[DryMartini]

Listening to a ballad and wondering if the player is playing upper stack notes, like middle C while also holding down the F,E,D, and low C keys.

Is this a thing? Do people do this? Its just that the middle C sounds so full....Could be my reed needs to be a little harder to get closer to their sound.

 

[JohnsonPowerSax]

Could be an overtone of low C. Could be low C with octave key. I definitely use those as my sound palate.

 

[saxoclese]

I will often add the RH to the "open" C#2 to give it a different timbre. I also sometimes use the "long C#" fingering which is low C# with the octave key to produce a note with the "color" that fits with the phrase. I have not tried adding the RH to a C2, but I will the next time I pick up my sax. Many players on slow tunes play C by fingering B and opening the middle side key which often gives the note a better tone than the regular fingering which is "undervented". In fact this fingering is often called the "ballad C". The only other RH trick I use is to add RH3 to high A to help bring the pitch down. "The Art of Saxophone Playing" by Larry Teal has a page titled: "Fingerings For Pitch Alteration" which contains a lot of useful information.

 

[turf3]

Don't forget practicing. One of the objectives of long tones and interval studies is to work at matching the timbre of notes (for example, the all open C# and the all closed D).

Some instruments (like Conn 12M) don't allow you to close right hand keys when playing C#.

 

[DryMartini]

Cool feed back so far.

Quick separate but related question. Any alternate fingering for palm key E that will help fill out the sound when you have to hold a whole note or longer in big band charts?

(other than front E)

 

[Dr G]

Cool feed back so far.

Quick separate but related question. Any alternate fingering for palm key E that will help fill out the sound when you have to hold a whole note or longer in big band charts?

(other than front E)

That is a note that should sing on a Ref 36. Check that the venting is correct. Air support and open throat are crucial.

 

[turf3]

Palm key E.

Front E.

Play as G# and add side E key.

These are the three fingerings I use.

 

[saxoclese]

Cool feed back so far.

Quick separate but related question. Any alternate fingering for palm key E that will help fill out the sound when you have to hold a whole note or longer in big band charts?

(other than front E)

An exercise that helped me to improve the palm key notes was to play octave slurs beginning on the note an octave below and doubling the speed of the air for the upper note. Of course more embouchure control is required when doing this. A common problem that some students exhibit which makes the palm key notes sound thin and pinched is "biting" or playing too high on the mouthpiece pitch. The solution is to open the teeth more and control the sound more by pushing in the corners.

 

[DryMartini]

An exercise that helped me to improve the palm key notes was to play octave slurs beginning on the note an octave below and doubling the speed of the air for the upper note. Of course more embouchure control is required when doing this. A common problem that some students exhibit which makes the palm key notes sound thin and pinched is "biting" or playing too high on the mouthpiece pitch. The solution is to open the teeth more and control the sound more by pushing in the corners.

Thanks I have a new mouthpiece that feels to have a smaller diameter in my mouth so I can see how the 'corners' can be part of the issue with this set up.

 

[DryMartini]

I will often add the RH to the "open" C#2 to give it a different timbre. I also sometimes use the "long C#" fingering which is low C# with the octave key to produce a note with the "color" that fits with the phrase. I have not tried adding the RH to a C2, but I will the next time I pick up my sax. Many players on slow tunes play C by fingering B and opening the middle side key which often gives the note a better tone than the regular fingering which is "undervented". In fact this fingering is often called the "ballad C". The only other RH trick I use is to add RH3 to high A to help bring the pitch down. "The Art of Saxophone Playing" by Larry Teal has a page titled: "Fingerings For Pitch Alteration" which contains a lot of useful information.

thanks great tips!!!

 

[Dr G]

If it is just the E that isn’t singing, check the venting. If the whole range from B on up is getting progressively thin, the work is on you. Start with long tones on the B, and stay on it until it sings. Take a breath, start on the B, get it ringing again, then go up to the C. Etc.

 

[DryMartini]

Palm key E.

Front E.

Play as G# and add side E key.

These are the three fingerings I use.

Hi Turf, just wondering what you mean by G# and side E key?

 

[SoulMate]

Cool feed back so far.

Quick separate but related question. Any alternate fingering for palm key E that will help fill out the sound when you have to hold a whole note or longer in big band charts?

(other than front E)

Yes. Play Eb with octave key and overblow. Because of the imperfect harmonic series, this overblown Eb will sound a high E.

 

[turf3]

Hi Turf, just wondering what you mean by G# and side E key?

Finger the ordinary G# (top of the staff). Then add the side E key. This will overblow nicely to a high E with a slightly different timbre and response than the usual front E.

 

[DryMartini]

Yes. Play Eb with octave key and overblow. Because of the imperfect harmonic series, this overblown Eb will sound a high E.

Wow never would have known this. Look forward to trying it today!

 

[DryMartini]

Finger the ordinary G# (top of the staff). Then add the side E key. This will overblow nicely to a high E with a slightly different timbre and response than the usual front E.

Cool I tried it yesterday but didn't get anything. I was not overblowing though.Will re-try today. THanks

 

[lydian]

Instead of learning a bunch of alternate fingerings, why not just practice the standard fingering until it sounds good?

 

[JL]

Cool I tried it yesterday but didn't get anything. I was not overblowing though.Will re-try today. THanks

Are you certain you're using the right fingering? It should speak as easily as the standard high E. No need to overblow it. All you are adding to the G# fingering is the side E key--the top right hand side key.

And it doesn't really even have a different timbre; it might be slightly fuller since more keys are closed.

p.s. I agree with mdavej; use the standard fingering and make it sound good. Alternate fingerings are generally used to shift the timbre, for special effects, or in a passage where the alternate fingering allows a smoother flow.

 

[John B]

I've Been playing tenor for 45 years I've never learned to finger overtones. Is there a Chart?

 

[Admitone]

I've Been playing tenor for 45 years I've never learned to finger overtones. Is there a Chart?

I'm sure there are many. Here's one from Mark Charette