[patseguin]

As some of you may already know, I've recently picked up tenor after playing alto for a long time. I can't get a single altissimo note to come out, not even an F# ( I can get F# with the F# key). I'm mainly working on trying to get a G3 right now. Once in a while I can sort of hear it but lose it. I've tried playing up to it in octaves but I just can't get it. Can anyone recommend some exercises to get those notes to come. I can easily get the notes on alto and my teacher says altissimo on tenor is even easier. I'm using a 2-1/2 V16 on a Guardala Studio. Don't anybody tell me to use a stiffer reed either, that tip opening is huge!

 

[Pete Thomas]

G is the hardest note I think, especially trying to get to it from an octave lower. I'd go for a D or A first then works towards the harder ones like G. And don't use a stiffer reed.

Some altissimo fingerings charts on my site for alto and tenor, on most horns the tenor fingerings vary on some notes from the alto.

 

[Wonder woman]

Overtones, overtones, and more overtones. As someone who frequently goes between horns, I find that practicing overtones before I play gets my voicing in the right place (even for just getting non-altissimo notes to come out).
The voicing, the altissimo, the main notes on the body of the horn just feel different on tenor than they do on alto. Personally I find that altissimo on tenor actually needs me to open my throat more and keep my tongue low in my mouth, where as on alto, I feel that my tongue needs to be more arched and closer to the roof of my mouth.
And I agree that G is a hard note to get out, but try many different fingerings (the one that worked best for me and my horn was the 5th fingering I tried out).

Just keep in mind that alto and tenor are two very different beasts....

 

[patseguin]

Just to clarify, overtones and altissimo are terms for the same thing, right? Last night, my teacher did tell me to try an A and it did come out easier. I wasn't really aware that alto and tenor fingerings would be different. How should I work on the higher notes if I am going to start on those. Maybe play chords starting low and work up to the note I want. Or maybe scale up to it? I've been working on the Bob Berg tune "Friday Night at the Cadillac Club" and it goes up to high G and A and it sure would be nice to get those on tenor.

 

[thejoyofsax]

I think Wonder Woman is referring to the overtone series, which you can play on a saxophone by starting on a low note like Bb, B, C, C#, D, and higher if you become good at it, and voicing the notes out but leaving the fingering the same. That is, by leaving Bb down you can coach Bb an octave up, then F, then Bb again (2 octaves up now), then D, F, Ab, Bb ... this resembles the basic operation of a brass instrument. A visual of the overtone or "harmonic" series is on Wiki here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_series_(music)

It's a good exercise to train your ear, throat, and mouth to make better voicing choices especially when altissimo is concerned.

My advice would be to start with playing long tones in the altiss. register once you find solid fingerings for the notes you're unsure of. Make sure they're in tune and reliable. If you eventually scale up to them make that scale chromatic to get used to switching between the potentially complex fingerings.

FWIW, my most reliable G fingering on tenor is 1 & 3 in the left and 3 in the right, octave key of course.

 

[maestroelite]

I use the scrunch fingering sometimes on tenor, the fingering joyofsax mentioned isn't close to in tune on my horn. Its LH 1, RH 1, side Bb and high F# key. Usually comes out easier than the other altissimo fingerings for G, it got me started on G and after I got used to hearing the sound the other fingerings opened up for me.

 

[patseguin]

Excellent tips and thanks for the clarification thejoyofsax. I will definitely work on the overtone series. I can do that easily on alto, now tenor is the next one I guess.

Use the same G fingering as you on alto. I assume I should be able to get it on tenor as well. I think part of the dilemna is now working on a Bb instrument and not quite hearing the note like I can on Eb.

 

[Grumps]

Try blowing an altissimo F#3 (without the F# key) with octave, front F, right hand 1 (F) and side Bb. Then let go of right hand 1 (F) to get G3. Fingerings won't do you any good if you don't know how to blow it though. You want to squeeze the air by raising your tongue more towards the roof of your mouth. And most importanly, quit using that F# key on tenor if you'd like to advance up and beyond said note.

 

[thejoyofsax]

Excellent tips and thanks for the clarification thejoyofsax. I will definitely work on the overtone series. I can do that easily on alto, now tenor is the next one I guess.

Use the same G fingering as you on alto. I assume I should be able to get it on tenor as well. I think part of the dilemna is now working on a Bb instrument and not quite hearing the note like I can on Eb.

Also, if you aren't familiar, this site is an excellent resource with a plethora of user-contributed fingerings for the altissimo range:

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/sax/

 

[patseguin]

Try blowing an altissimo F#3 (without the F# key) with octave, front F, right hand 1 (F) and side Bb. Then let go of right hand 1 (F) to get G3. Fingerings won't do you any good if you don't know how to blow it though. You want to squeeze the air by raising your tongue more towards the roof of your mouth. And most importanly, quit using that F# key on tenor if you'd like to advance up and beyond said note.

Thanks, I'll try that fingering. Yeah, I'm trying to get away from the F# key altogether. In fact I almost special ordered an unlacquered Z without the F# but this horn played too darned good.

 

[patseguin]

OK, I went home at lunch and tried that fingering. The F# with front F, right hand F, and side Bb works OK. Letting go of right F does absolutely nothing though. You're saying front F and side Bb should produce a G?

 

[Pete Thomas]

OK, I went home at lunch and tried that fingering. The F# with front F, right hand F, and side Bb works OK. Letting go of right F does absolutely nothing though. You're saying front F and side Bb should produce a G?

Are you sure you're not just fingering F and adding the side Bb?

I can't play a G like that, I need to play the front F (1st finger LH) but WITHOUT the 2nd finger LH on the C key. And add the side Bb.

 

[Grumps]

You're saying front F and side Bb should produce a G?

It does for me on every tenor (and alto) I own, along with the octave, of course. Add side C and you'll get G#3. Might want to squeeze the air a bit more (voicing it up) when letting go of the right hand 1 (F) key to go from F#3 to G3.

 

[hakukani]

For those of you that practice overtones, here's a question. How many overtones do you go? With low Bb as 1, do you go to 8? 12? higher?

 

[playitfunky]

I agree that G3 is one of the harder notes.

 

[maestroelite]

Front F and side Bb gives me F#, not G, but that's just me.

 

[hakukani]

Front F and side Bb gives me F#, not G, but that's just me.

On tenor?

 

[patseguin]

That's what I get with that combo, F#. Trying to get that G is REALLY frustrating, especially when I get it very easily on alto (with 1 & 3 on left 3 on right). All I can do is squeak and it sounds like I don't know how the heck to play.

 

[hakukani]

That's what I get with that combo, F#. Trying to get that G is REALLY frustrating, especially when I get it very easily on alto (with 1 & 3 on left 3 on right). All I can do is squeak and it sounds like I don't know how the heck to play.

Try overblowing B3. That should get a G on tenor.

 

[NIMOGT]

the easiest for me is B and High F# key to get G3, while another good fingering is Front F (no second key, just the "fork" itself) and the side Bb. Overblowing B3 is also good, but you sort of have to get G3 the other ways before it works. Don't worry 2.5s are fine (I use 2.5s on a Link 7*). Someone siad the the High F# is not a good idea to help develop altissimo, why?
"And most importanly, quit using that F# key on tenor if you'd like to advance up and beyond said note."-Grumps
I only use the high F# for G3, while the other fingerings i use don't require it at all(can get to C3 incase you are wondering). I am guessing some people rely on the high F# to get other notes as well which is why it wouldn't be the best idea, but I am not sure