Need quick help with G6!!

[gemini]

I'm leaving for a gig in a few hours. I've been working on this damn note for weeks and *still* can't find where it lives! I can hit F6 and A6 just fine, but not that damn G6 ;)

Some stats:

JK EX 90 Tenor
Rovner EDII Lig
Vandoren V16 #3
Meyer HR 5

Also happens if I'm using the stock JK mpc/lig and a Vandoren Java #3.

I'm going to be playing a piece that calls for G6 F6 D6 and on down. I'm seriously considering using F6 E6 D6, etc.

Thoughts/comments are most welcome!
Thanks

[MojoBari]

Are you using the convention where normal range low Bb is Bb1 and High F is F3?

[gemini]

This would be the next G up from the standard T123. Chromatically speaking, it's right after what's generally referred to as "High F sharp".

A couple of things I forgot to put in my original post:

I've been through just about all of the suggestions listed on WFG. I can hit most of 'em, but they all sound exactly like the high A.

The only one that I can hit and get to sound right is by fingering
T1-3 |1-3. But that's hell when the next note I need to play is the high F ;)

[Steve J.]

The only one that I can hit and get to sound right is by fingering
T1-3 |1-3. But that's hell when the next note I need to play is the high F ;)

Doesn't seem that hellish to me with standard high f palm fingering. If you prefer the fork F sound for F try fingering a2 and open the high f key with l.h. middle finger. This way you avoid any slide to the alternate High f key from the b key.

After the gig - in practice avoid pinching altissimo with the lip, the secrets in the throat.... the other fingerings can be played in tune i would bet.

[MojoBari]

I thought so. In order to have a good G3, you need to be able to hit it with several different fingerings. Later you choose the fingering that gives you the best intonation and good stability, but that is a fine tuning thing.

Try working chromatically down from A3 and up from F3. Do you have a good Ab3 and F#3? The key is in tongue and throat position to have the needed control over the airstream.

I use this G3 from the Luckey Book on tenor: T 123/__6 Low C#

Its a little awkward at first, but I find it good for my 10M and some problem tenors.

[Razzy]

On all tenors I've played (Yamaha, Selmer series III, Selmer Mark VI), the fork F key (without C down), plus side Bb and octave key has worked.

[JL]

The fingering Razzy gives works for me on all tenors I've played. I doubt that the fingering is the main problem. G3 takes a very specific voicing (throat opening & tongue position) and you have to experiment a bit to get it. I find I have to back off a bit on the airstream, compared to other altissimo notes, Once I get the exact throat/tongue position, I can blow harder and get the note to project. Takes some practice, but you'll get it.

[Paul S]

I'm with Razzy on the G3 fingering - works great on my early aristocrat tenor.

It also means i can easily play chromatically F3(normal front F) - F#3 (Front F, no C, RH1, side Bb) - G3 (same as F#3, just lose theRH1).

:lol: - when i first read this G6 - i was picturing all the dogs in the nieghbourhood howling their heads off!!

[Big Nick]

The one I use mostly on my old EX90 is: T1--/--- with side Bb and top F#.
Takes a bit of getting used to, but works every time.

[MB-913]

Big Nick

I use same fingering with you for G3 on my tenor:

Octave + L1/ High F# + Side Bb

It can make G3 pitch but very weak sound compare to all other altissimo notes. However, I tried over 10 fingering, only this can produce G3 on my horn .

[Razzy]

Paul S, I also use that F# fingering. It seems to be universal. However alto is a totally different ballgame. For F# on alto I lose the RH1 and add the C (so, front F plus side Bb), and for G I add the RH1 to that and lose the C. So things are kind of switched up. Thankfully I never really make it a point to go above an A on either horn so the confusion is very limited! 8)

[hornstar]

gotta go with Razzy and others on this.
for tenor, LH: Alt-F RH: side Bb is the ONLY fingering that works on tenor consistently for me (Selmer SBA). add the Bis key, and you get F#. start on F#, lift the Bis key and push a little harder with the diaphragm, and voila you should hit G nicely.
don't be shy with your breath support on G, the stronger you blow the more solidly you'll hit it. you can scream and overblow on this one and not choke it off, but if you're tentative with breath support on G it will be unstable or you'll not hit it at all.
some altissimo notes (Bb, B) will choke with too much force, and you gotta go easier on 'em. others (F#, G, G#, A, D) will take all the air and force you want, and you can scream them easily. controlled breath support is important for any note, and is critical in altissimo, where it varies from note-to-note more than in the normal range.

[gemini]

But don't ya know. In the end, after a full day of rehearsal, we voted to cut that one piece from the set. The timing was giving *everyone* fits.

Hehe... the piece?


PF's "Money" ;)

Oh, and you can bet I'm going to continue to work on mastering the *3 range!