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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Altissimo & Multiphonics / Optimal fingering for D4

Alison
User ID: 0658904 Apr 17th 1:49 AM
Can anyone give me a hand? I play an ancient conn and I have trouble getting a good D4. C4 too, for that matter.

Bootman
User ID: 8722703 Apr 17th 4:49 AM
Front F Key and OK only for D4,
C4 is OK 1-3/4-6 Eb. These work on 99.9% of saxophones.

Alison
User ID: 0658904 Apr 17th 11:32 PM
Tx alot.

KeithL
User ID: 0714654 Apr 18th 3:58 PM
That's strange. I have a terrible time with altissimo. The D4 is the only note I can get and I get that note, with slight pitch variations, regardless of fingering. As long as I have the alt. F (front F) key depressed, it doesn't matter much else what I do, if I'm trying for an altissimo note, D4 is what comes out.

Andrew
User ID: 9627953 Apr 18th 4:41 PM
Same with my tenor. I will press the fingerings for any altissimo note, and 90% of the time, I get a D4. It's not the horn, as I just had it serviced. I'm very fluent on my Alto (4 1/2 Octave Range), however, I don't see what my problem is on my tenor. I've tried different setups and everything. Now, I really think it's me. Embouschoure problem? Who knows...

Paul C.
User ID: 7524313 Apr 30th 6:17 AM
Andrew: Are you using the same fingerings as you do on alto? Tenor requires different fingerings.

Also, it is quite easy to overshoot on tenor, getting higher notes.

For F#-A, use the same oral cavity position and feel as for playing fork E or fork F.

Paul C.
User ID: 9544623 May 9th 8:45 PM
More easy ones for tenor...

Finger C4 the same as palm key Eb3... OK, Eb and D palm keys. C# is then the same as E3, which is OK, Eb and D palms, and high E key. Then D4 is the same as palm key F3. Eb4, just add the high F# key.

Using the D4 fingering, OK + front F... adding RH1 makes it a Db4, or adding side C to the D fingering makes it a Eb4.

Randy M.
User ID: 0296604 May 11th 5:32 AM
Keith and Andrew- might not hurt to include harmonic series overtone exercises to your practice foutine for a while on the horns you want to improve altissimo. (Rascher top Tones).

Andrew-You'll have to adjust your body voicing for tenor, and allow for difference in blowing resistence from alto to tenor. Be sure you hear the tenor note in your mind (in tenor key) before you play it.
Good luck.

J.B
User ID: 1390494 Aug 14th 1:05 AM
Alison

my favourite d4 fingering is

the font F key

the side palm d key

and the top of the right hand side keys

this is a perfectly intune d4...on my sax and mp anyway.....

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 Aug 14th 7:49 AM
I have found the OK + front F for D4 a little flat on my Conn. I add the high E to the fingering to bring it up.

Alison User ID: 0658904	Apr 17th 1:49 AM Can anyone give me a hand? I play an ancient conn and I have trouble getting a good D4. C4 too, for that matter.
Bootman User ID: 8722703	Apr 17th 4:49 AM Front F Key and OK only for D4, C4 is OK 1-3/4-6 Eb. These work on 99.9% of saxophones.
Alison User ID: 0658904	Apr 17th 11:32 PM Tx alot.
KeithL User ID: 0714654	Apr 18th 3:58 PM That's strange. I have a terrible time with altissimo. The D4 is the only note I can get and I get that note, with slight pitch variations, regardless of fingering. As long as I have the alt. F (front F) key depressed, it doesn't matter much else what I do, if I'm trying for an altissimo note, D4 is what comes out.
Andrew User ID: 9627953	Apr 18th 4:41 PM Same with my tenor. I will press the fingerings for any altissimo note, and 90% of the time, I get a D4. It's not the horn, as I just had it serviced. I'm very fluent on my Alto (4 1/2 Octave Range), however, I don't see what my problem is on my tenor. I've tried different setups and everything. Now, I really think it's me. Embouschoure problem? Who knows...
Paul C. User ID: 7524313	Apr 30th 6:17 AM Andrew: Are you using the same fingerings as you do on alto? Tenor requires different fingerings. Also, it is quite easy to overshoot on tenor, getting higher notes. For F#-A, use the same oral cavity position and feel as for playing fork E or fork F.
Paul C. User ID: 9544623	May 9th 8:45 PM More easy ones for tenor... Finger C4 the same as palm key Eb3... OK, Eb and D palm keys. C# is then the same as E3, which is OK, Eb and D palms, and high E key. Then D4 is the same as palm key F3. Eb4, just add the high F# key. Using the D4 fingering, OK + front F... adding RH1 makes it a Db4, or adding side C to the D fingering makes it a Eb4.
Randy M. User ID: 0296604	May 11th 5:32 AM Keith and Andrew- might not hurt to include harmonic series overtone exercises to your practice foutine for a while on the horns you want to improve altissimo. (Rascher top Tones). Andrew-You'll have to adjust your body voicing for tenor, and allow for difference in blowing resistence from alto to tenor. Be sure you hear the tenor note in your mind (in tenor key) before you play it. Good luck.
J.B User ID: 1390494	Aug 14th 1:05 AM Alison my favourite d4 fingering is the font F key the side palm d key and the top of the right hand side keys this is a perfectly intune d4...on my sax and mp anyway.....
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	Aug 14th 7:49 AM I have found the OK + front F for D4 a little flat on my Conn. I add the high E to the fingering to bring it up.