Altissimo without a "barrier"

3018 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by hakukani, May 27, 2007

ste1390

Discussion Starter · May 25, 2007

I just started working on my Altissimo register in February and the first book I bought after much advise was Rascher's Top Tones. This book sort of pioneered the Altissimo register and has helped many a player learn and facilitate it. After a while though I began to notice some differences. For instance Rascher's Saxophone didn't have a front F or a Palm F or a high F# key, which most modern professional saxes have. I also noticed how many players especially the ones on this forum who worked out of Rascher's book always hit some sort of Barrier. Don't get me wrong I love Top Tones. IMO though I have found a more efficient book Robert Luckey's "Altissimo For the Contemporary Player." IMO this book has been great with no barrier to speak of, and unlike Top Tones it gives varied exercises for overtones not just one.

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JCBigler

· #2 · May 25, 2007

You might also check out Eugene Rouseau's Hi Tones. That's what I used to learn altissimo, and I have never really encountered a barrier.

bfoster64

· #3 · May 26, 2007

ste1390 said:
IMO though I have found a more efficient book Robert Luckey's "Altissimo For the Contemporary Player." IMO this book has been great with no barrier to speak of, and unlike Top Tones it gives varied exercises for overtones not just one.

Sweet. I just ordered it.

awholley

· #4 · May 26, 2007

Rascher's sax did too have a front F!

Glad you found a book that worked for you. I used Top Tones but also made up my own overtone exercises. Bugle calls are great too. I have no idea what you mean by a barrier, though.

As for the high F# key, I rarely use it. There are very few times getting my hands that far out of position is actually worthwhile.

hakukani

· #5 · May 26, 2007 (Edited)

My yamaha sop does not have a front F, and I can play up to C4, with difficulty, up to A3 easily. You don't REALLY have to have it to play altissimo--but it's nice.

edit: changed C3 to C4---the one above A3

Little Sax

· #6 · May 26, 2007

hakukani said:
My yamaha sop does not have a front F, and I can play up to C3, with difficulty, up to A3 easily. You don't REALLY have to have it to play altissimo--but it's nice.

....do you mean C4?

littlemanbighorn

· #7 · May 26, 2007

Little Sax said:
....do you mean C4?

Yeah. C3 would be that one with the middle finger of your left hand and the note-maker-higher-button that you press with your left thumb.

ste1390

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 26, 2007

I apologize. I made a mistake. Rascher's sax did have a front F.

hakukani

· #9 · May 26, 2007

Wow, I just learned something...the 4 on the keyboard is right next to the 3

I did indeed mean C4.

CountSpatula

· #10 · May 26, 2007

Hopefully the 4 is not next to the 5 too! You might be my hero

blindside398

· #11 · May 26, 2007

Did you guys know the 9 is next to 8? AND 0!

CountSpatula

· #12 · May 26, 2007

C9 is nothin, I'd play it for you but your human ears cannot possibly have the power to hear it

jazzbluescat

· #13 · May 27, 2007

Ok, what comes after 9?

hakukani

· #14 · May 27, 2007

Ya know, a friend of mine told me their were 10 kinds of people. Those that could handle binary and those that couldn't.

Not sure what that has to do with altissimo..

CountSpatula

· #15 · May 27, 2007

Me either *blink*

hakukani

· #16 · May 27, 2007

CountSpatula said:
Me either *blink*

The school psychologist told me that I operate in the 'random/abstract' cognitive domain. That's why my desk is messy?!?

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