP

[groovetonemusic]

@LedZeppeloyd223 OK, Don't pull your hair out or you'll look like me lol... If you try some different reed strengths first. I find a harder reed helps stabilise the notes in the altissimo register, and please remember you are in affect playing the sax like a bugle. Work on high D altissimo first, when that note is achievable every time you go for it work on the notes coming down C sharp then C. Please be patient send me your email and I will send you the fingering sheet. Cheers, Steve...

[menace391]

I fingered the high A and popped out a high B-flat instead :D

[belikk1986]

it works!!!!

[samumusical]

This position is not very good for tuning of the sax

[KZaback]

Thank you for sharing your info. I've been playing for 50 years and never really knew all of the correct ways to play those notes.

[sydlitzlancers]

Great video.

[noah7500]

Please don't laught at this comment I'm about making right now..some years back there no way you can obtain information just with a click on youtube.. so it was almost impossible to learn stuffs like this!! thanks for posting this video and God bless...

[yoyoson12345]

Your tone is impeccable really, any advice on maximizing practice on tone production?

[noodles3132]

hey thanks alot! this video helped :) now what reeds do you use and can i get them online? :)

[groovetonemusic]

@noodles3132 Hi Noodles, the reeds I use are Legree plastic, I use these because of the amount of teaching and playing I do ( each reed lasts for about 6- 8 months for me ). These reeds might not be good for you as some players can't get away from cane and these play and feel different. If you do decide to buy and try a legree, make sure you buy a 1/4 strength below your normal grade as these babies are slightly harder than normal cane.

Cheers, Steve...

[TripleOctaveMusic]

@groovetonemusic If you didnt use these reeds for teaching what reeds would you use???

[groovetonemusic]

@TripleOctaveMusic Hi Oli, I used to play La Voz....

[Kazberhaf]

Thanks Steve, I have copied your chart and I can now practice these! I think I'll wait til my neighbours dog isn't around though just in case

[groovetonemusic]

@Kazberhaf Good idea!

Cheers, Steve...

[mkayroka88]

u have a very good tone on high notes but its a lot easier to use the F key instead of those overtones

[groovetonemusic]

@mkayroka88 if you finger high F that ( palm keys ) then jaw forward that should hit altissimo d. Altissimo Eb is the same as C sharp....

[petrikkrisztian]

Hi Steve! this fingering is working also in sax with side f sharp key ? thx for respond!

[klasse2bub]

Ive always wondered what the first button was for!

[TripleOctaveMusic]

So how can you go higher than those ???

[groovetonemusic]

@TripleOctaveMusic you can go higher but only dogs can dig that shit....

[MASTURCHEEF001]

@groovetonemusic ruh roh, ris rooks rike a job for rooby-roo!!!

[groovetonemusic]

@MASTURCHEEF001 lol.....

[nadavmalki]

great attitute and sound

[tigerk12]

can you use a student mouthpiece to hit altissimo???

[groovetonemusic]

@tigerk12 yes! You just need to start practising the position.

[black0lightning]

thanks so much for making chart and making this video i got up to A# on altissimo on my alto now

[azsxw2]

thanks now i own on the stupid SR. in my band ha ha yes go freshman

[spinproven]

what mouthpiece and reed do you use?

[groovetonemusic]

@spinproven on this video I was using a Dave Guardala which has now been sold.. I'm now using a RPC 85b, much better for intonation...

Cheers, Steve...

[failboatkidsrsdie]

wow, thats nice tone...

[guitarshredder0985]

Is there a way you can email me that fingering chart?

[groovetonemusic]

@Darwinknowsbetter make sure your tuner is set at 440hz. If you are blowing an alto C note the tuner will say Eb. This is due to the alto sax being 3 semitones lower than normal concert pitch instruments which the tuner is geared up for. Don't view it as a problem, just view it as a transposition lesson.

Cheers, Steve...

[caveworm]

Hey thanks for your video very clear....and easy to understand thanks Paul

[groovetonemusic]

@caveworm your welcome...

[STHanson08]

you make it seem so easy. T.T

[FaveSaxClips]

Nice video! Question on the diagram: Is the hook at the top of the fingerings the register key? (I'm guessing that the vertical bar on F# and G is the top aux F key, yes?) Thank you.

[groovetonemusic]

@FaveSaxClips yes!! lol...

[MusicISLife9500]

my alto has a high f# key :)

[blueroan4]

@MusicISLife9500 as does mine

[Romonster1000]

I can't play anything higher than F# im getting so mad!!!!!!

[groovetonemusic]

@Romonster1000 Start with the altissimo D and work down...

[pinkhippie135]

@groovetonemusic whats the altissimo D fingering? i have the E and F foor altissimo, but i dont know the D and Eb...

[BBboykh]

@Romonster1000 I know right! it sounds like a dying cow when i play higher haha

[EmulatorDX]

what strengh reeds do you use?

[groovetonemusic]

@EmulatorDX 2.5 Legree.

[EmulatorDX]

@groovetonemusic just curious, why do you not use reeds above that strength? You can play good and altissimo i heard works better with stronger reeds, are stronger reeds always better?

[groovetonemusic]

@EmulatorDX it's all a matter of preference. It depends on your mouthpiece and what reed works best for blowing the normal range the sax offers. It's ok putting a strong reed in to blow altissimo notes, but it's not ok if that same reed makes it difficult to blow the normal lower tones. These notes and mouth positions take time to master and you need to find a reed strength that suits you for all of your range, not just one.

Good luck and be patient.

Cheers, Steve...

[ironmac10]

use your soft pallate and blow. try changing the angle you blow into the horn. Don't overtighten your umbucher. i gaurantee you will cut your lips and after a half hour your lips will hurt for days. Practice as much as you can stand it. At first I practiced 30 minutes every 3rd day. generally speaking mouth pieces don't really matter. I bought several over the years and my teacher played altissimo on all of them to show me. BUT some are easier than others. My best advice-find a teacher

[ironmac10]

@gabexavier. I used to be just like you. I got lucky and in 1 lesson this sax player taught me how to play altissimo. I'll share what he showed me. In my research I've been told alot of misstruths. I needed to buy a 500$ new york meyer mouth piece- and other lies. What I was shown was that you need a medium strength reed. A soft won't hold the higher notes and a hard might be to hard on your ambucher. Second have the reed a 16th of an inch past the mouth piece. Open your soft pallate

[EuphonySquared]

Great video! I had a question to ask, however. Does a wider tip opening on a mouth piece make altissimo any easier to achieve? I have a Selmer Larry Teel Mouthpiece that is a quite narrow tip opening and a Vandoren Java A55 with a large opening. Which should I use for this type of playing?

[joseserrato42]

Hi Sir exelent video

i have a question the notes you wrote help me alot

but i am trying to get An "E" And an "F"

the ones before the F#

i saw that you started on F# but need help can you help me?

[XdarkdomainX]

@joseserrato42 the E is played using side 1, 2, and 3 F is the exact same thing only with the side 4 fingering as well. if you dont know those its basicly the keys on the side are (in order) 1: D 2: E flat, and the third side is basiclly just the top of the 3 lined up on the right side of your right hand so 1,2,3: E natural and 1, 2, 3, 4 is F

[avril2]

Excellent, thanks.

[gabexavier]

hello! great video, I'm having alot of trouble getting anything higher than the F# (which i hit comfortably) Regardless of what strength reeds or what I do with my embouchure I can't get anything. There have been times during gigs where I might hit the G but I really really have to strain to hit it. I'm playing with a Meyer 5 hard rubber mouthpiece and a Roy Benson alto. Reeds vary between Vandoren 3's , Rico 3.5 and I'm trying Zonda 3's now to see if it'll help but no luck. help?

[groovetonemusic]

@gabexavier I suggest trying to play from altissimmo d down, this is the easiest note to hit. G, G sharp are the hardest because they are just above the normal range and the mouth change to hit them is hard to lock into at first. I still have to flick in to G on tenor to get it....

Be patient they will come....

[iamthesaxmaster]

Are you using a Runyon Smooth Bore mouthpiece???

[groovetonemusic]

@iamthesaxmaster Hi, at the time of this recording I was using a Dave Guardala King . Now I use an RPC 85b ebonite...

[rctlover1]

i cant get any out..................

[groovetonemusic]

@rctlover1 Patience! Start at high d and work down...

[rctlover1]

@groovetonemusic

it might be cuz im on a yas-23

[groovetonemusic]

@rctlover1 Yamaha's are great saxes. My first sax was a La Fleur! Now that was crap. It's not the instrument! Please just try overblowing high F ( side palm keys ), move your jaw forward and think high and blow. If you keep trying you will hit altissimo D. Once you have that you can work down..

Cheers, Steve...

[rctlover1]

@groovetonemusic

just got the F# out thanks!

[Briceno009]

@groovetonemusic Hello sir i saw your vid. last year.. i couldn't get the notes but umm can you get these notes a little bit easier by using overtones and the fingerings at the same time?

[AbramoMike]

Simply amazing! This video helps so much

[thecamful1]

how to you get that sound..it doesnt sound like the regular concert sound

[shnitzel92]

High G four octaves is the highest i've hit.

[deadneutral]

Im a junior and i can play to alt. D on my yas-62 (mark 1) with completely different fingerings. My private tutor uses a selmer mark VI and I used what he showed me, also my senior friend has a mark VII and he plays them a bit different. Doesn't really matter what fingerings you use if you get the same pitch. Great vid though, sounds great !!

[InvalidFingerprint]

First of all, that was an incredibly helpful video, but I have one question to ask...my key above the B key on my left hand won't lift the F palm key like it is supposed to, how could I fix that if there is a way? I looked at it and the area where the key is supposed to lift the F palm key doesn't have any pad touching the F palm key so it won't lift it...will I have to bring it in to shop to get it fixed, because I don't want to have to use an uncomfortable fingering...

[gokatX100]

im thirteen and i can get to alt. G, but i'll try G sharp and higher. thanks for the fingerings. by the way love the tone.

[gokatX100]

im thirteen and i can get to alt. G, but i'll try G sharp and higher. thanks for the fingerings.

[zxLoneWolf]

@gokatX100 cool high five :)

.

idc

[EmulatorDX]

hi, nice, i have a little trouble getting those out to play, what would you suggest?

[groovetonemusic]

@EmulatorDX It takes a hell of a long time to get these notes to sound! I practise them all of the time and still have issues.. Try different reeds strengths and mouth positions to hit altissimo d first, then work down from that note. Good luck and stay focussed...

[obscessity]

I can do Bb scan in two octaves now. You're officially my second favorite idol. (Sorry, but David Sanborn is my first.) (:

[scarolinagamecock19]

what kind of saxophone do u use? love the tone!

[groovetonemusic]

@scarolinagamecock19 hi, it's a selmer mk7

[CBHcProductions]

You are literally the greatest saxophone player ever!

[groovetonemusic]

@CBHcProductions that's a nice comment, but I know many better players..

[MAURYPOVICH84]

this is a life saver! thankyou!

[SAGEBUS]

what kind of mouth piece and reed is that??

[groovetonemusic]

@SAGEBUS Dave Guardala King Kurtis piece with an oleg ligature..

[TheSGD2010]

thanks now i am really good at it this is nucking futs

[groovetonemusic]

@TheSGD2010 I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not!

[kennethjohnmetcalf]

hi im high shcool student with a high rage in the altissimo rage... I can play all the way to the D you have and when i add the altissimo F sharp key with the D i get D Sharp but i was wonder whats after the cuz i want to go higher but i have no resources. could u make one thats easy to read that goes to a grand C or maybe higher...

[shrillz]

what brand of tuner is that?

[groovetonemusic]

@shrillz it's a Korg chromatic, good,accurate & cheap...

[shrillz]

I give up. its just impossible

[shrillz]

@shrillz Holy sh**. while I was watching this I got inspired and tried one more time and this time i lifted my tounge and f# just popped out. now I feel on fire. Thanks dude.

[groovetonemusic]

@shrillz well done! They take hard work to hit consistently, but it's time well spent..

Cheers Steve...

[rgkarate214]

Now is there like certain mouthpieces to use or is it all embochure

[Zuffaux]

Are these fingerings good for playing smooth and fast legato chromatically in altissimo register? Gotta try these fingerings out. Thanks for sharing them! :)

[nutteehorses45]

wow, thanks for this, I've been looking everywhere for something like this for a peice I'm playing. I couldnt get the top notes and had to play them down the octave but now I'll learn these over the holidays and *hopefully* have learned them for the next term. Thank you!! XD

[irontailpikachu]

thank for this steve ,

cheers ollie

[gsoccer2004]

I prefer some other fingerings for F#, G, and A doesn't necessarily need the bottom two fingers on the chart.

Yet, a great lesson :D

[groovetonemusic]

@gsoccer2004 There are so many fingerings for these notes, the ones I'm using are good for the intonation on my sax. You can really appreciate players like Candy Dulfer,Maceo Parker & Gerald Albright who blow these notes pitch perfect. You should check out Snake Davis, now this guy is a master of these tones.

[OrzelBialy616]

WOW great lesson !!! I wish I could find somewhere in Poland teacher like you. In Poland many musicians are pricks(excuse me but that how it is) and they dont want to share knowlage. I was learning altissimo with finger-breaking techniqe, but now I will try to learn with your method because it looks much better. Could you make someday lesson about aliquots ( in english people use word "harmonics" for that if I good remember). Thank you for your help :). Chris

[groovetonemusic]

@OrzelBialy616 I'm glad you enjoyed it. We have those musicians here also lol..