The Easiest Altissimo Fingerings for Sax

[@jurijnowak7230]

Thanks for the fingerings... Just reached the g without any efford. It just works while seated so far... But I am impressed! Thanks

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks! So great to hear - G is generally a stuffy note and not the easiest to get to speak but if you got it thats great 🔥

[@richardcasey7521]

Thanks Steve!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

You're welcome - let me know how they work out for you 👍

[@timobesamusca9332]

Thx Steve for this video, especially the overtones of altissimo notes was an eye opener. 👍🏻

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Sure thing Timo!

[@garethliamable]

Great video! Altissimo facility is something I should have spent way more time on.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Aye thanks man. There’s still time! I think the key is committing to one set of fingerings and going with it 😎

[@dennis524]

Thanks, Steve.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Sure thing - hope it helps!

[@SimenR]

the Ben Wendel method for this is much recommended. It is a good gradual training method and encourages better embouchure control.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Cool - What does it entail? Where can we find it?

[@SimenR]

​@SaxophoneSteveKortyka The book "Path to Altissimo". On his website I think. It's the best general purpose altissimo/overtone/sound practice that I know of😊

[@gabrielbotsford791]

Great video!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks so much!

[@user-ot6ki7rn3f]

Great video and explanation of overtones and fingering Steve, I will be putting all of them into my practice routine. Can't thank you enough!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Awesome, so happy to hear this!

[@SaxophoneDanLive]

Hey Steve thanks so much for this video. Definitely some new ones for me here. Wondering about that altissimo D? You mention in the video that its played with the front F but the fingering shows an altissimo G type fingering ?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

No problem! If you only play the front F fingering with out the 'C' key (left middle finger) down, and altissimo D will come out. It is VERY similar to the altissimo G fingering, so essentially you are just overblowing a G, but because you don't hold down the side Bb for the D it is slightly different. Glad you're digging them - for what its worth it's been over a year since I made that video and I'm still using all the same fingerings :)

[@SaxophoneDanLive]

Ahhhh I see what you are saying now. Super stoked to give these a try!

[@SaxophoneDanLive]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka any tips for getting to the alttismo G from above (G# or A?) Or basically anything above? Feels very difficult to get to compared to the other notes. Thanks!

[@enchentez]

Ugh I really need that altissimo G on the FMez

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

yeah that sounds like a challenge! Theres probably a better fingering for that specific horn...

[@beckyn9338]

Thanks Steve. I’ll be working on the neck set up for a while. Haha!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Right on! Yeah it takes a minute but once you get it, you’ve got it!

[@pierimir]

Hi Steve, thanks for the video and all advices. Unfortunately I can not find the free pdf fail for the fingerings on your web site, which you mention in the video. Could you help me with the direct link or something? Thank you very much again. Stay cool.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Hi - it’s on the members site if you sign up for the R.I.S. course. It will come as a download for part of that course. Thanks!

[@clevelandbop]

Thanks Steve! Dig the hat.....!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yessir thanks Dave! Cleveland rocks!!

[@Laura-wg5jk]

Hi Steve, just found these videos from you here, though I am taking your pre-recorded Studio class through BetterSax. You are a good instructor and I am shedding a lot on the first unit (Misty) and trying to get up the courage to do an open mic with what I learned there. Thanks for the good info!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Hey Laura - thanks so much! I am not working with BetterSax anymore unfortunately but so happy to hear that you're getting some value out of the instruction. Hope to get to work with you sometime in the future :)

[@jodylackey8364]

Where can I download load the chart

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Hey! - its part of my free R.I.S. course at www.stevekortyka-members.com. Check it out!

[@estradamusicnyc]

Thanks 👏👏

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

🙏🙏

[@dennis524]

Any chance of getting a PDF of these? Thanks again.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Hey Dennis! They're available at the link in the description. Let me know if you got it!

[@Samo1er]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka link doesn’t work.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

@@Samo1er should work now. The altissimo fingerings are a part of the RIS course at the members site 👍🏼

[@ericcoligado8655]

Maybe opening the throat allows for laminar instead of turbulent flow of air to allow the reed to vibrate at higher frequencies?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yes entirely possible!

[@GeraldDeLoachMusic]

Once again...GREAT STUFF!!! Thank you!!

[@nickmainella]

Great video, Steve! Question for you: How do you move your lower lip out when playing fast passages that go into the altissimo?? I find that really hard. Thanks, man! 🙌

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks Nick! Finding the exact place of the fulcrum where you need to put pressure on the reed to reach altissimo is where the magic is. Doing the exercises on the neck like in the video and trying to get those 3 notes quickly will help you pinpoint where that place is so you only have to move a very tiny amount. Your setup can also make this easier/more difficult depending on what you're using.

[@haroldpizer9271]

Steve were you the tenor player behind Raye on SNL last night 4/6/24??

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yessir :)

[@ronrobbins2737]

Great stuff Steve! But also how about the importance of mouthpiece/reed in this equation? Ever since I started using MPs specifically to get a more traditional darker sound using Plasticovers (has worked well for me) the baffles have really put the kibosh on my altissimo. My recent trial of a step-baffle has helped but still struggling with altissimo bigtime ...I'll keep working on your "neck" exercise but maybe Plasticovers are problematic too?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks for the comment - yes these 2 are very important. This is something you need to experiment and find the best combination for. The best altissimo players I know use a variety of different setups but what it comes down to is where the takeoff point on the mouthpiece is. In general, longer facing mouthpieces will be more challenging to play the stratospheric notes on. The takeoff point (where the reed separates from the mouthpiece) and tip opening/reed strength are also important factors. The more difficult the setup makes altissimo notes the harder you will have to work with your throat to make the notes come out. Some setups just cant generate notes past a certain frequency. Good luck on your journey - practicing with the neck will definitely help :)

[@thewarhenk]

Steve, you’re obviously a fantastic Altissimo player. You asked, so here’s the answer. Dr. Mark Watkins’ research and book, From the Inside Out has finally revealed the secret of what is going on in our throat. Jamie Anderson has a good explanation on his channel. It’s all about ‘the glottis!’

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Sure - I've heard of this from my former professor at the University of Cincinnati Rick Van Matre as well but have trouble descrbing it myself. Thanks for the information/references!

[@thewarhenk]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka most welcome! And you’re playing blew me away. Our ability/inability to describe the mechanism is rather fascinating. I think that a great example is Mr. Lenny Pickett. Obviously one of the best altissimo players out there, he thinks it’sall about wind speed, and apparently, it’s not. as long as we get the job done, it doesn’t matter what we think, so long as it works! :-)

[@aron.gortman]

I have silent reflux and playing altissimo has always destroyed my uvula so I no longer play it :(

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Ah bummer. At least you have a good reason to not mess with it! Does that condition affect playing just regular notes too?

[@MrSwayzZ]

My g that I play on tenor is b key and f sharp key

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Good one! Gonna try that 👀

[@mambojazz1]

Throat position = overtones

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yes, absolutely. I would argue that, depending on your setup, embochure pressure can play a big role as well.

[@mambojazz1]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka People should be able to slur overtones using only the throat as well. But its hard.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

@@mambojazz1 Definitely not easy!

[@oluwaliblue8684]

damn I thought high c was the last note.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

🤣

[@lehajuhu226]

C3 ?

[@lehajuhu226]

C4?

[@lehajuhu226]

No 💣 pls sorry had to Do it😄

[@lehajuhu226]

The ? Was just for the joke

[@andrewglanville]

Eb. mind blown. Getting out my horn.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

It’s the best! Kind of unlocks some more notes bc all you have to do is press down the palm keys to go up in half steps 🤘🏼

[@lehajuhu226]

Pls do it with tongue position not more pressureotherwise they will always be out off tune! You shouls just practice overtone exercises untill they are beautyfull enough for the stage!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Ok! Yes this is ideal but I think it also depends on the type of music you’re playing right? The saxophone is a very out of tune instrument… if I was practicing to play every note beautiful i might never leave the practice room :)

[@lehajuhu226]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka its a Highly subjektiv topic . I agree The Question is how much time you can/want to invest and what for?

[@lehajuhu226]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka i will make my Video soon my Titel will be light clickbait to every one does i bet with out the Algorithm you would have called it the best way for me to play altissimo. And still its actualy one off the best Video on the normal way to Do it. (Most off the time normal is the best timeinvestment reeward relation, this is one off this times !) I am just sad no one wants to listen to what i worked on for years, if i bite(bad) i can Produce dogwhistle shit but this feels more like a siren then music. Not worth it but my altissimo is clean now but I should have invested in time feel instead.

[@lehajuhu226]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka if you Feel like your horn is shit get a better one for you every lung every tongue every lip is different so everyone likes a different saxophon it's a little bit like the wands in Harry potter you need a horn that respeckts your anatomie!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

@@lehajuhu226 Again, all subjective things. I don't think that my altissimo notes sound like dogwhistle shit and I use more embochure pressure (not biting like you just suggested) to get them out. Long story short, there is more than one way to do things. I would love to hear your method and look forward to seeing your video 👍

[@Jaujau933]

Some notes sound really bad.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

👍🏼

[@flopa9928]

First

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

👍🏼