[GaryTheSaxman]

Does anyone have any tips on getting past F# an octave past high F on alto?! I can sometimes hit G but not consistently. There is a classical piece that I would like to play, it goes up to a Bb(7). My goal is to play to a C(7) or higher.

 

[ROC]

Sounds like you need a soprano 😊
That’s the only easy answer. Everything else is practice practice practice.

FWIW I’ve never gone that high either, but I never had the desire to

 

[theneighbordubh]

Try A first. Do you have a high F# key? Fingerings that actually work vary from horn to horn, I use a book of finger charts. It saves a whole bunch of trial and error time, but not all.

It's like a chicken and egg thing, you have to hear it in your head first, but it's hard to know exactly what it sounds like without playing it.

 

[Ixthusdan]

I am on tenor, but alto should do this easier. Get overtones on the palm keys and the octave. It will get you up there.

 

[10mfan]

Gary, get in touch with SimonJazzSax here on SOTW. He is working on a book of Altissimo fingerings and I bet he would help you out.

 

[Grumps]

G4: Octave, front F, LH 2

 

[rzzzzz]

Careful, or Ed Sullivan won’t invite you back for another show. (So old, it’s got whiskers on it.)

 

[Fader]

G4: Octave, front F, LH 2

Or: Octave front F, Left pinky G#

 

[noelpaz]

Does anyone have any tips on getting past F# an octave past high F on alto?! I can sometimes hit G but not consistently. There is a classical piece that I would like to play, it goes up to a Bb(7). My goal is to play to a C(7) or higher.

Just to clarify. If you only get to C(7) you are still a few notes away from Bb (7) - We always start the octave numbering from C. I think you meant C(8)/ I use this . He has all possible combos I think . Lower Altissimo - Alternate Fingering Chart for Saxophone - The Woodwind Fingering Guide

What piece is this? You are targeting 1 1/2 octave above high F correct? I find alto is harder than tenor and soprano even more. I can comfortably get to D and sometimes E above F is all I can do and probably need to.

 

[GaryTheSaxman]

Just to clarify. If you only get to C(7) you are still a few notes away from Bb (7) - We always start the octave numbering from C. I think you meant C(8)/ I use this . He has all possible combos I think . Lower Altissimo - Alternate Fingering Chart for Saxophone - The Woodwind Fingering Guide

What piece is this? You are targeting 1 1/2 octave above high F correct? I find alto is harder than tenor and soprano even more. I can comfortably get to D and sometimes E above F is all I can do and probably need to.

Thank you, that fingering chart is great! And yes I meant C8, the piece is Amy Beach's Romance; however, I might transpose it to a different key to fit the instrument better.

Here's a link to a great recording of the piece if you're interested in listening: