Different altissimo fingerings for alto and tenor

[Stencilman]

How do you deal with different altissimo fingerings on different horns? Do you have a set of fingerings that work for all your horns or do you instinctively change fingerings depnding on what horn you are playing?

I've played SATB over the years, but only focused on one horn at a time. The altissimo fingerings that I've used for 25 years on my Selmer tenor sax come automatically. My focus lately has been alto and many of the tenor altissimo fingerings don't work at all on it. To make things worse, the altissimo fingerings that I learned on my old Selmer MKVI alto don't work on my vintage Martin.

I think the only solution is to continue to develop the new set of fingerings for my alto. The problem with two sets of fingerings is that I seem to confuse them in performance. Any suggestions?

[Steve J.]

Practice scale patterns with each set of decided fingerings. After sufficient woodshedding the finger memory takes over when triggered by the horn in hand. It happens the same way when you pick up a double. Think clarinet with clarinet, flute with flute, alto with alto, tenor with tenor. Works well for me and doesn't take that long, even after you change or prefer a new fingering choice. Just give it appropriate repitition..... it comes.

[rnairb]

The fingerings are different because of the way the horns are contructed and not exactly proportional to each other. Get Rousseau's High Tones. It have a fairly comprehensive chart for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone specific fingerings.