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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Altissimo & Multiphonics / 42 Notes

Eric
User ID: 2533044 Jan 30th 4:00 PM
I did 42 note on my sax today (from Bb1 to Eb/D#4) just to brag a bit.

I have a question thou, I can do Bb2 G2 and A3 on the low Bb fingering, what note(s) come after A3?

Randy M.
User ID: 0296604 Jan 30th 8:49 PM
Eric --- For the low Bb fingering the higher notes you should get are Bb2, F2, and Bb3. The next note would be the D3, then F3. Not sure I can remember above that without picking up my horn, but I think Ab3, Bb4, C4, D4

Then finger low B and transpose the above notes up a half step.

Then do the same with loc C, C#. Starting at low D things get a little more tricky, and the upper notes more out of tune.

Gordon (NZ)
User ID: 0651814 Jan 31st 5:09 AM
Randy you gave theoretical harmonics. Is it not true that the actual pitch for certain of the harmonics is so out of tune from the theoretical pitch that it may be mistaken for a note a semitone different? Just wondering. I know very little here.

Eric
User ID: 2533044 Jan 31st 7:10 AM
I also forgot to mention Bb3. I was a little mixed up when writting, it's actually Bb2 F2 Bb3 and A3 (I actually got A3 on thelow Bb fingering).

Randy M.
User ID: 0296604 Jan 31st 6:52 PM
Gordon --- My experience is that the natural overtone harmonics on the saxophone fingered low Bb are not bad up to Bb4.

low B is a little worse, C moreso, C# poor. and above there (D, Eb,E ), the harmonics increasingly out of tune, if you can even get the notes out.

I quite often use the 2nd and 3rd harmonic and then switch to regular fingerings to check voicing, tuning and sound size.

Brass players use the natural harmonic series constantly, and sometimes have to use alternate fingerings for a particularly bad tuning note.

I would say the theoretical harmonics are in use on most instruments for a 2 octave+ range. Some of the woodwinds provide an octave vent by opening particular keys (especially flute).

Some of the studies in the Trevor Wye flute books have exercises that compare overtone fingerings with the regular fingerings. So I would say that through the third overtone (harmonic) is usable.

Randy M.
User ID: 0296604 Jan 31st 7:04 PM
Oh, I forgot,Probably the first overtone of Bb, B, C, C# on saxophone has the potential to be more out of tune than the second, third, and forth--note separate fingerings for these notes.

The first overtone on flute is pretty good, because that is the normal fingering on flute from E2 to B3 ( B3 if you have a low B foot joint).

Randy M.
User ID: 0296604 Jan 31st 7:07 PM
Maybe I should have said B2, and forget the low B foot joint.

Eric User ID: 2533044	Jan 30th 4:00 PM I did 42 note on my sax today (from Bb1 to Eb/D#4) just to brag a bit. I have a question thou, I can do Bb2 G2 and A3 on the low Bb fingering, what note(s) come after A3?
Randy M. User ID: 0296604	Jan 30th 8:49 PM Eric --- For the low Bb fingering the higher notes you should get are Bb2, F2, and Bb3. The next note would be the D3, then F3. Not sure I can remember above that without picking up my horn, but I think Ab3, Bb4, C4, D4 Then finger low B and transpose the above notes up a half step. Then do the same with loc C, C#. Starting at low D things get a little more tricky, and the upper notes more out of tune.
Gordon (NZ) User ID: 0651814	Jan 31st 5:09 AM Randy you gave theoretical harmonics. Is it not true that the actual pitch for certain of the harmonics is so out of tune from the theoretical pitch that it may be mistaken for a note a semitone different? Just wondering. I know very little here.
Eric User ID: 2533044	Jan 31st 7:10 AM I also forgot to mention Bb3. I was a little mixed up when writting, it's actually Bb2 F2 Bb3 and A3 (I actually got A3 on thelow Bb fingering).
Randy M. User ID: 0296604	Jan 31st 6:52 PM Gordon --- My experience is that the natural overtone harmonics on the saxophone fingered low Bb are not bad up to Bb4. low B is a little worse, C moreso, C# poor. and above there (D, Eb,E ), the harmonics increasingly out of tune, if you can even get the notes out. I quite often use the 2nd and 3rd harmonic and then switch to regular fingerings to check voicing, tuning and sound size. Brass players use the natural harmonic series constantly, and sometimes have to use alternate fingerings for a particularly bad tuning note. I would say the theoretical harmonics are in use on most instruments for a 2 octave+ range. Some of the woodwinds provide an octave vent by opening particular keys (especially flute). Some of the studies in the Trevor Wye flute books have exercises that compare overtone fingerings with the regular fingerings. So I would say that through the third overtone (harmonic) is usable.
Randy M. User ID: 0296604	Jan 31st 7:04 PM Oh, I forgot,Probably the first overtone of Bb, B, C, C# on saxophone has the potential to be more out of tune than the second, third, and forth--note separate fingerings for these notes. The first overtone on flute is pretty good, because that is the normal fingering on flute from E2 to B3 ( B3 if you have a low B foot joint).
Randy M. User ID: 0296604	Jan 31st 7:07 PM Maybe I should have said B2, and forget the low B foot joint.