Altissimo! You are doing it Wrong! (Try This)

[@julianlavreau5618]

Altissimo practice, overtone practice usually goes like this, and it goes like this 100% of the time. I may have some witnesses out there, players who experience the same thing: Play notes successfully -- until I can't hit a desired note (or harmonic). What to do? Experiment with embouchure, air velocity, lip position, amount of mouthpiece taken in, throat openess, voicing, mentally "hearing" the note, toggling between playing the note "on instrument" in another octave and playing it as an overtone, fidgeting with the attack on the note, easing into it, changing the volume of the note, and all manner of adjustments to "find" what makes the note sound. Rinse, repeat for months. And then, this: Trying different reeds! Trying different reed positions. Changing the ligature tension. Trying different mouthpieces! Trying sifferent saxophones! Yeah. That too. Here's the point: All of us reach that point where sounding specific overtones or altissimo notes is "a bridge too far." What is missing is a model as to what adjustmentsare needed to "bring in" a note. And that seems an impossible task because there are so many variables and we're all different. On Soprano and baritone I don't even try to play altissimo -- especially on soprano. A high F# is altissimo. :-) On alto, I can play altissimo up to E4, but rarely use it. On tenor, I'm still looking for a good fingering chart. Generally, after 10 minutes of effort, I work on other technique areas or a song. I've allowed myself to believe that altissimo especially is more of a gimmick to use when a player runs out of ideas. I cringe when I attend a concert only to watch an uninspired solo, then to see the crowd erupt when the player screams an 8 count altissimo note. The series is amazing. (you've inspired me to try harder)

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Lots of good info in your comment! I'd say keep at it. I almost never play altissimo myself, but it's nice to have it if ever you need it / want it. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@robertzantay5923]

I have found that playing bugle calls on the flute by using the lowest notes not moving my fingers but just doing it with my throat and tongue position taught me the right way to control harmonics with my embouchure and then I just transferred that over to the saxophone. The trouble with learning it on the Sax first is that nothing works until you learn it, on the flute you already know it because you play the three octaves you have to use your throat and embouchure.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

That's an interesting take on overtones. It is much easier to play the harmonic series on the flute - even a beginner can force them out with sheer air power and then learn to reign them in with proper embouchure etc. In a sense the same principles apply on sax, and I'm always saying that a beginner shouldn't have an octave key on their horn until they're able to play the full range of the instrument... they should probably make the entry level instruments with a removable octave key that their teacher holds onto until they've earned it. ha. Thanks for commenting.

[@derycktaylor3677]

I am glad to have this info. It has given me easier access to some altissimo combinations. Thanks again.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Happy to hear that it's working out for you!

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

This is great. I had thought of the octave key as just another pad to open/close for a while now. I got an old King Super 20 bari (as my first bari) and I can't even get out a couple of the low altissimo fingerings with the octave key on it. That's how I first learned about this. There is also that great Jeff Coffin video where he talks about Burt Wilson's fingerings for altissimo and it sort of touches on this (though conceptualized differently). Burt would call the G pearl the third octave key, but mechanically it's just switching to the lower octave vent.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I haven't seen the Jeff Coffin video, but I'll take a look. Sounds like you've got a sweet Bari!

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

@@TheSaxophoneOracle Thank you! It's just what I could afford. Have put some work into it, and it sounds great, but I know any modern horn plays way better lol.

[@AaronTMartin]

Thank you for this concise and helpful video! Though I'm struggling with overtones beyond the third partial and am not currently able to play in the altissimo register, this will be a great tip to keep in mind. I realize that patience is required and that success will (probably) come in time, but the process has been pretty frustrating for me. I take solace in the fact that there's plenty of wonderful music to be made between low Bb and top F, and that many of my heroes never ventured beyond that high F. Thanks again and all the best!

[@KMerrells]

It took me a LONG time to get those overtones (and altissimo). I just thought of practicing overtones as a tone improvement exercise, and then come what may!

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Thanks for your continued support. Yes, the altissimo will come in time (if you want it too), but I basically never play altissimo myself and I can't recall ever being required to play it in the professional world so you aren't missing out by staying below High F.

[@jameslawtonmusic9483]

Great tips. People overcomplicate this, and of course there is no shortage of KZbinrs grifting off it. My instructor made me play the Bb overtone series right up to altissimo F for half an hour a day with the metronome at 60. That laid the groundwork and then it was a case of slow scales and transcribing guys with great altissimo. Simple. But of course people are free to look for whatever easy option they want to spend money on. I laughed at the books gathering dust comment.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I suppose people do overcomplicate this, and yeah, the way you went about it is how it's done. I never really understood the fascination saxophonists have with altissimo, but seeing as that is one of the main things folks care about I thought it'd be appropriate for me to contribute what I can on the topic. Thanks again.

[@hflynnjr]

First of all, my altissimo simply sucks and will always be a work in progress, but I try to not get too worked up over it….there are so many other issues that require attention that I don’t have the luxury of time to obsess about altissimo…nonetheless it is a component of your overall “sound” so I wish I was better at it. I have found some of the notes are easier to produce and sound better without the octave key but I thought that was “wrong” and I was really the problem (well…I really am the problem). I’m glad I’ve found this video as you confirmed I’m not totally crazy.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Thanks for commenting. You have the right priorities if you ask me. I will never understand why so many players spend their time on altissimo when they don't have the normal range of the horn under control. Keep at it and it'll all come together when the time is right.

[@lukeserrano62]

Thanks, will give it a shot. Am hoping it will also improve intonation of my G# and A, which tend sharp.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Not sure that will have much affect on your tuning - that might require some new fingerings, but I think you'll like the tone you get better. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@lukeserrano62]

@@TheSaxophoneOracle just tried it. Definitely comes out just as easily, if not easier without octave key. Need it on for G however. But get this, it did bring by G# and A down about 5 cents! 👍🏼 that’s a win thanks.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

@@lukeserrano62 Happy to hear it, that's awesome!

[@ElmoIsBold]

I can do altissimo just fine on the alto I have played for years, but now that I acquired a tenor I can't even make it squeak. I'm guessing that I don't even really have a tenor embouchure or tenor voicing yet and the altissimo will come in due time, but I'm not made of patience. I blow anyway, adding hours to previous hours, developing my sound and good technique.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

As much as all the saxophones are the same , you do have to treat them as "different instruments" in terms of sound concept anyway. I'm sure the tenor will come together for you. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@josephsachleben6081]

Interesting. I don’t really have an altissimo yet, but I do have front E, F, and F#. I can’t start those notes without octave key, but they are much fuller when I remove it. This is on my Yamaha 52 alto sax.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

I usually don't remove the octave key until I get to high F#, but definitely, anything will sound fuller without the octave key - even the notes above middle C. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@robstevens9590]

Interesting.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Agreed!

[@paulolevisilveirateixeira2903]

😂🎉well said it here 👏🏾

[@darryldixon5794]

I must have missed something. Is there an explanation of exactly how you do this without using the octave key? Is there a particular fingering that you need to use? Or do you just play the notes the way you usually play them but don't use the octave key and just use the lip? Please explain. Thanks.

[@darryldixon5794]

By the way, I play alto, not tenor.

[@TheSaxophoneOracle]

Yes, use the same fingerings without the octave key. Thanks for watching!