How high can you go?

[silverghost]

So? How high can you go? I know, I know, playing the highest doesn't mean anything, it matters how you can move between the notes, but right now I am curious. How high. On Alto I can hit all the way up to an F two octaves above the staff, (F4). How high, can you go, how high can you go, how high can you go how high can you go*fades off into limbo chant mimicing "how low can you go. . . ."*

SilverGhost

[saxboy]

On Alto, that F is about as high as I ever wanta go. F# or G works with a new reed but why???????
SAXBOY

[werkinsnake]

On Alto I can chromatically go up to D4. But I can skip up to a G4 and sometimes lip it up to an A4. On soprano up chromatically up to a D4. For practical use I won't go any higher than a A3 on an Alto. And on a soprano? My ears start hurting when I use the spoons. Saxboy is right. Why would you want to go that high? It's a cool trick to show other players, but a little "too intense" for the average listener. My family hates me for working on altissimo. Actually it's a swear word at this house. If anyone has any ideas on how to play altissimo in ppp please let me know.

*Best example of how to do altissimo right is Lenny Picket from the SNL band. But keep in mind that he plays a tenor where the high and squeaky notes are only half as earpiercing than on the alto and soprano. Also, A3 altissimo may be an A4 if you consider a covered up bell while playing a low Bb as A1.

[Razzy]

Lenny Pickett actually does some biting and things that most altiss players would consider "wrong" to get his top tones out. My teacher's spoken with him a few times about it. But hey, whatever does it for you without totally killing your chops!

[disgruntleddave]

the highest i have ever gone in moderate control was C5 on alto. It was playing a series 3 for the first time at a selmer clinic with a jodyjazz mpc w/ spoiler in. i went up note by note from G3. i dont usually go into altissimo while playing though. I can get anywhere up to a D4 when I want, but its still not consistant enough to implement it in my playing yet. I usually stick to G3 max, but with time it will probably go up.

[Djt2005]

I can go four D's above the staff, Not D4, quadruple D. And the reason it is fun for me is to compete with the piccolos and pianos.

[Subtone Sam]

I play to E4 but sometimes raise C4-E4 up on octave but that is something I would call squeeling instead of altissimo.

[werkinsnake]

I can go four D's above the staff, Not D4, quadruple D. And the reason it is fun for me is to compete with the piccolos and pianos.

Or dog whistles? :)

[MB-913]

Just to produce a Upstairs High Note is not difficult & no meaning. Many people can reach to F#4 after learning sax for less than a year.

The real meaning in Altissimo is to joint these high notes together to form a phrasing. This is the most difficult part. For me, this is the most difficult item to achieve. It need to spend very long time with hard work & patient.

[Wailin']

MB-913, I do concur. Despite altissimo was much of a challenge for several months, up to E4 is no problem. However, connecting these notes is an even greater challenge. When I listen to Gerald Albright or Nelson Rangell connect altissimo notes with "ease" and a flute-like sound as if they were playing in the lower range of the saxophone it's amazing. There are however many great and famous players who don't play altissimo notes.

[MB-913]

Wailin'

Just to use Altissimo as decorating purpose is good enough. Which means just one or two such high notes can make a phasing sounds different. However, not an easy thing to do.

[werkinsnake]

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAW

It's about time someone started a post like this. I'll tell ya how high I can go. There was this one time in the oval office when I invited Tommy Chong over and...oh wait...altissimo. Hahaha my bad. (Insert frowny face now) My fellow Americans I am truly truly sorry.

Well...it could have happened. :roll:

[silverghost]

I know that its what you can do with altissimo that matters, i was just curious! I can definitely use some work in between, and don't think that I'm one of those egomaniacs that thinks that higher is better. I know that i'm not the best, and never will be...

SG

[barisaxplayer]

solo by yourself some pieces have it and it helps the piece, listen to solos altissimo is all in there... however I know think many d4s are written... ever... :)

[wersax]

In general, I think if you play an octave above the "normal" range of the horn, I mean fluently, you're on target..........I've hit a lot of high notes (Could this be a promising name for a sax player's biography?), AND I'm more interested in what I can do on the job on a day to day basis........I mean it's cool to do high squeaks at home, but if you can't tie them in to a solo on the job, what good are they?

[orions_belt27]

I would say that anywhere between 3 1/2 octaves or 42 semitones - 4 octaves or 48 semitones is really good enough. In fact, i think 3 3/4 octaves is just nice.

Any higher just tends to become squeaks. I've only begun playing altissimo recently and found myself pushing my limits up till 1 1/2 tones below 3 1/2 octaves. Looking forward to hitting higher notes.

I like experimenting with different types of fingerings on my alto and find a few good ones which give a more full bodied tone and then i try to memorise them and store them for use next time.

It's definitely good to know 2, 3 or more (go ahead!) different fingerings for the same note so that they can be applied for optimum use in the appropriate passages when required :D

[hannibal]

I've hit semi-controlled sqeaks and sqeals on the bari that are dog whistle range. Kind of fun but pointless. I'm not allowed to play these notes even at home any more as our unborn baby started kicking something awful in the wife's belly. Poor little thing didn't like Daddy playing those squeeks at all!

I would much rather be able to hit one high octave consistently and with tone....

That said, I learned to hit the ultra high squeeks listening to Hammiet Bluiett on bari. He manages to work this stuff into a solo. Good for the novelty/shock/comedy value, but it wears thin quite quickly (especially with people in the front row).

[GaryLee]

Back in the 60's I saw Tom Scott live at a small club. He was playing tenor and was in the altisimo range for most of the tune. I don't remember what the song was but it was like he was playing a soprano.
A friend of mine showed me how to get a C4. I couldn't play the notes in between just the C. I tried it at the end of a solo in my high school jazz band once and got some awful sound that definately wasn't a C. :oops:
Haven't played much altissimo since and I don't even remember the fingering for that C.

[tom_thetenor]

I can get up to G4 on my tenor and E4 on my alto, but it just can't play G#3 on either. Does anyone have any advice on how to finger and that note?

[M Exner]

Try 1st and 3rd fingers on both left and right hands with the middle side on right hand palm (and octave key). Works well for me on the Yamaha. Your experience may vary. Mike

[sax_appeal]

I can play higher on the alto than my sister can on the flute- thats all that matters. I can play higher than she can scream too. I know because when I do she screams.

[Bootman]

C5 on tenor, G5 on Bari, G4 on Alto and F4 on Sop.

[hornstar]

Really?! Boot, I've listened to your playing on the clips on your site, so I know you've got some chops alright. It's just that I've never gotten above G4 except by lipping it.
Could you share your tenor altissimo fingerings from G#4-C5?

[Bootman]

Hornstar,
Overblow the fingerings below to get these higher alt notes. At the end of the day, to play this high it reuqires throat control. I can go higher if I bite too but I basically use C5 or D5 as the regular upper end. Stiffer reed with a hole drilled in it will allow you to get these notes.

[hornstar]

thanks, Boot. yeah, I can overblow and bite up there, but have no real facility in it.
I used your reed-drilling technique awhile back on natural cane. Now that I'm playing Fibracell, I'll give it a try.

[Bootman]

Natural Cane works much better for Alt than a Fibracell doe'''

[Saxaholic]

I'll play anywhere up to F4 on my alto, any higher and it truly becomes painful for the listener (as well as my chops when I start biting!) Typically G4-D4 is ok, with the D4 being the easiest to sound with the strongest tone. I dont usually like to use alt notes in my playing, but the occassional squealer doesn't hurt in a funk/rock situation.

Saxaholic

[Morry]

What's a good D4 fingering for a Keilwerth alto? Anyone have a suggestion?

[Saxaholic]

Haha to edit my last post it was "G3-D4" not "G4-D4". Sorry about that!

As to the Keilwerth, I'd try the Fork F key by itself...my teacher has pretty good success with that, but I haven't played enough Keilwerths to know.

Saxaholic

[jazzybat]

C5 on tenor, G5 on Bari, G4 on Alto and F4 on Sop.


wowi! what sax are you playing in your pic in your homepage? thats BIG!.... and great altissimo! :)

[Bootman]

That is a Conn Bass.

[yana sax]

nice sax Bootman!!! Are you just wearing a harness or are you using a stand? Surely you're back'll get wrecked using only a harness! :?

[BrassaxMan5]

highest i can get (on alto, my only sax) is an F#, which some people have a key for.

[yana sax]

can someone explain what i am doing please;
i am producing a squeak, only the squeak is controlled and is in the pitch of an octave above C with the register key on. is that altissimo? i am clueless when it comes to altissimo!!! any help appreciated,

oli.

[prodigal]

Bottom line - improvised or written out - does it sound good?

If you can make it sound good PLAY HIGH BROTHER!!

The highest I've used in an actual show was the E 3 octaves above the fourth space E (on tenor). I used to work up to it in a cadenza at the end of a tune we did every night on tour....

Your ceiling is going to be about the same concert pitch no matter what horn your playing, so you'll have a slightly larger range with lower horns.

Reeds make a HUGE difference.....



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[TMadness1013]

I can get up to F#4 on tenor...but only up to a D4 (if thinks are going well) on alto.

I'm using the same reeds...but my tenor mpc is MUCH more open than my alto. Do you think that's what is making the difference?

[prodigal]

I'm sure that the openness (sp?) helps.
I'm a little confused by terminology here?...
Are we talking concert pitches, or written pitches for each horn?

And refresh my memory on the A1, A2 deal (sorry guys - some things have gotten a little hazy in my old age!) -- is C1 middle C, C2 the C in the third space of the staff, D1 the D above middle C, etc. ? If that's the case, I think the E I was referring to a couple of entries back is an E5.

Long ago I adopted the nomenclature invented by my friend, and an excellent saxophonist, Jeff Rolka -

E = E in the staff;
E on three lines above the staff= palm E or front E;
E above that = altissimo E;
E above that = SUPER E!

Anything higher than that is open to nicknaming, and you should check with Lenny Pickett to make sure there's not already a copyright! ...but the SUPER prefix goes to Rolka.....

[Brendan Muse]

Well, on Bari I can play a 3 octave chromatic, which is just as much as I need in high school. I'll try for a four octave before all state auditions this year. Whee! :toothy10:

[prodigal]

DUDE!

If you're doing a three octave chromatic on bari in high school, you're doing pretty (*#$%*#*) good!

What year are you?
What kind of rep are you playing?

i've always thought the Bach Cello Suites would sound great on Bari, with the right person at the helm :)

[Brendan Muse]

The Bach cello suites do sound good on the bari. I've got 1 and 3, and I've been playing sections of them as solos for the last few years.

I'm going to be a junior this year.

Of course, I seem to have encountered the slight problem of being completely unable to play any altissimo above F#3 on my new bari.

[saxmasta89]

octave above SUPER E=dog whistle :D

[saxmasta89]

Oh...on the 'how high can i go', i can squeak 8)
When i was either 7th or 8th grade my teacher gave me a packet on altissimo. Later on i asked him how to get him and told him that all i got was squeaks and then he said that altissimo was basically glorified squeaks.....
That night i 'squeaked' the fingering and popped out a high A!!!! :nike:

[prodigal]

HAH!!

Actually, your teacher was right - but, let's just hope that a player has enough control to produce the altissimo without acheiving the same audience result as the squeaks!!!!

[saxmasta89]

lol.. after he told me that i started getting some other notes and a couple years later(now) i can play the overtone series really well and i have a really good sounding G... i do need to practice a lot more, though, because i dont have the control i should have over everything... :?

[JL]

And refresh my memory on the A1, A2 deal (sorry guys - some things have gotten a little hazy in my old age!) -- is C1 middle C, C2 the C in the third space of the staff, D1 the D above middle C, etc. ? If that's the case, I think the E I was referring to a couple of entries back is an E5.

The way I understand it, and the only way it makes sense really, is as follows:

C1 = low C, the lowest C on the horn, one ledger line below the staff
C2 = the next highest C, in the staff
C3 = the next octave C, two ledger lines above the staff
C4 = the next octave up, in the altissimo range

All other notes work similarly. Also note that G3 and A3 are altissimo, since they are above the standard range. To answer the original question, I rarely go above D4, partly because I can't really control it any higher and partly because I see no point in subjecting the audience to such shrieking.

[prodigal]

HAH!!!

I guess "shreiking" is a subjective term!

I get an E5 or so, but Lenny still has another octave or so above that - and I don't think the audience is ever dissapointed when he does it....

To each his own.

And thanks for clarifying that I was correct about the system of nomenclature -- C1, C2, etc. -- even if you did do it with a little attitude...

:D

[tenorskateboard]

I say D4, C4, and E4, those are my easiest one, I use the palm D and Eb together to get the C4, any easier ways to do so?
I hold all palmkeys with high f to get the D, or alternate F on the left hand..that's just super easy :-)
I can do this on both my alto and tenor..but I need help with an easier C4, G3, and A3, any ideas?

[prodigal]

I like the ones you're using.
I think that palm E flat fingering for C4 is pretty standard,
and as altissimo fingerings go, practical.

For the A3. you didn't say what fingering you use.
If you can use it, the simplest fingering that I know,
that also produces the thickest and darkest sound,
is just 2 and three of the left hand. If it's not speaking,
try using LH 2 and 3 with the Side C, or using LH 2 and 3
with RH 1, 2 and 3.

(Of course, all of these with the octave key)

[Brendan Muse]

Good news and bad news as far as range goes.

Good: I can get up to D4.
Bad: I can only get up to D4.

Does anyone know of any ways to improve my range further?

[blumberg]

I was insane enough in High School to try(operative word "try") learning the Finney Sax Concerto...



That's pretty high!