Altissimo register fingering for Tenor , Alto & Baritone saxophone explained and demonstrated.

[robin17171]

I've gotten down to an A on my alto. (Kinda) But it's ridiculously hard for me on Tenor. Any tips?

[bubbaries]

Hey commenters

My setup (t.sax) is a Yamaha custom z (yts-827) lacquered with an Otto link super tone master New York series 7*

What should I use for reeds? In the past I've used and loved Rico select jazz reeds, but have recently considered experimenting again.

Any ideas? Any help would be great

[NintendoFunTime]

this is not really that hard, ive been playing alto sax for five years and i got these on my first try lol.

[BlockKingdom]

could these be played on a student model

[groovetonemusic]

@BlockKingdom Yes no problem!

[FlinckJanne1981]

can i find these fingerings somewhere in pictures, cause i dont follow this just in english explaining.

[robin17171]

HOLY!!! o.o That was awesome. Thanks for the help.

[fluffycattrevelyan]

Hi Steve

Thanks for posting this - it only f***ing works doesn't it?! After 15 years altissimo wilderness I am now caning said register ..poor neighbors.

[EddieHaskelll]

Thanks! This is the best little primer and live demo on altissimo fingering and blowing I have found so far.  Very helpful. I can't do them all yet, lol, but still really great stuff.... thanks again.

[malcolmx13]

Thanks so much for this post. this has really helped me a lot. thank you for taking the time to show each note!

[Carlinhosviolao]

Are you saying VENT or THEN?

High D= Side Key F, are you using the octave key or VENT key?

[groovetonemusic]

@Carlinhosviolao Hi, High D ( Altissimo ) = the same fingering as high f normal fingering you just over blow it....

[TheIzzysteve]

Nice glass mouthpiece! I have one for Alto.

[rlbarisaxman]

Nice! Do you do much work with altissimo for bari? I play bari, and I put up a video on my channel of a four octave chromatic scale on bari. When I go up high, it feels like some of the notes get out of tune a little. Could you check out my video and see if you think they get out? Thanks!

[burtonrider865]

Thanks!

[burtonrider865]

I'm a big fan of vandoren zz reeds. But i don't know what strength will best help me with altissimo. Any advice?

[groovetonemusic]

@burtonrider865 Stick with the strength that's right for the full normal register. If you take it slow and work on honing the mouth positions you will start to get them on this grade.

Cheers, Steve...

[terradactylclaw]

I've been playing the sax for about 7 years, and I had no idea you could play above the high F. I've been working my tail off to play these, but the only notes I can pop out are the G and the G#. Sometimes A. It honestly feels like there is no hope of playing anything higher. Is it possible that some people just can't hit these? The only way I can belch that high is if I press my teeth to the reed, which is awful. What are you doing with you mouth? My lip is always getting ripped.

[groovetonemusic]

@terradactylclaw Firstly don't use your teeth! These notes take a lot of practise and a boat full of patience.

You have to tighten your jaw but not to the degree you are, so take it a bit easier. Try and aim for the high d ( same fingering for normal high F ), if you try a few different reeds strengths this too can help ( usually a slightly stronger grade ). Try angling your head up so you are blowing more up on the reed rather than the normal position you play. It will happen believe me...

[MaaartenMusic]

Could be me getting better, but now I managed to get to C sharp, and the B an octave out of the regular register! With the book of Rascher which is a good book anyway , I did not manage to get such altissimos a few years ago.

Thanks for your upload! I'm motivated again to learn altissimos.

[sigmayacht]

I've been playing for 3 years, and for all 3 years altissimo has evaded me! After watching this vid, I got it and now play it regularily! Finally I can solo for 6 minutes and have somewhere besides the high F# to go to!

[TenSax34]

ive been playing for about 6 or 7 years now, and im currently playing a 900 dollar buescher, a nice otto link super tone master 6* and a vandorren 3 jazz reed for my funk band and then otto link tone edge rubber for my concert band with a vandorren 3. I am able to hit altissimo A, alttisimo D C# and C. I can rarely hit the other ones, but the one I have the most problem with is the Altissimo G, and this is the one id use the most. When I play it, I can almost hear a multiphonic growl. Any tips?

[groovetonemusic]

@TenSax34 if your blowing tenor, try fingering the high front f without the c key in and with the side trill Bb on the right hand in also. G is the hardest altissimo note to get and the fingering in the video works on all of the horns I have tried. Try playing the front F and flicking up to the G. This is a tried and tested way of strengthening the tone and mouth position. Good luck!

[Letsimprovise]

@groovetonemusic Hello. Do you think its suprising I hit a Alltisimo G on the tenor? I'm 13 haha. Just want to know. Haha.

[shrillz]

it was great but i can hardly hear past your accent lol!

[galaxyblinds]

I . was wondering if you give Jazz lessons ? I played for a while doing pop and soul stuff and just getting back into it now...after 8 years out....looking to learn all the theory side of jazz along with the improv side ..

I am based in St helens Merseyside and play balanced Action and Mauriat tenors ..

Thanks

[vitamincory]

well i play on an unbranded plastic mouthpiece that came with my sax, My sax isn't much by the way, it's a "klingt", but my professor tried it before i bought it and he said it was ok

[vitamincory]

does the mouthpiece have any effect on this?

[groovetonemusic]

@vitamincory Hi, the mouthpiece and reed are key to this in my opinion.I have recently changed from the Gaurdala to a RPC 115b because of the range this piece had to offer. What piece are you blowing and how long have you been playing?

Cheers Steve...

[vitamincory]

well thanks a lot, i have a plastic unbranded mouthpiece that came with my saxophone, i've been playing for one and a half month, and i'm currently aiming at coltrane, My tenor saxophone is a "klingt" I've never heard that brand before but my professor tried it before i bought it and he liked it as a student model, and he is a respectable player, he used to play with perez prado so i'm confident.

thanks for the advise.

[vitamincory]

@groovetonemusic well i play on an unbranded plastic mouthpiece that came with my sax, My sax isn't much by the way, it's a "klingt", but my professor tried it before i bought it and he said it was ok

[Ghettodued]

@groovetonemusic Selmer C* and a rico reserve reed is great.

[michaelvandromme]

inspiring! lets get me horn out!!

[groovetonemusic]

@michaelvandromme I hope that's the sax you're talking about lol...

[6438paul]

really useful,thank you

[SpecialBrewSaxMan]

Absolutely brilliant. I have been trying to play in the altissimo register for ages without success. The first time I followed your advice and pow...the high notes just popped out. Thanks for a very informative video!!

[larrykingofspace]

Brilliant, thanks for putting this up - your sax looks rockin by the way!

[groovetonemusic]

@larrykingofspace Thanks! It's a P.Mauriat 66rul model.

[TwainsBlues]

Well you make it look easy. Pitch in your head is I guess the key. You sound more in tune up there than most. Johnny Almond used to do some nice playing up there when he was with Mayall. BT