Beginner Altissimo player

[jazzmasta123]

HOW THE HECK DO I DO OVERTONES. I can go like from a low Bb to a Middle Bb and then to a F and sometimes a High Bb. But how do you get the really high notes

Background info, Berg Larsen Metal 130/0SMS #2 1/2 Bass Clarinet Reed Vandoren

[werkinsnake]

Look up different fingering charts and keep in mind that you have to use a faster airstream. Not really more air... just faster. The easiest way to start would be to try this on the spoons. Play a high D and blow with a faster airstream. Now you have a B. High Eb goes to altissimo C, E goes to C#, and F goes to D. They are still overtones but the difference is that they start on higher notes. I suggest starting on these only because the fingerings should already be familiar to you. If you can in fact hit these overtones, go back down to the high F# and learn the fingerings to go Chromatically to D. Some of the fingerings are rather odd and sometimes there are multiple fingerings for the same note. Find the one that works best for you and your horn, and blow away.

[kingperkoff]

Get the book "Top Tones for the Saxophone" by Sigurd M. Rascher

[tubbycub]

I heard a lot of good comments about "Top Tones for the sax" by Sigurd Rascher and I got one for myself. But I find the book not descriptive enough. All I see are just arrays and arrays of notes.....

[werkinsnake]

I find the book not descriptive enough. All I see are just arrays and arrays of notes.....

This seems to be a problem that plagues too many jazz studies books. Once you have someone actually explain things to you, it's easy. Does anyone else agree?

[Wailin']

As they months and years progress since being on this forum and the tremendous help I've gotten here, I become more and more greatful for the internet and the rapid spread of knowledge and information it has provided for all of us...who knows maybe we haven't seen and heard all there is to hear from whoever may be a most gifted sax player yet!!!

Having said that...the best book I've found for altissimo and overtones is called "Saxophone Altissimo: high note development for the contemporary player" by Robert A. Luckey, Ph.d. It's not gonna make you into Gerald Albright or Nelson Rangell over night but sure will help a lot with overtones etc.

[Durand]

More important than airstream in altissimo is the proper embouchure. i have found that when you can play any altissimo note in pianissimo you have discovered the correct embouchure and you don't have to put too much airstream in the instrument[/i]