ALTISSIMO Fingerings and Warm-ups for Alto and Tenor Saxophone

#bettersax #saxophone #altissimo
Jay Metcalf demonstrates altissimo fingerings and warm up exercises for the saxophone.
🎷 Access the FREE Play Sax by Ear course HERE: bettersax.com/...
🎷 Altissimo Fingerings Download and PDF Lesson: bettersax.com/...
🔥 Join the Reed Revolution and try the new BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds HERE ➡ geni.us/reed
🎁 Access the FREE BetterSax SHED with tons of sax lessons, pdf downloads and backing tracks HERE: bettersax.com/...
===========================
⚡️Featured BetterSax Gear
“Designed BY Saxophonists FOR Saxophonists”
===========================
🎷BetterSax Saxophones: ➡︎ geni.us/saxoph...
🎷BURNIN’ Mouthpieces: ➡︎ geni.us/Burnin
🎷Jazz Cut Reeds: ➡︎ geni.us/reed
🎷Must Have Accessories: bettersax.com/s...
===========================
🎓Want to Study Saxophone with Jay Metcalf?
===========================
🔥 Join the BetterSax Studio for personalized video feedback from Jay as well as new lessons and downloads every month ➡️ bettersax.com/c...
💪🏻Get lifetime access to BetterSax courses that have helped 10s of thousands of saxophonists at every level around the world ➡️ bettersax.com/...
===========================
Connect with us!
===========================
IG: ➡︎ / bettersax
Tik Tok: ➡︎ / bettersax
Facebook: ➡︎ / bettersax
===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the BetterSax Podcast HERE:📱
===========================
➡︎Apple: apple.co/3rmr9no
➡︎Spotify: sptfy.com/OWAr
Our mission here at BetterSax is to help saxophone players improve steadily, while enjoying the process of learning. We aim to help people find sax gear for every budget that delivers exceptional value and performance.
This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.
Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the BetterSax KZbin channel. bettersax.com/...

[@jsy2b]

Jay - one thing I think you left out is the crazy psychological component of altissimo. If you hear the note in your head, somehow you put your embrochure in the right position. I find that if I miss the note, if I just step back and hear the note in my head, it comes. Surreal

[@Roman-rx2tm]

yea

[@MRttbrlo]

Jay!!! When the front E didn't work, I tried the low Bb overtones and then it came out with almost no effort. There really is a method to your exercises!!

[@bettersax]

Good to hear Matt.

[@yolioms]

Thanks so much Jay! I appreciate all of your tutorials-- your hard work helping and guiding us along our sax journeys. Cheers!

[@hectormartines7825]

Jay, you are so right when you say that we should focus on the basics (as well as overtones) first before we tackle the altissimo range. My music teacher, Bobby LaVelle, says the same thing, except he also emphasizes the use of "long tones" to condition the lungs. Although it is fun to peek ahead at this advanced range. Thank you for that peek.

[@momijipress583]

Perhaps my experience will encourage others just starting out. I played alto sax in small rural high school, and it's been a sporadic hobby for me during the 50 years since, but was never in contact with any professional sax players or teachers to get any direction. I picked up Sigurd Rascher's book on altissimo in a music store somewhere at least 40 years ago, and picked up other books on altissimo along the way, but could never figure out how to produce any overtones other than the two or three above the low Bb. Of course, I was squeezing and biting for all of those years. But 7 months ago I discovered and got your courses. (Thank you KZbin!) Along with your initial Pentatonic course exercises, I daily spent 5 minutes or so on my around 1990 Yanagisawa Elimona tenor working on the Bb overtone exercises as you presented them. One day, I seemed to be having some success with a few of the altissimo fingerings. I switched to my Yamaha YAS-875 alto, and all the notes magically appeared! Now I can play them on the tenor as well. Of course a relaxed lower lip cushion and solid air stream are essential, but I find that for the notes above the front E and F the tip of my tongue is slightly above and maybe slightly over the tip of the mouthpiece with the rest of my tongue high in my mouth as well. F# and G are the hardest to control for me using your fingerings, but the notes above (G#-C) are easy. I'm also finding that most of the Sigurd Rascher fingerings work for me now that my brain has figured out what needs to be happening in my body (mouth, tongue, and airstream). Thank you, Jay, for helping somebody in their 60's solve the mystery of producing a reliable altissimo register!

[@pamelatrent9674]

This guy is no-nonsense. He reminds me of a science teacher I hated in Jr. High. I always took his classes because his methods ALWAYS worked I think I was waiting for the day it wouldn't! lol

[@bernardhoger5030]

It really works! I play Yanagisawas: Tenor, Alto and Bari. And the fingerings fit just perfectly. Thanks Jay for your fingerings and all the other informations you post in your channel.

[@matsmanteatern698]

Every Word so true! I’ve also been practicing Sigurd M Raschers book ”Top-Tones for the saxophone” for many many years. There’s one page (12) that can keep you busy for the rest of you’re life! It starts out with just the first 2-3 overtones, using fingerings for the 4-5 lowest notes on you’re horn. Do them for a year or two before trying any altissimo fingering at all! It may sound a bit boring but it will improve you’re overall sound A LOT! Thanks for a great video!

[@bettersax]

Great exercises in that book.

[@marcvandeneynden]

"At the beginning you probably gonna miss the first 100 altissimo notes on stage ... hahaha sooo true.". Excellent video again Jay.

[@bettersax]

Thanks Marc...

[@arthurogradycabral3322]

Excellent lesson Jay, you went to all the important troubles about the altissimo. I really thank you very much

[@selenaolivia6639]

Just started learning altissimo THANKYOU!!

[@theLTstation]

Lisa Simpson😁

[@freemangriffin6211]

Hi Jay....you come across as a real professional saxophonist...that knows how to reach out and help others improve their skills..I have a wonderful friend in Belize....that wanted to learn how to improve on ...Altissimo Fingerings....and the only person I could think of was you...Your the best out there...who's welling to take the time and really explain...I enjoy your training tutorials...be blessed in all you do....Freeman

[@bobpremecz5429]

I've been using Rascher's fingerings for alto all the way to the 4-octave range since the 1970's, but still experimenting with alternatives for tenor, since some of the Rascher fingerings end up a bit out of tune and many of the alternatives are a bit wonky when trying to play melodies. I can't wait to try yours on my tenor, since I'm still looking. Great post!

[@bettersax]

Thanks Bob. I started with that book as well and still do the exercises in it from time to time.

[@tomczykjason2355]

After years of playing in the normal range, getting into altissimo range is like adding a DLC to you game you bought 4 years ago. whole new world

[@isaiahd9947]

More like 4 days ago for me haha. I got sax for xmas and since I've played clarinet for 3 1/2 years I can play altissimo notes on sax pretty easily

[@saxman7131]

Top tones for saxophone was a great help to me.

[@derycktrahair8108]

Great advice again. Nothing worse than goofing on that high note which was supposed to make a statement in the solo. You end up playing your way back down with your tail between your legs knowing that "God hates a smart ass". To do it right you have to put in the work. Thanks for showing us how you do it.

[@bettersax]

I find the key is to remind myself to relax before going up there in a performance. the initial reflex is usually to tighten up.

[@charlenemack7040]

The saxophone…should be called the sexophone! It adds such a beautiful quality to music, and there isn’t enough of it on the radio.!

[@GiI11]

The tips for the overtones are fantastic. Thanks so much!

[@Legittkultch]

Its my 9th day playing sax. Polishing the bottom of my reed made the world of a difference. air can seep through the tiniest of gaps which you cannot see until you polish the reed.....

[@billmarycarson3074]

Hi Jay, if you don't mind my humble opinion, easily one of the best tutorials I've listened to anywhere on the Tube. Great advice. Thank you for the fingering chart.

[@alanhirayama4592]

Eugene Rousseau has written book called "Saxophone High Tones", which I think is a good reference book which talks about all of the things you addressed such as long tones, harmonics, and different fingerings for alto/tenor. Thank you for the awesome video!

[@bettersax]

Thank you...

[@jackmiller1209]

We need a video on these overtones that you mention, please. You are a cool teacher. Well done! Thank you very much!

[@bettersax]

Jack, I'll do one, but it's the sort of thing nobody wants to listen to...

[@jackmiller1209]

It might be that no one likes to listen to the noises the sax makes but if it’s important to be able to play them before we can access the altissimo range, then apparently they are pretty useful.

[@dcp8nts]

@@bettersax lol

[@michaelthomas4805]

Thanks,again Jay, for another excellent video. The brain knows "don't bite", but the instinct is the more I "smile" the higher the note will be. It is counter-intuitive for sure.

[@WalkOverHotCoal]

Thank you for taking the time and efforts to do this video. Like a mountaineer, I have been scaling up and down the Internet, especially the KZbin , for Altissimo techniques. But I am still stuck at the base camp ! It is mainly because there are so many conflicting ideas, some rather unworkable I might add. I got my fingers tied in knots attempting those fingering charts. Good sax players aren't necessarily good teachers. This video and a couple of teachers on KZbin yesterday has provided what I needed. Now I can do the F and F# using the Front/Teardrop key combinations. To my surprise, they actually sounded better than the sounds when I used the Palm keys. Mind you, I am far from being good. So my opinion in regard to the sound produced by the two different paradigms don't carry much weight.

[@stephenpower1]

Great to see you using the Jazzlab saxholder! My favourite bit of kit ever! (I'm not a shareholder!) Tip: Spread the arms out more so that your shoulders take the weight of the sax, not your neck. ;)

[@assanbenjamin7511]

Hello Jay, I want to buy a tenor sax what which one be of help

[@giuseppedigioia69]

Hi Jay. Very useful video. The fingering I find easier to get altissimo G is B (1) + high F# key

[@robstevens9590]

Thanks for the good preparation advice for being able to play altissimo.

[@robstevens9590]

When playing overtones I only manage to play the octave and the next note (5th) up, but can't get the octave beyond that. I have only used Altissimo notes once or twice in public performances, as my tone is not dependable enough (and playing out of tune, or listening to something out of tune, I find very "painful") - & I've never tried to play any higher than A (concert C). - A chart I found helpful when first trying altissimo was from a book by Sam Donahue: High Note Book For Saxophone, which is slightly different from your chart (I tried to copy paste it here, but it didn't come out.) - Some of the recommended tenor fingerings worked better for my alto.

[@lloydwhitty684]

I love your lessons Jay

[@collinsbruer740]

It really helps me choose fingerings when I play the altissimo notes using the TE tuner. It shows the slight differences in the fingerings relative to being in tune. Adding or subtracting a key can really make a difference.

[@visionventure]

Yes I do that to are you Tenor?

[@dnsps]

Hey, Jay. You need to cover the saxophones that have the high F# right hand side key. Changes everything! I built mine up with cork so that I can hit it with the inside of my ring finger knuckle. That way I don't have to take my finger off of the button to trigger the high F#. Also that high F# side key gives you an alternate rapid high F natural if you know how to use it. Most important though for every last sax player that wants to do this for a living for a lifetime is the "DS Thumb Crutch" I developed. After several decades the left hand, bottom thumb joint will start to deteriorate from buckling in hitting the octave key. Arthritis sets in and it starts to get painful. Maybe you are not there yet, but you will be soon if you play a lot. I've met other players over 50 (I'm 75) who have this problem. The DS Thumb Crutch is described in my book, "Sax and the Higher Self" available on Amazon. Also many other fixes in the book. You do great work. Thanks, Zoot

[@bychen5011]

That taps with overtone is goated

[@coolkid6751]

Your so good at the saxophone! Your amazing dude keep up the amazing work👍 I hope to one day be as good as you

[@alexanderlochardful]

Fantastic! I shared all the amazing information with all of my students here and in Puerto Rico. Bravo...

[@bettersax]

Great to hear thanks.

[@surfin1234]

Wow, thank you so much, I finally managed to play high F# :D

[@bettersax]

Well done!

[@Yourbosskid]

Dude. I thought my mouthpiece was dodgy or something. Your G fingering is the only one that works on this horn 😁 thanks man!

[@hecateswolf6007]

Really good lesson thanks

[@ionadam6775]

Thank you very much ! 🙏

[@tufawawa]

Hi Jay, I think, this is one of your greatest videos. It looks almost like a philosophical treatise (as many of your videos), but otherwise it's very useful for daily practising. Rainer

[@Immanuelomoge]

You're the best boss❣️❣️

[@eugeniaavilava2918]

Brilliant Jay!

[@noelbeltran2651]

Thank you for your time and expertise. I appreciate you as well as the information you provide for us.

[@mikespadafora9077]

I still swear by Top Tones for the Saxophone for developing altissimo and tone shaping! Better than shopping for mouthpieces.

[@patrickgarcia7693]

Very good job my brother s'axman 💪 👊 ❤️🙏

[@shakydave]

For altissimo G I use B key, side B flat and high F sharp keys + octave

[@bettersax]

Is that for alto or tenor?

[@Maverick3654]

I have a Yamaha tenor and I use the B key, the high F# key, and the octave key for G.

[@shakydave]

Tenor

[@ChaChaWillis]

Really cool fingering for altissimo a on alto is 1 3 on the left hand and and then the side c key. It gives you a nice in tune a

[@jacobli8370]

For me on tenor, the G and A doesn't come out so I use these fingerings: G: bis Bb and 3 finger on left hand plus side C A: 2nd and 3 finger on left hand plus side C These came out really easy for me compared to the other fingerings, but I only recently started practicing overtones and such, so maybe those other fingerings that Jay showed will work. Let me know if this helped you guys at all.

[@sarahbamboo]

Brilliant advice all round, thank you so much!

[@nicosax72]

I add the Bb low (left hand pinky) on altissimo G for more proyection and better intonation. Try it!!!! Greetings for Argentina.

[@loumarreantaso5469]

Thank You sir

[@kevindeibert3369]

I have a high note book by Trent Kinastin which shows several fingerings for each high note (altissimo). Several good points made here (hear) ! Thanks

[@Erik-jk8zx]

Jay, thank you so much for the fingering chart. It is working very well! I'm going to start using your finger rings instead of the old ones that I was using up until now. Do you have another chart for the notes above the ones on that chart? For the even higher range?

[@alexanderallred6947]

Thx for the fingerings, helps A TON, tho I would say I find the alticimo register easier on synthetic reeds being that they will flex and give a different vibration. Maybe I'm wrong, but I do prefer synthetic reeds for their durability and consistency and flexibility which helps me play across registers

[@raphaelsimard8053]

I tryed and i was complette this(Thankssss)

[@fg87fgd]

Thanks a lot for this. But I think it should be mentioned that the physical reason for alternative fingerings is the overtone series. The higher you get, the closer they are, thus two overtone series based on two different base notes get closer and closer and more or less will overlap in the altissimo register.

[@mslourenco100]

thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks !!!

[@bettersax]

You're welcome...

[@zoranaleksic6241]

Thanks bro!!!

[@MeehanSax]

If you play on a vintage horn, especially on Bari you may need to do some experimenting, my Bari Mark VI use very few “typical” fingerings they come out all wrong

[@kennethgsaxrepair38]

this is just amazing and wonderful! You deserve all the best! Thank You!

[@bettersax]

Thanks!

[@fluteluc1]

Merci pour ces merveilleux conseils,Would you have a C# fingering to suggest? On a Keilwerth tenor. Thanks!

[@ivanbraginisky8170]

Ty

[@kevindeibert3369]

This is cool ! I like the mouthpiece thing ! How do you do that ?. I generally don’t play a lot of high notes but want to be able to

[@reichlinsmall9765]

So far I've missed my note 50 times. But I've also hit it 50 times on stage, not looking forward to the other misses! :)

[@DrinkCola]

Jay ! I'm a six months tenor saxophone player and I can't play altissimo yet. it is so hard

[@bettersax]

I don’t think I played altissimo for the first 5 years.

[@FunkOsax]

I've been practising the overtones for some months now and it really helps with tone, stability, endurance etc, but one that I can rarely get is the middle Bb. (I think I'm closing the bottom Bb pad OK because it's a solid note with no bubbling, but it's a stretch for my shorter than average left pinky) Any thoughts? My tenor is a Selmer Reference 36 which I've had from new and is in good shape. Mouthpiece is a Lawton 7*B. Various reeds... usually the soft side of 2 1/2. Weird thing though, I have the exact same mouthpiece/reed setup on my Mk 6 alto and I CAN get the middle Bb overtone easily every time . Makes me wonder if it’s to do with the horn geometry ?

[@raseshgandhi6702]

Wowwwww amazing information Sir👍

[@febunator]

Hi Jay, I love watching your videos! I came to this video wondering if you had any fingerings for higher notes? I am able to play up to like an altissimo D#, but it kinda only works for my tenor. I go to C# by pressing the teardrop key and the G key, then D by just holding down the teardrop key, and then up to D# by holding the teardrop key and then I figured out by pressing the high F# key! I was just curious if you had any fingerings for these on Alto.

[@kostasp945]

Well i use the same keys till A# but in b c c# D D# I use overblow six, I overblow D D# E F F# to reach them. ( Imean side key with octabe key D D# E F F#) for F# i only use the octabe key with the altissimo key.. Works well to me and in tune. I dont remember the E and F alltisimo because i never used it before.

[@nikolay_dubinin]

I play high G with first finger (B key) in my left hand and third finger (high F# key) in my right hand

[@TheJma945]

I'm struggling with G# on a yanagasawa tenor. And I can't find many tutorials on anything about G! Any recommendations?

[@praiseoyirinnaya3763]

Hey jay can I get the link for the music instrumental you were playing to at the beginning of this video...thanks :)

[@toystory79]

필좋고 소리좋고 까뤼하네~~

[@josephfdent]

I've heard Jay and Saxologic say you should practice with just the mouthpiece and play notes. When I play just my mouthpiece, I get nothing but squeaking, no notes whatsoever. What am I doing wrong?

[@tiptoe2323]

Could you please tell me how to get from B key to C on a tenor sax, using and alternative method? Without the clumsiness. Thanks

[@visionventure]

Middle b and then middle side key will give you c.

[@teddavidcompositions3744]

I have several tables of altissimo fingerings. (I want multiple options to cover various sequences.) One of them, Jean-Marie Londeix's Tablature has no legend and uses key names I'm not familiar with. I've tried comparing his chart with those of others, not certain I have made the correct interpretations. Can you help please?

[@Eniral441]

I find many of the overtones relatively easy, but I have been playing for a long time. The problem I have is that I baritone saxophone and sometimes things are different on a baritone saxophone. So, I was looking for baritone saxophone altissimo fingerings to assist with the top notes. It would be nice if you could include information for baritone saxophone.

[@bettersax]

Angela, on baritone, I use the same fingerings as on alto.

[@islarascador]

how do I get the chart with the fingerings????

[@mattlozano599]

These work on Yamaha as well!

[@tylersteinbrink271]

For Altissimo D I found it by mistake. I use the palm key D, palm key Eb, high E key on the right hand, and 1 and 2 on the left hand. All with octave key

[@timwhalen3840]

I wish knew where I could find that front F Yani key to put on my Mark VI.

[@user-of6lq4iw3l]

thx maestro

[@olebirgerpedersen]

I think that the fingering for altosax must be the same for the Baritonsax.

[@demetriolabador3902]

How can we order saxophone fingering courses.

[@gamehour3545]

What about bari fingerings it's very underrated if you could do a video on bari fingerings would be very nice

[@joeldiaz222]

Hello Better Sax! I wanna start playing the tenor sax. I play the clarinet as main. Do you recommend me the Yamaha yts275s? Thanks in advance!

[@bettersax]

That's a very solid saxophone. bettersax.com/saxophone-buying-advice/

[@lloydwhitty684]

Where can I get those palm key risers?

[@batmanisneat5666]

I’m very fluent in the altissimo register on alto but I can’t play it on bari at all, are there different fingerings or what am I doing wrong

[@halrosenberg129]

Where can I order your altissimo fingerings book?

[@bettersax]

BetterSax.com/shed sign up for free there and you can access the altissimo lessons and fingerings.

[@jimmyb1133]

What is the dark tear drop on the left as I'm looking at the picture ? The one opposite the palm key ?

[@lukeserrano62]

Octave key

[@korne6121]

well g is my highest at the moment lmao and my altiss e sounds really stuffy

[@eraldobalbini5184]

Italiano anche perche siamo tanti a cui potrebbe interessare grazie

[@Kaoson73]

On your chart F# for tenor is the same fingering for G on Alto. Is this true? How can this be?

[@olebirgerpedersen]

How can get rit of the undertext. It disturbes All tue notes and what lese you are showing.

[@jasonharris5664]

I can play overtones like it’s cool but I always feel as though I’ve ran a marathon and my chops are dead after playing through one or two Albright transcriptions. Is he just super human or am I doing something wrong. I’ve been playing for over 30 years, professionally since 1997.

[@bettersax]

The trick is you have to spend considerable time just playing in the altissimo register to develop the flexibility. Wear ear plugs.

[@jasonharris5664]

@@bettersax thanks for the reply. I figured that was the answer I just needed someone else to tell me I guess. Have a great day!

[@eraldobalbini5184]

Mi interessa.ma.non capisco l inglese non si potrebbe fare una traduzione...io ti seguo sempre ma non riesco a capire niente grazie Maestro

[@lucassstache8069]

On tenor I use my high f# and b to get an altissimo g

[@GardensoftheAncientsHerbal]

I can my hit much easier without holding my right hand down 😅 can’t use traditional g fingering either unless passing or I want a split g. I’ve found a ton of usable fingering. Gonna combine them all for everyone. As there are tons of fingerings.

[@jevonchandler9856]

What’s that backing track you were playing over?

[@jorgeherrera1074]

Are you able to get altissimo on a student saxophone? I can only get to G/G# at times

[@andrescastro8198]

I play on a Selmer Bundy II and I've been able to get all altissimo notes from F#6 up to A#7. The Bundy II doesn't have an F# key ;-)

[@dcp8nts]

Hey Jay. What is wrong with me? I can get F#, sometimes, well, a little less than 'sometimes', but i can't reach any higher. So frustrating. I know i've only been playing for 5 weeks, but still.... i'm strong and have a good embouchure. Or do i? Tell me its the #2 reed. Should i try a 3? More importantly, i hope all is well in your part of this crazy world. Be safe and thank you for all you do. =)

[@lenynigro7026]

Jay I have my fingerings in a photo how do I send them to you thx leny

[@Osnosis]

Is that a Klangbogen?

[@bettersax]

Yes it is. Video coming soon...