Definitive Altissimo Fingerings for Alto Sax with George Michael's sax player, Ed Barker

Learn your harmonic fingerings with George Michael's sax player, Ed Barker
For more free lessons like this, go to edsaxschool.com
Ed Barker, sax soloist for George Michael, is known for his soaring high notes. Not only do they soar, he hits them every time and they are bang in tune. In this lesson, he shares the secrets and shows you how he gets them on alto sax. There are all sorts of altissimo fingerings out there for alto sax but these harmonic fingerings are the most reliable and in tune.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Great instructor: knowledge, patience, clarity, great learning style technique - adore it! Thanks.

[@Edthejazzman]

So lovely of you, thank you :-)

[@skydogsgamingskyman9058]

thank you so much

[@Edthejazzman]

Pleasure!

[@girlinagale]

I purchased the Get Your Sound 5 lessons within minutes of finding this video. Best £30 I've spent so far this year. Spot on tuition on embouchure, breath and tuning, hit directly my need for advice since I discovered that sticking out my lower lip both frees up the reed but loses control. Now I have the middle ground of not biting high notes but letting them sing with control. Thank you Mr Ed.

[@Edthejazzman]

SUCH a pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it. Now YOU need to start putting a course together and start spreading the word :-) Looking forward to hearing you play. Ed x

[@girlinagale]

Edthejazzman I've been discovering major benefits as a result of your embouchure course. I did a video prior to starting, to compare but there are such major improvements, even two months on, that I shall wait to do the follow-up video until even more of my old bad habits have been reformed.

[@robertgreen3702]

Thanks Ed

[@robertgreen3702]

Thank you.

[@PrathameshMore]

Very very nice.... Love you

[@instrumentalistjade8367]

Great explanation...

[@gerrycappuccio4186]

Bravo ! thank you Ed !

[@vincentgaglio5106]

wow I need to listen to this often , I would check out your website as well

[@markflopresti]

Awesome video. Can tell a lot of work went into it. Keep it up.

[@andrewwright6893]

Superb. They are difficult to hit. I've not got one yet ha but I will persevere. Cherrs Ed

[@MJ-mu5tq]

Hi Ed, i didnt understand how to play B to E. I just play with the palm keys ?

[@3107197000]

Brilliant...thanks very much!!

[@robingladman7783]

Great thanks for that

[@paulstevens6564]

Hi Ed just listened to your altissimo note fingering, can you tell me if I can reach these notes with a Yamaha 4c mouthpiece. Incidentally you are awesome.

[@RecklessWaffles]

Yes, you can reach any note on any mouthpiece, its just a matter of practicing and developing a solid embouchure :) best wishes practicing!

[@Edthejazzman]

Hey Paul. Very kind! You can - but drop me a line if you need any help with any of the fingerings. It took me a while!!

[@lancevinson4600]

thanks very helpful

[@sax4passion]

Very interesting I wish I could sound like this.

[@Jaujau933]

George Michaels sax player, I'm so impressed 🤪😂😂😂

[@shmuelzions3026]

amazing

[@tumadsvids]

would be nice if we could see the front as apposed to the side of the sax when you blow :)

[@wicked_8193]

made it look easy...

[@ziggyfluff5017]

thx so much, I can play all the way up to Eb now

[@robertramos645]

I've been playing 10 years, pretty decent. I've never heard of gliss. notes. What he did at 5:50, hopefully one day I can achieve that. So freaking cool!

[@Edthejazzman]

Haha thanks, Robert. You'll get there!

[@robertramos645]

Edthejazzman i appreciate the kind words!

[@adysaxman77]

Great tutorial Ed! I'm presuming you play tenor saxophone too? Please do some harmonics for tenor too.

[@kanchanaakmeemana3789]

Can I listen to full song you were playing at the end...it's gorgeous 😍😍😍😍😍😍 Much love Ed

[@JSTN111]

Is this possible on a beginner sax

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

All saxophones have the same keys, student or professional. There are some pro models with an alternate high F# but he's not using that fingering here.

[@04Ryan]

Simon the Likeable i got the intermident sax and it has the high F# key.. which is the highest i can play...

[@KuwaywayLogic]

On saxophones with the F# key (the one next to the Bb) you can play a G by using the alternative F# sharp and then hitting the f# key its way easier to play the G but you need a sax with the F# key

[@ruby_gleyzes]

Absolutely great lesson!

[@Redwane-Music]

I couldn't get the G sharp with anything taught on videos or on the charts. but I managed to get it with pressing 2 keys, the very top one and the lower side key. that is the only thing that works for me for G sharp on my Alto sax. how is that possible?

[@MariaGarcia-vk9qp]

do you have any tips for saxophone honking or squawking because I seem to be doing that in the jumps of the melody in Glenn Miller's in the mood?

[@Edthejazzman]

Come to edsaxschool.com and drop me a line through the contact form or on one of the free lesson feeds and I'll do my best to answer!

[@nickhuman5423]

does work on tenor sax too

[@marcmarasigan9672]

Awesome instruction! 🎷 Are you the “Original Careless Whisperer” sax player? 😎🤔👍🎷

[@gianmarcosantarpino8871]

any advice for altissimo E and F ?

[@eisenfarn]

Great video, thank you. Could you tell me what mouthpiece reed you use in the video please :)

[@Edthejazzman]

Freddie Gregory mouthpiece, Rico Royale 3 or 3.5

[@ROY-COLLEY]

Hi Is that Horn 🎷 a keilwerth? Sx90 or Shadow ? Or a Yamaha custom

[@yack1415]

Ed you are a legend. So well explained. Within 30 minutes I'm playing a gliss from D to super high D that sounds like a small gaggle of cats fighting each other and I'm hoping within the next year it will sound like only 1 semi sick cat attempting to sing. The Gliss at the end of this video made feel something really different. You rock. Thanks for the vids. I'd like to purchase a video. What would you recommend I start with for someone who has played alto for 25 years and is still unhappy with their tone?

[@jojomusician7408]

Hi.sir ! Can u make a saxophone fingering chart about your video from A altissimo to Eb altissimo thank you!

[@Toxoplasmosis679]

Do these work on tenor and baritone

[@pipborthwick6313]

That gliss thing at the end is awesome! I can kind of get scooping at the upper register and then it doesnt really what note im pressing down as its all to do with tongue. However i cant do it into altissimo range smoothly. Is this gliss a scale or chromatic or mixture of both?

[@damienvalenzuela6786]

Thanks for sharing this. Was trying to learn mercy by max richter and needed some fingerings. Peace and good spirits!

[@warthogvanguard7292]

Can only some saxophones play these? I try to play these and it plays a really awkward low octave note

[@Matthew-ll3fp]

WARTHOGVANGUARD because you sukc

[@roon8356]

Matthew Fry your as asshole

[@04Ryan]

Anyone can, its going to take alot of practice, cause to me, idk if this is right but as notes get higher you have to have the perfect spot on your mouthpiece to get that high

[@MJ-mu5tq]

Hi Ed , I own a John Packer 041 and when i play the altissimo A it sounds out of tune . What's the matter ? Need I to have a better instrument ? And what reed should I use ?

[@Alex-rl6xy]

@Elizabeth Floyd lol

[@brittanyatterberry]

This whole video is a whole step off. He's completely out of tune. BY A WHOLE STEP. THE B fingering played the A sound! terrible!

[@lifthegif7454]

I'm wondering, how would I play the high f# without the high f# key, my saxophone doesn't have it

[@toomuchtoofast4533]

Tenor?

[@Redwane-Music]

why i cannot get any hi note when trying the A , I followed the instructions but nothing. anything i am doing wrong?

[@Redwane-Music]

i know you need a lots of pressure, can this cause muscle hernia eventually? because i feel like having to do too much physical effort from the lungs and abdomen

[@BBHRalle]

at 3:10 we dont see the right Hand,,, it´s still a high A fingering and than Palm....?

[@Edthejazzman]

Exactly!

[@travisgrimes7659]

So for the overblown 6, is it just the same fingerings as a D or an F? Just playing with more air? Or is the other keys you're pressing

[@MonkeyDEthan-xg1pu]

When I first watched this his sax was so small I thought it was a curved soprano sax

[@prithvikumarnandakumar2386]

ChaosRubyz lmao bro 😂

[@austinh2328]

can you do this on a bari sax?

[@athebeast1769]

I can not do the f# and g at all but I can do a f# with the palm keys and I can hit an A but not a G

[@chriss1152]

is this the same on tenor sax

[@Edthejazzman]

No. I should do another one for tenor!

[@pikasniper477]

Do these work for Bari sax?

[@stack80]

Can you post a link to those pieces at the end? It’s sound amazing!

[@lilly5336]

None of mine are working, any advice?

[@therealTOTOfan]

my high notes sound like im playing a flute.

[@pacoltrane]

You are lucky: mine sound like I am beating a cat.

[@PrinceSwaggy]

therealTOTOfan same

[@PrinceSwaggy]

Paco Rodríguez you made my day 😂😂😂

[@instrumentalistjade8367]

Mine sound like a horse

[@adysaxman77]

@@pacoltrane laugh out loud! Gain the harmonics, loose the wife, and the cat packs the bags as well!

[@brettfields112]

I can’t get the g out it just makes a weird sound

[@KrisVComm]

How is your index finger also your “4th” finger?

[@ItsMe-ic5oc]

5:42 I heard Rhapsody in Blue😂

[@Redwane-Music]

Sorry why A doesn't come out for me at all? it sounds like a C#

[@jadedskies5215]

My bd wants me to play a high C 8va for a song, im like its gonna sound CRAZY but alright. Wish me luck guys

[@frankhicks6412]

Sounds good but if you need to get that high reach for the clairinet.

[@amjatkhan2102]

Playing your Instument video clip

[@carlonugroho7505]

does the reed size matters in playing the altissimo notes ?

[@MrHappyRandomness]

Been playing 5 years, so I might not be the best to answer. Ive found that it doesnt, its more the embouchure.

[@Edthejazzman]

Not really specifically for the high notes. It just needs to feel comfortable across the board though

[@marcogomez2232]

I can't get the notes to sound, my high G attempt sounds like a very airy middle b flat, I don´t know why.

[@marcogomez2232]

Well, it actually may be because I'm a beginner.

[@justina407]

Does anyone know what sax he is playing, I've been looking for a quality black sax alto

[@andyk6767]

It's a Selmer Super Action 80 Series II.

[@Edthejazzman]

Hey Tina! It's a Selmer Super Series II :-) See you at edsaxschool.com x

[@bandnerd7954]

what brand is the sax hes using?

[@Edthejazzman]

Selmer Series II

[@ldever3]

That F# never works for me. It seems to work for everybody else just fine.

[@04Ryan]

I can do F# fine but altissmo G is not working for me lol

[@BrunoNeureiter]

@@04Ryan same

[@Alex-rl6xy]

Pls help, I can't get the G out!

[@Alex-rl6xy]

I just get a lower B

[@ldever3]

@@Alex-rl6xy G is the hardest note for many.

[@illusivegamer7854]

does anyone know where i can get the sheet music to "Simple truth" by him? its an amazing song and i would like to play it for my exam piece this year in music class. i think that altissimo gliss will get me some bonus marks too lol

[@4head628]

i cant get high notes

[@Bayern2232]

15 oompa loompas

[@hubblelord999]

that didn't work for me at all

[@michaelwendell7771]

Your not showing your right hand🤷‍♂️

[@turnerjazz7872]

Sorry but this whole video is completely misguided. There are no universal altissimo fingerings that work on every sax. They're harmonics and so they're going to be different depending on tone hole placement, key opening height, and all kinds of other factors that can vary on any given saxophone. Are there some that work on many saxes? Sure, but there is no "best" fingering for all saxes. Sadly, you just have do the work of fingerings that work for your saxophone. I've been playing for 30 years now and I've tried a lot of saxes along the way.

[@Joseph-tm5vv]

Just bite the reed my guy.

[@skylahenry8552]

Thanks Ed