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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Altissimo & Multiphonics / Tenor Altissimo

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Andrew
User ID: 7127533 Feb 27th 4:56 PM
Well, I've been working on my tenor altissimo. Wait a minute...what altissimo. I have been trying and trying to get even one note in between F#3 and C4. I've been practicing and everything since September. None have come out yet!!! I'm starting to think that it's the horn, and not me. My alto altissimo goes up to C5 and more on good days. So, I know how to do the overtones and all that stuff. Here's my Tenor Setup

Selmer SA80 Series II (School Horn)
Berg 90/2 M w/Legere 2 3/4
Selmer C* w/Legere 3
Otto Link STM 6* w/Fibracell Medium

I've tried different reed setups, different reeds, and mouthpieces. However, at my all-state auditions, I tried out a guy's Selmer Series III, and another guy's Yamaha 62 with my Berg, and my altissimo came out beautifully. I really REALLY think that it is my horn. Any suggesstions?

Andrew

PS - I'm looking into getting a new horn. And these are the ones I'm debating about...

Yamaha YTS-62
Selmer Series III
Selmer SBA

Eric
User ID: 2533044 Mar 16th 6:38 PM
Andrew, you may wanna try a Berg 90/1 or maybe a 95/1...just my two cents.

Anon.
User ID: 0965344 Mar 17th 3:10 PM
Zach- I play the school horn (YTS-52) and I can get the altissimo out just fine.

stevew
User ID: 1662364 Mar 20th 5:20 AM
Ha - just try it on a soprano and then go back to a tenor ;-)

I found myself playing up the altissimo notes by accident on the couple of tenors I played - I usually play alto (on which altissimo is harder) and sop (for me, altissimo is near impossible...). Relatively, on a tenor it's easier.

High notes seem easier to me on a more open mpc with a longer lay, if it's too close it doesn't seem to happen.

Andrew
User ID: 2052144 Mar 21st 3:27 PM
LOL! Maybe it is me. I just got a new tenor (Sweeeeet Mark VII) and the altissimo is easier coming out, but not always consistant. For some reason, I can get my soprano altissimo pretty well, and same with my Alto. I think it's just my mouth could be better off playing smaller mpcs? I think that's the big reason. But, then again, I can get my Bari Altissimo out pretty easily too (On a C*).

Paul C. Apr 8th 9:46 PM
Paul F.: That is odd, I can't get the altissimo on Legeres, but clarinetists like them because of their response in the third register.

But it goes to show you, everyone is different... glad we have the wide choices available.

Joey the Saint
User ID: 1822634 Apr 8th 11:02 PM
Andrew, have your repairman check the inside of the neck for burrs, gouges, or rusted-out patches. My YTS-62 gugrled and split on G3 and above when I first got it, and my tech found a burr inside the neck and removed it, which freed it up a lot.

Andrew
User ID: 1509104 Apr 9th 9:28 PM
Will do. I'll be visiting him within this Friday to pick up my sister's piccolo. Maybe he can do an estimate on what's wrong with my tenor. Assuming there's anything wrong.

Paul C.
User ID: 7524313 Apr 30th 6:55 PM
Andrew, another thing, for A3, add the side C key. This is really necessary on tenor. It adds stability and clarity to this note.

A3: OK, LH2, LH3, G# key, side C key

billmecca
User ID: 8339223 May 1st 1:50 PM
Andrew, this might be kinda fun. Get together with the guys whose horns you can get the altissimo with.

put on a blindfold, and have them put your set up on a horn, you don't know which horn you will be playing, they hand it to you and you go for an altissimo note... see what happens.

could be interesting to see/hear the results.

See where I'm going with this?

Andrew
User ID: 9627953 May 1st 3:31 PM
Yeah I see....I'll try that tomorrow. I will most likely know which horn is which, but i'll try hard not to notice the layout just for my own good.

Screech
User ID: 0624334 Jul 18th 10:00 PM
Andrew wow I got a MkVII too!!! I LOVE it. Tenor. When I started out in altissimo I had trouble with G/G#3.... then decided to go back to overtone practice and NOT skip the exercises prescribed. Incredible difference!! No problem now... heck half of the time I don't even use the MkVII's F# key I just use the altissimo fingering instead.

Andrew
User ID: 1014104 Jul 29th 11:55 AM
Well, it turns out that the fingerings that I was using were wrong. I just came back from a 1 month trip down to Richmond (VA Govornor's School for Fine Arts) and the sax professor taught me these new fingerings, and I'm good to go now. Here's what he had me set up with...

F#3 - Front F, RH1, RH2, Side Bb
G3 - Front F, Side Bb

No Octave key on either. They pop out easily on my new setup...Berg 115/1 Rico Jazz Select 3M. I'm working my way up to C5 now.

Screech
User ID: 0624334 Jul 29th 5:45 PM
The G3 is a good one, I like it. BTW I went to VCU in Richmond for my first degree.

Chris F
User ID: 2192024 Jul 29th 8:12 PM
I can only altissimo on open mpcs. I have an mp3 file at http://members.aol.com/cforte/mp3/caravan.mp3
is anyone would like to download.

I hit a G4 on this tune but have reached C6 with a perfect reed (RICO JAZZ 2H).

I am using a BERG 125/0 SX90 tenor.

Screech
User ID: 0624334 Jul 29th 9:16 PM
C6 is very reed-dependent. On REALLY good reeds I can go above C6. I'm blowin' on a Runyon XL 12, 2.5 to 4 reeds, any brand, I'm searching for the best right now. Going crazy.... Also trying reed mods but the mods I do for C6 seem to knock out the volume.

Screech
User ID: 0624334 Jul 29th 9:29 PM
Andrew good luck working to C5!

kerry
User ID: 8652763 Aug 14th 5:41 PM
I was getting altisioms on my old student line, much less my sereis III. It wails away. You have to really hear the pitch. ITS MORE THAN LIKELY THE MOUTHPIECE!get the ponzol m2 for example.

I CANT BELIEVE A HIGH SCHOOL HAS A SERIES II HORN!WEALTHY WEALTHY

Chris F
User ID: 2192024 Aug 15th 7:09 PM
Screech,
What horn do you use. Do you have an mp3 sample I could check out?

Screech
User ID: 9753653 Aug 16th 9:03 AM
Mark VII tenor, 1975 vintage, M242110. I do not have mp3 sample at this time. Thinking of getting one together, though. Do you have any suggestions on what mike/pickup I should use?

Back 20 Messages Next 20 Messages

Andrew User ID: 7127533	Feb 27th 4:56 PM Well, I've been working on my tenor altissimo. Wait a minute...what altissimo. I have been trying and trying to get even one note in between F#3 and C4. I've been practicing and everything since September. None have come out yet!!! I'm starting to think that it's the horn, and not me. My alto altissimo goes up to C5 and more on good days. So, I know how to do the overtones and all that stuff. Here's my Tenor Setup Selmer SA80 Series II (School Horn) Berg 90/2 M w/Legere 2 3/4 Selmer C* w/Legere 3 Otto Link STM 6* w/Fibracell Medium I've tried different reed setups, different reeds, and mouthpieces. However, at my all-state auditions, I tried out a guy's Selmer Series III, and another guy's Yamaha 62 with my Berg, and my altissimo came out beautifully. I really REALLY think that it is my horn. Any suggesstions? Andrew PS - I'm looking into getting a new horn. And these are the ones I'm debating about... Yamaha YTS-62 Selmer Series III Selmer SBA
Eric User ID: 2533044	Mar 16th 6:38 PM Andrew, you may wanna try a Berg 90/1 or maybe a 95/1...just my two cents.
Anon. User ID: 0965344	Mar 17th 3:10 PM Zach- I play the school horn (YTS-52) and I can get the altissimo out just fine.
stevew User ID: 1662364	Mar 20th 5:20 AM Ha - just try it on a soprano and then go back to a tenor ;-) I found myself playing up the altissimo notes by accident on the couple of tenors I played - I usually play alto (on which altissimo is harder) and sop (for me, altissimo is near impossible...). Relatively, on a tenor it's easier. High notes seem easier to me on a more open mpc with a longer lay, if it's too close it doesn't seem to happen.
Andrew User ID: 2052144	Mar 21st 3:27 PM LOL! Maybe it is me. I just got a new tenor (Sweeeeet Mark VII) and the altissimo is easier coming out, but not always consistant. For some reason, I can get my soprano altissimo pretty well, and same with my Alto. I think it's just my mouth could be better off playing smaller mpcs? I think that's the big reason. But, then again, I can get my Bari Altissimo out pretty easily too (On a C*).
Paul C.	Apr 8th 9:46 PM Paul F.: That is odd, I can't get the altissimo on Legeres, but clarinetists like them because of their response in the third register. But it goes to show you, everyone is different... glad we have the wide choices available.
Joey the Saint User ID: 1822634	Apr 8th 11:02 PM Andrew, have your repairman check the inside of the neck for burrs, gouges, or rusted-out patches. My YTS-62 gugrled and split on G3 and above when I first got it, and my tech found a burr inside the neck and removed it, which freed it up a lot.
Andrew User ID: 1509104	Apr 9th 9:28 PM Will do. I'll be visiting him within this Friday to pick up my sister's piccolo. Maybe he can do an estimate on what's wrong with my tenor. Assuming there's anything wrong.
Paul C. User ID: 7524313	Apr 30th 6:55 PM Andrew, another thing, for A3, add the side C key. This is really necessary on tenor. It adds stability and clarity to this note. A3: OK, LH2, LH3, G# key, side C key
billmecca User ID: 8339223	May 1st 1:50 PM Andrew, this might be kinda fun. Get together with the guys whose horns you can get the altissimo with. put on a blindfold, and have them put your set up on a horn, you don't know which horn you will be playing, they hand it to you and you go for an altissimo note... see what happens. could be interesting to see/hear the results. See where I'm going with this?
Andrew User ID: 9627953	May 1st 3:31 PM Yeah I see....I'll try that tomorrow. I will most likely know which horn is which, but i'll try hard not to notice the layout just for my own good.
Screech User ID: 0624334	Jul 18th 10:00 PM Andrew wow I got a MkVII too!!! I LOVE it. Tenor. When I started out in altissimo I had trouble with G/G#3.... then decided to go back to overtone practice and NOT skip the exercises prescribed. Incredible difference!! No problem now... heck half of the time I don't even use the MkVII's F# key I just use the altissimo fingering instead.
Andrew User ID: 1014104	Jul 29th 11:55 AM Well, it turns out that the fingerings that I was using were wrong. I just came back from a 1 month trip down to Richmond (VA Govornor's School for Fine Arts) and the sax professor taught me these new fingerings, and I'm good to go now. Here's what he had me set up with... F#3 - Front F, RH1, RH2, Side Bb G3 - Front F, Side Bb No Octave key on either. They pop out easily on my new setup...Berg 115/1 Rico Jazz Select 3M. I'm working my way up to C5 now.
Screech User ID: 0624334	Jul 29th 5:45 PM The G3 is a good one, I like it. BTW I went to VCU in Richmond for my first degree.
Chris F User ID: 2192024	Jul 29th 8:12 PM I can only altissimo on open mpcs. I have an mp3 file at http://members.aol.com/cforte/mp3/caravan.mp3 is anyone would like to download. I hit a G4 on this tune but have reached C6 with a perfect reed (RICO JAZZ 2H). I am using a BERG 125/0 SX90 tenor.
Screech User ID: 0624334	Jul 29th 9:16 PM C6 is very reed-dependent. On REALLY good reeds I can go above C6. I'm blowin' on a Runyon XL 12, 2.5 to 4 reeds, any brand, I'm searching for the best right now. Going crazy.... Also trying reed mods but the mods I do for C6 seem to knock out the volume.
Screech User ID: 0624334	Jul 29th 9:29 PM Andrew good luck working to C5!
kerry User ID: 8652763	Aug 14th 5:41 PM I was getting altisioms on my old student line, much less my sereis III. It wails away. You have to really hear the pitch. ITS MORE THAN LIKELY THE MOUTHPIECE!get the ponzol m2 for example. I CANT BELIEVE A HIGH SCHOOL HAS A SERIES II HORN!WEALTHY WEALTHY
Chris F User ID: 2192024	Aug 15th 7:09 PM Screech, What horn do you use. Do you have an mp3 sample I could check out?
Screech User ID: 9753653	Aug 16th 9:03 AM Mark VII tenor, 1975 vintage, M242110. I do not have mp3 sample at this time. Thinking of getting one together, though. Do you have any suggestions on what mike/pickup I should use?