SAX LESSONS ALTISSIMO #1:Overtones

Fabrizio D'Alisera on tenor saxophone.First video:Producing the overtones with the low Bb without the octave key.This is the first step into the world of altissimo on saxophone,because you start to use the larinx and focus the airstream.
Be sure to practice overtones also using low B,C and C# fingerings.

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• tenor
• how
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• altissimo
• overtones
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• fabrizio

[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!

[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).

[ClueLou]

alto the same?

[fabriziodalisera]

@ClueLou

yes , of course

[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]

@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.