The LAST Altissimo Lesson You'll Ever Need

#bettersax #saxophone #benwendel
Jay Metcalf talks with saxophonist Ben Wendel, who gives an altissimo lesson.
‪@benwendel‬ Path To Altissimo Book:
www.benwendel.com/books
Ben Wendel Masterclass Series:
www.benwendel.com/masterclass
Ben Wendel Music:
editionrecords.com/releases/b...
Ben Wendel Instagram:
/ benwendel
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00:00 Intro
01:50 Path to Altissimo
04:09 Bringing Altissimo Study into the 21st Century
05:58 Voicing is the Key
07:33 Just Give Me the Fingerings!
11:15 Warm Up Before Shredding
14:40 Who Needs a High F# Key Anyway?
16:01 How Did You Get So Good at Altissimo?
17:54 Classical of Jazz Book?
19:25 Altissimo: Not Just for Scaring Dogs
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and then buy something, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@jordantaylorreed]

Man oh man, the Saxophone Community is so lucky to have people like you, Jay. Thanks for a great interview with, basically, everybody's favorite saxophonist!

[@bettersax]

Thank you Jordan

[@TWO20]

You should get sirvalor to do something like this as well, I’m sure he would love it

[@freshlysqueezedaesthetics2942]

I second this.

[@bobbywhitney6262]

I concur... I haver seen SirValor on KZbin play alot of altissimo on tenor saxophone .

[@mambojazz1]

I second this!! Sirvalor plays effortlessly to double altissimo C and has an altissimo course for sale.

[@tomaszszlapanski5988]

Agree Sirvalor "piece of cake,man"

[@felixol]

PLEASE! Bring him!

[@NyanPoptartCat]

“Saxophonist with the best haircut nine years in a row” I love sax players so much. Such a special breed of crazy. 🤣🤣

[@bettersax]

😀

[@kratos6412]

i’m 15 and just a few weeks ago finally had that click moment for the high g. i can play up to an a and maybe sometimes squeak out a high b flat now. hasn’t gotten old yet! it’s such a good feeling, especially after my teacher told me that he couldn’t get the g until he was 18. i’ve played for 5 years now for reference. best advice to anyone like me who’s almost there is just to kind of leave your tongue slightly off the reed and pull you lower jaw back. do not bite hard. good luck!

[@ninofleischman3696]

Jay puts out the highest quality saxophone related videos by far

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

I like Sirvalorsax, and GetYourSaxTogether a lot too.

[@johnwhyte-venables2167]

Yup. There are several good online teachers around but Jay goes out of his way to produce professional quality vids as well as solid content.

[@ninofleischman3696]

@@johnwhyte-venables2167 facts!

[@bettersax]

Thanks for watching and noticing the effort I put in.

[@andrescastro8198]

@@bettersax My main job is professional video and photography, @flesichman is absolutely on spot. Keep on the hard work Jay, you're a fantastic professional and human being for sharing such a knowledge.

[@marquinhosax]

Thank you Jay to bring us again. You ROCK!

[@briankean8195]

One of my favourite videos, knowledge is the ability to translate technical into practical. This is what you’ve done for Altissimo.

[@tobi2970]

Thank you for this

[@pabezem]

incredible stuff as usual, Thanks a ton both!

[@stormhorn1]

What a great video! I've been playing sax more than forty years, but being mostly self-taught, I'm only now getting around to some of the extremely important basics. I'm new to your tutorials, but already you've got me hooked on overtones. Now here's this book, and I'm excited about it. Soon as I get an extra forty bucks in my budget, I'm ordering it. Can't wait! Thanks, Jeff, for top-quality info. It's so helpful for a small-town player like me.

[@markdrezdzon7542]

As always, Jay, a great interview! I'm definitely getting Ben's book! Since starting your courses a year ago, I've been practicing overtones as a part of my warm-up routine (after long tones), at least most of the time. I still can't hit any altissimo note with confidence except for altissimo D, for some reason or another! I'm hoping this book will finally get me over the hump!

[@tebs2]

Great class! thanks for that Jay and Ben 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@gorkaleiceaga]

You both helped me so much for altissimo. Thanks SO MUCH!

[@saxsolos9]

Great Stuff! Thanks!

[@saxydude1533]

Really appreciate your channel man!

[@bettersax]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@davidbernot9796]

Awesome video! Bought the book a few months ago and love it! Still mostly been working on the overtones pages because I’ve struggled with the fingerings, but I already have my own fingerings that’s work pretty well so this inspires me to get going past the fingering pages and get into some of the exercises!

[@jasminesmith7577]

Love your channel so much Jay, thanks for sharing all this amazing content!

[@bettersax]

Thanks Jasmine

[@FunkOsax]

Excellent video. Thanks Jay

[@PedroBarbosa-qh6hy]

As a teacher I can relate on everything you both said. Great interview ! Congrats

[@jacquelamontharenberg]

Great Info Jay.... Thanks to Ben.... Incredible

[@enocholadimeji3552]

Thank you very much for this

[@stephendverner]

Can’t wait to get this book.

[@paolopicchi7642]

Jay, thank you so much for sharing all of these important information and resources. I really appreciate it.

[@bettersax]

You’re welcome

[@albertopinton4387]

I agree with the whole conversation a 100%. I practice and play regularly over 4 octaves on my bari (sort of my main instrument..), I've been practicing voicing/overtones daily forever (both the Rascher book and the Eugene Rousseau book have been invaluable sources, way back when). As far as fingerings I remember a lesson with the great late Hamiet Bluiett at his place in NYC where we exchanged fingerings 'til we came up with the "best" little chart for the bari (we both had a Selmer early low A, before he traded it in for a Conn). Minimal movement (just like Ben says), best intonation, easiest response. Great content, thank you!

[@lyndam67]

So, I've been playing sax for 30 years (self taught) and never knew about Overtones. Still so much to learn. Thanks Jay and @benwendel for being fellow nerds and helping us all to be better players.

[@bettersax]

Thank you Lynda

[@HeathWatts]

Overtones are fun to play and they'll improve your sound, especially when practiced with or as long tones.

[@rickyricardo7242]

I've only been playing for around 3 years, on my own. We NEVER stop learning.

[@leroyharper4513]

Indeed

[@saxdessoul1195]

Very interesting, Thanks Jay

[@ObeytheRussianBlue]

Best teacher out there, Jay!!! Thanks for your work! 🙏😃🚀

[@bettersax]

Thanks

[@mermanaustin9616]

Jay, you always have something to help all types of sax players. Thanks for having a big heart to share music with us. I am learning a lot from your channel.

[@bettersax]

Great to hear

[@bluekingdom6301]

thanks for another great report, I ‘be working on my altissimo for years this new resource is very welcome

[@johnwade7430]

I have played that Bach piece on my flute - amazing to hear it played on a tenor saxophone. Wow!!

[@williesordillo8621]

Really enjoyed this- Ben is an inspiring player and I love his duo collaborations, among other things. Glad you were able to do this interview!

[@bettersax]

Thanks for watching

[@cerimccoy]

That is so cool! Great beyond words.

[@johnphillips7941]

Thanks, Jay! I love Ben's playing. John.

[@MYFAVORITECHRISTMAS]

Thank you 🙏🏿

[@Swamie55]

Can never stop learning,, Thx!

[@redoralandmaxillofacial]

Outstanding! Thanks for bringing Ben! What a great saxophone player!

[@bettersax]

Thanks

[@sorenballegaardmusic]

Thank you so much for the video Jay. I really like that you get lots of super great musicians to speak about their life work - playing saxophone. Very nice work. Big fan of Ben - amazing player. I will get the book - very nice tip. Great inspiration.

[@lejazz6938]

Superb!! Thank you!!

[@lukeburns8929]

My Teacher Joseph R has baptised me with Overtones I am so thankful , am sure I have saved a lot of time and frustration, always a struggle but with Summer weather coming I ll be out on the Bridges soon :) Blowing up a Storm!!!!(of Overtones),Thank you Jay and Ben.

[@marleenvisser117]

THANKS FOR ALL THE AWESOME VIDEOS!

[@bettersax]

My pleasure!

[@soulsax58]

Yet again Jay. This looks to be a great concise book that Ben has created. I also love his playing on here. I have several notes that I can "hit", land on but I do want to learn to incorporate the range, musically and more smoothly, fluidly like Ben, Mark Turner, Joshua Redman, etc. Thank you for including something, asking and answering questions we saxophonist have....and sometimes don't know how to articulate or ask. Really glad I subscribed to Better Sax.

[@bettersax]

Thank you Mark

[@UncleIzum]

Everything you have suggested both equipment & technique wise have been 100% spot on-from getting my Jean Paul Tenor, Boston sax reeds, reed geek tool, practice and tuning apps-to long tone/overtone practice and focusing on my tone rather than “notieness” jamming (which really helped me develop a better overall sound)-and even more I haven’t mentioned... ps I just hit my first high F# two days ago-perfect timing for this book-ordered the hard copy-making some great progress and this will be a great guide to further my range!-Again Thanks for all of the help!...🤙🏽 🎷

[@bettersax]

You’re welcome!

[@slow222]

This is a great video, Jay (and Ben)! You guys rock!!!!

[@bettersax]

Thanks

[@ilikemusak]

This is so great

[@reubenpompei3896]

My classical Saxophone teacher really enjoyed his and macking new harmonic scale exercises like scales in 3rd 4th and 5th and really gives you a massive control over the instrument

[@Rice_sama]

This makes me want to see a video of like "TOP 10" or 5 or whatever saxophone/jazz/music books.

[@HeathWatts]

If you're interested in reaching and developing the altissimo range, I suggest these: Voicing by David Sinta: www.amazon.com/Voicing-Approach-Saxophones-Register-Revised/dp/B007BPJ3UK Top Tones by Rascher www.amazon.com/O2964-Top-Tones-Saxophone-Four-Octave-Range/dp/082582642X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=top+tones+rascher&qid=1623940044&sr=8-1 Developing a personal saxophone sound by Liebman: www.amazon.com/Developing-personal-saxophone-sound-Liebman/dp/B0006PF5E0/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=liebman+saxophone&qid=1623940086&rnid=2941120011&s=books&sr=1-1 Saxophone High Tones by Rosseau www.amazon.com/Saxophone-High-Tones-Eugene-Rousseau/dp/158106005X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=saxophone+rousseau&qid=1623940151&s=books&sr=1-1 Joe Allard exercises compiled by David Demsey: d1av9c1o38t6ow.cloudfront.net/2016/Allard%20Overtone%20Exercise.pdf Sinta's book is my favorite for mastering overtones; however, he takes a different approach than those in the Joe Allard school, such as Liebman. I took a couple lessons from Dave Tofani that focused on overtones; Dave taught in the same department as Allard and knows Allard's methods well. I haven't bought Ben's book yet, but look forward to it.

[@ramonfw]

After two years of almost useless trying, I unlocked altissimo in like three days using the Jazzlab's Silencer. To me, it's not a mouthpiece silencer, it's an embouchure educator. You can't hold a pitch if your embouchure is faulty (unlike when on the sax), and once you realise how to raise the pitch using that, while trying to play a whole octave with your mouthpiece only, you've found your path. After learning to play a whole octave, I put my mouthpiece on the sax and the first note that came out while fingering a low Bb was altissimo Ab. I was done. Now I recommend it to anyone.

[@Dally_Sparkles]

i'm about to embark on this journey

[@jimrich4192]

Sensational...thanx..

[@inspir.edmusic]

Ben Wendel and Mark Turner have some of the most beautiful altissimo.

[@eastbaybeat]

I highly recommend you listen to Lenny Pickett, former lead tenor saxophone/ current SNL (Saturday Night Live co-music director) playing altissimo!

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

or Marc Russo

[@bettersax]

Lenny is the man

[@josephrader1006]

Wish I could find the link rn, but I remember seeing an interview where Lenny basically says voicing “if it exists” has nothing to do with your throat. I don’t agree, but it’s a very interesting take considering his remarkable skill

[@Chris11Tube]

Talk about different perspectives...

[@chriswright2553]

@@TonyAguirreJazz Was just about to type the same thing!

[@brycebaliko7050]

Great video and great perspective! I grew up playing jazz and was never introduced to the concept of voicing until studying classical saxophone at university. In jazz studies until then, I had been told to play overtones and work out of the rascher book but no one had explained the mechanics and understanding of voicing to me.

[@bettersax]

Thanks for watching

[@c.mccool1123]

Ben is unbelievable. Such a unique monster player. Great video.

[@bettersax]

Thanks

[@evghenii1982]

Great video!!!

[@andrewgesing3735]

Just pre-ordered the physical copy - thanks for the great interview!

[@bettersax]

Thanks for watching!

[@somethingstrange3272]

Just wanted to drop by and say thanks for teaching me some things I wouldn't have known on my own. Appreciated!

[@bettersax]

Thank you.

[@stevemanning8411]

Book ordered.

[@VideoNash]

Awesome.

[@FarrinD12]

This is awesome! And Ben seems like the nicest guy!

[@bettersax]

He is

[@RaidinSax05]

great informations, thanks

[@lonnybierman2548]

Awesome, have to store that in the “later on” file.

[@javiersanchez7201]

Ben Wendel's masterclass is worth every $, full of insights beyond the saxophone.

[@kylegeee]

Great video Jay! So cool you got to have this discussion with one of the greatest living saxophonists! His insight into the top of the horn is very important to have here on KZbin.

[@bettersax]

Agreed!

[@kylegeee]

@@bettersax I keep watching the part where he holds an A and moves his fingers around and the note stays the same... tried to do that and it is not as easy as he makes it look! 😅

[@samfagaly6479]

Thank you for the great content and info regarding altissimo. Bill, obviously you have gained great control of it. I would point out that Joe Allard said that the control came from the front of the mouth with vowel sounds and tongue positions. Any changes in the "voice" was a passive reaction to what happened up front. Respectfully, I would suggest that, if you have to worry about a time limit on an exercise, maybe you shouldn't do it. I try to, and teach students to, as Joe Allard said, to keep the throat (and "area of the throat") relaxed.

[@inspir.edmusic]

Ben is so good at saxophone.

[@rashakor]

All this applies very much to the clarinets. I am always amazed how much overlap in technique there is with the cone clarinets from the crazy Belgian.

[@zactaylorschindler8208]

Thank you! This was so helpful!!

[@sauloferreira3182]

Ganhou mais um fã do Brasil.

[@johnleon2982]

Great, inspiring video, Jay. And thanks for causing the physical book to happen!!!

[@bettersax]

My pleasure!

[@nairdazitro7460]

The F# played with the F# key is so pleasant on alto it sounds way more pure than the front F#. I only use the front F# for the splitone.

[@andrescastro8198]

I'm not bluffing, but I'm really happy today as I started my alto sax journey six months ago and by thinking the same way as Ben Wendel (the altissimo is part of the horn nature), I begun practicing altissimo a month ago and today I was able to blow the high altissimo G twice (G4). I played it on my cheap '95 Selmer Bundy II, Yamaha A5 mouthpiece and a 2.5 Vandoren Green Box-Reed. I been familiar with playing music, but always with strings (guitars and basses) so I know a little bit of what I'm dealing with. I have to agree also with Ben: The higher you go with your notes, the narrow the window becomes related with getting the note you want, but I also know it's a natural thing when you find them. Make a memory on your mind and keep on practicing. More sooner than later you'll find yourself playing these notes easier, but it doesn't show up without compromise and dedication. Thanks Jay.

[@bettersax]

Congrats on your progress

[@DmitriiSergheev]

Great !!!!!

[@ronlang7236]

I finally was able to achieve the altissimo G on my alto sax yesterday before learning about Ben Wendel's book. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming that note.

[@bettersax]

Congrats

[@felixemilioloramartinez3718]

I’d love to get that book

[@kennethstokes9119]

This is a great video. I love it. I don't expect that I will explore the altissimo register that much because most or the notes sound "out of tune" to me. I liked it because it taught me that the notes on the saxophone are acquired by voicing not just by fingering. it's important to learn a song by ear and sing the notes. I've experienced that, when I play a note that is in my head even though i may not be fingering it right, the note will play. I would classify myself as an advanced beginner. I'm 79 years old and play most of my tunes by ear.

[@wyndhl8309]

"Advanced Beginner"! I ❤️ it; it's new to me, the phrase.

[@GardensoftheAncientsHerbal]

Overtones…. Long tones… breathe control, basically, basics… him and Scott paddock helped a ton for altissimo. I was able to hit notes in a solo for years but he really opened it up for me. Thanks! I’d say better sax helped with things like practice methods and things to practice. use the fsharp key for chromatic runs. As it raises the notes a half step in a certain range and it together with the f trill gives a whole step. Scales and chord practice help a ton. So like add 3rd g sharp or g and act like your in 6th grade and play the scale from first octave to 3rd and just keep adding scales a half step at a time in major and minor keys.

[@MrGeolm]

don't forget that the high f# is super useful to get the altissimo G, high f# + B key = super easy, like front F.

[@quentinwhite5230]

Hi Jay; back in 1971 I was the only sax major my college had ever had and they actually were able to bring Sigurd Rascher to the school for a 3 day workshop and back then no one even knew about this. to watch him play that old Buescher alto with his spec. mouthpiece was unbelievable. He had control better than anyone has ever gotten.

[@charliebates5101]

6 and

[@charliebates5101]

Tallahassee

[@charliebates5101]

It2z42x

[@kwrigh1668]

thank you sooo much...lately I've shy'ed away from PDF/Digital content...like you said, I just want it on a stand. Thanks @bettersax for bringing this up. I will definitely be looking to pick up the printed version.

[@isaacjacinto6356]

i like the editing style on this video!

[@bettersax]

Thanks

[@yelonhesli]

Now I can understand a little bit of the James Carter's altíssimos. 🔥🔥🔥

[@peterhorah7884]

Great interview! And I never appreciated how it could be reached from the voicings ; I knew it was important but was looking for they key sequence.

[@angusramsay6485]

Great video.👏

[@bettersax]

Thanks Angus

[@frankzona9867]

Teenage me first encountered altissimo from the music of Jr. Walker. I had just switched from Alto to Tenor but I couldn't figure out what the the notes were that Jr. was playing. I wanted to play Shotgun but how the hell was Jr getting those notes? Fast forward to the 21st century me. I'm ok venturing into some altissimo but need to refine what I'm doing. Oh if I could only get a consistent altissimo G. Ben's book looks like a worthy investment. Thanks Jay for presenting it to us and thanks Ben for writing this book.

[@shantemoore6265]

This was very interesting especially the "voicing" info!

[@andrescastro8198]

Best of all!

[@sauloferreira3182]

Instrumento top selmer. Muito boa explicação

[@prismavidamusic7226]

Cool. Been working on this stuff a long time. Looking forward to finding out some new things and seeing what I can improve. Been working on a Bach music video. Great for tone exercises. Anyways, thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@bettersax]

Thanks!

[@noahtruth6554]

I’m so far away from altissimo that I thought you were talking about breath mints. I can play up to a weak high F#. I believed that altissimo started at high G because it stands for Gerald Albright. Glad to hear that the fingerings are not the key to altissimo because I’ve tried many just to get to F#. I’ll be adding overtones and voicing to my practice with the hope of adding altissimo to my range. Thanks for another excellent video in addition to your BetterSax lessons. Thanks again.

[@bettersax]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@3TBlue]

I support this channel.

[@bettersax]

Thanks for your support

[@kjmsax1]

Lenny Pickett... You didn’t even mention him. Sad. He’s been in the Saturday night live band since mid 80’s and was the lead tenor player in Tower of Power during the 70’s. He also a master of altissimo and a multi wind instrumentalist.

[@MusicLiberates]

Very true! Lenny Pickett was a pioneer in the extreme altissimo, and he has to be mentioned in any discussion of this topic.

[@apkeeney]

I too wondered why Lenny Pickett was never mentioned.

[@Jorvaskrr]

Only a sith deals in absolutes. Still, love your channel, man !

[@Carsonsaxplayer]

Lenny Pickett wrote the book, without literally writing a book 😂

[@sundayjams7399]

Bought it, let’s see how it goes

[@Hannex433]

I swear your last 2 videos have been perfect timing for me ! I was wondering whats the differences in mouthpieces: BOOM! video on mouthpiece variations next I wanted to improve my altissimo: BOOM altissimo video! Keep it up Jay

[@bettersax]

Haha what should I do next?

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

Would still love to learn the altissimo range for the options, but finally recorded myself playing alto sax along with my brass instruments to realize that I personally prefer the low end of a bari sax, lol

[@intimacywithchrist4574]

Thanks a lot Sir J.. i read somewhere also that the horn can sound as such as only a mouthpiece play.as high as that..so not really the whole sax(fingering) STUFFS

[@vincentgaglio5106]

Awesome. Unfortunately I am out of touch with so many awesome players, I need this I bought the physical book and the e book . My only fear is that it will remain on the shelf. I so hope not. Lol, Got to start getting my playing to the next level

[@HonestSaxSound-unEdited-]

Great profi video!! Many thanks to both! But Jay!.. don't forget that not only exist classic, or jazzers.. we exist too, the pop, romantic, folk, saxplayers!👍💪😁

[@bettersax]

Same techniques and path for everyone regardless of style.

[@ronniemusungu2804]

This is soo good!! Thank you BetterSax! Quick question, I practise mouthpiece exercises for like 5min every time I pick up the horn...In your experience, of what benefit is this?

[@fxzzy9875]

Noti gang