I haven’t watched many Altissimo videos but this is the first I have seen which emphasizes the importance of overtones. I love the finger-wiggling example, making the point that tongue position is the ultimate guide.
Thank you, you always have great content for a newbie saxophone player. You're a saint for doing this for people like me who don't want a face-to-face teacher. I've made incredible progress thanks to your videos.
As a clarinet player for more than 40 years, I appreciate hearing a detailed description of how to plau alttissimo register, because compared to clarinet, I find ( as a comparatively inexperienced saxophonist ) that the basic two and a half octave range of the saxophone is comparatively limited (as opposed to almost 4 on clarinet ) . I intend to come back to this video when I feel more comfortable with the basic saxophone compass. I really appreciate learning about the subtle nuances of altissimo playing -- and you explain it so well. Thank you for helping to de-mystify this FASCINATING subject. I look forward to the time when I am adept enough at saxophone to play altissimo welll -- because then, the clarinet and saxophone will be more equal for me in terms of their playable range. a QUESTION : IS IT REALLY NECESSARY to approach overtones with ''bugle call" exercises using the fundamental fingering for a certain note? If so, how is that done? Do YOU have videos explaining this approach -- because if you do, I will be very happy to view them. Having never had formal tuition on saxophone, Your videos are GREAT!!! I love to consult them, and they are among my very favourites on You Tube, because I learn SO MUCH from you! You are an excellent teacher and I THANK YOU very much. P. S. Those altissimo notes sound astonishingly clear and true and focused when you play them!!! Of course, ANYTHING is easy when you know how to do it ( and have had a lot of PRACTICE ! ) Yours, Richard.
In high school band we were never told about altissimo so for me it's like learning to play all over again. I have learned in life the struggles getting to the finish are the most rewarding and the most fun than the finish. I found the alto sax is easier to play altissimo but what is next to impossible is having to literally count the notes from the last known note to find the top note, all in a quick scan! That's my problem. The tenor is harder but I find the high G fingering comes out as G# and G# fingering comes out as G. What a learning curve. lol
Yeah, I rarely read those notes. After F# those lines look crazy. On tenor, the fingerings are different. Especially the G. These are just for the alto.
Great video! Your G Altissimo fingering was a game changer for me in the past. Not really comfortable in the beginning, but once you learned it works always!! 😊😊😊😊
Yeah, a lot of them have a zillion fingerings and don't really make much sense. This one is just simple and to the point. These fingerings have worked on every alto that I've played.
Commenting because you welcome them. Interesting that you have 22k views but less than 100 comments here🤔 A lot of lurkers out there😉 As for altissimo notes, I am a total newbie with a cheapo-ish, but boss-sounding tenor sax, and I accidentally played a lot of accidental altissimos by biting a little too hard on the reed. The notes sounded great, and crystal clear, but weren't the notes i was shooting for with the fingering positions. I had originally gotten discouraged because i "missed" the note due to Emboucher, but at 6:56 in your vid here, you seem to be giving some wiggle room to finger position as long as you hit the right note, using Emboucher or whatever, and that thought is very liberating for me. Plus, I see some young experts on UA-cam making a lot of note changes without the full attendant finger position changes. It is going to be fun experimenting. Once I get more familiar with notes, finger position and Emboucher, my next step will be lessons, probably starting with online, and probably with your offerings.
Hi I'm from Nigeria I am an upcoming saxophonist Please I need tips if I'm using a mouthpiece for a long time; it's been two years. Does that affect the sound or me hitting high notes correctly. Thank you ❤❤❤😊😊😊.
Mouthpieces (the plastic/metal thing you blow into) generally do not wear out. Reeds (the cane thing you attach to the mouthpiece) need to be changed pretty regularly. The exact time depends on how often you play, but at least every month or two.
My first altissimo was G (pop fingering) I actually learned that after 3-4 month of playing, because I needed it for a song I was working on. The easiest for me is A, but I can play up to D (yesterday I got a D# a couple of times) My 12 year old kid actually got his first Altissimo yesterday, altissimo G. With the “wrong” fingering. But cannot get it with the correct fingering. But he has to go from F# to G to be able to get it. He cannot start off with the G So if anyone has any suggestions, we’re all ears
Most of the time you want a higher Tongue position, and you want to think about a “He” or “hiss” sound. And most of it is trial and error to see what works for you.
I think of altissimo D as the top note of my altissimo range, but using overtones, I can go much higher. I just feel like D is where the functional part of my altissimo part ends, and everything above that is note "on demand"
@@ScottPaddock yeah D is also my highest and l have no appetite to expand that range. I am trying to keep things even when it comes to the overall sound.
Scott, but what about the mouthpiece in altissimo? When I started experimenting with different 3-D printed ones and going for a darker sound, I noticed a big loss in those altissimo notes, either from the baffles or length of facings apparently. Why no mention of mouthpieces in altissimo I wonder? thanks!
Hey, some mps definitely make altissimo a little easier.... especially high baffle mps. However, in this video, I was referring to different fingerings, and how they weren't that important.
It's there, it just might look a little different. Sometimes it's a button looking key, other times it's a tear drop. It's the key directly above your B key.
On my soprano sax, I haven't really had any problems pulling out the altissimo notes except for that altissimo F#. It might be the reeds. I'm using Rico Royal 2.5. I used a Rico Royal 2.5 Bb clarinet reed once and the altissimo notes just wanted to sail out of my saxophone but, the narrowness of that reed hurt my lower lip so I stopped using it.
I have a hard time with altissimo on the soprano - it's much more natural on alto and tenor for me. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend using a clarinet reed on the sax. It's not quite wide enough.
@@ScottPaddock Scott, mine is an eBay purchased Chinese no-name horn. It was unplayable until I modified the plastic mouthpiece. It started playing well after I spent time re-regulating and setting all the linkages. The biggest change was when I took a soprano metal mouthpiece, turned it down shorter on a lathe and added a bit of a baffle with epoxy. Soprano reeds work great by cutting them short to fit the mouthpiece. I like to have the Nino around when playing alto as it eliminates transposition… so much easier than doubling on soprano. When I have to do some waiting around for my grandkids I find the Nino is handy for practicing in the car… I take it lots of places I would never risk schlepping my Selmer VI. The Soprano comes out when I will have an audience, the Nino is a bear to play in tune on A and higher above the staff. It has two palm keys… don’t miss having the F palm key! Soprano has nice tone throughout, Nino only in the lower register… perhaps more work on the mouthpiece might improve this!
That’s what those overtones are for. By being able to control those you learn the embouchure and throat voicing to be able to control those note. Or you could just brute force it. Just keep trying and eventually you’ll be able to. Make sure to rest your face though.
They do and don’t….. if you want consistency then you want to nail the fingerings but like he said the tongue position is key to voice the note. And if you understand overtones then you understand if you can’t voice the note then no fingering altissimo or not will not be right
For the altissimo notes make the sound "eeeeeeee" and that will put your tongue in the right position. Then experiment with moving it slightly forward and backwards to dial it in.
Thanks! Yeah, tonguing is one of the toughest things to teach because there are a few different concepts, everybody's tongue is a different shape, and you can't see inside your mouth. I've done a few videos on the subject on my UA-cam channel, check them out!
I haven’t watched many Altissimo videos but this is the first I have seen which emphasizes the importance of overtones. I love the finger-wiggling example, making the point that tongue position is the ultimate guide.
👅👍🎷
Thank you, you always have great content for a newbie saxophone player. You're a saint for doing this for people like me who don't want a face-to-face teacher. I've made incredible progress thanks to your videos.
I fully agree and couldn’t say better.
As a clarinet player for more than 40 years, I appreciate hearing a detailed description of how to plau alttissimo register, because compared to clarinet, I find ( as a comparatively inexperienced saxophonist ) that the basic two and a half octave range of the saxophone is comparatively limited (as opposed to almost 4 on clarinet ) .
I intend to come back to this video when I feel more comfortable with the basic saxophone compass.
I really appreciate learning about the subtle nuances of altissimo playing -- and you explain it so well. Thank you for helping to de-mystify this FASCINATING subject.
I look forward to the time when I am adept enough at saxophone to play altissimo welll -- because then, the clarinet and saxophone will be more equal for me in terms of their playable range. a
QUESTION : IS IT REALLY NECESSARY to approach overtones with ''bugle call" exercises using the fundamental fingering for a certain note? If so, how is that done? Do YOU have videos explaining this approach -- because if you do, I will be very happy to view them.
Having never had formal tuition on saxophone, Your videos are GREAT!!! I love to consult them, and they are among my very favourites on You Tube, because I learn SO MUCH from you! You are an excellent teacher and I THANK YOU very much.
P. S. Those altissimo notes sound astonishingly clear and true and focused when you play them!!! Of course, ANYTHING is easy when you know how to do it ( and have had a lot of PRACTICE ! )
Yours, Richard.
In high school band we were never told about altissimo so for me it's like learning to play all over again. I have learned in life the struggles getting to the finish are the most rewarding and the most fun than the finish. I found the alto sax is easier to play altissimo but what is next to impossible is having to literally count the notes from the last known note to find the top note, all in a quick scan! That's my problem. The tenor is harder but I find the high G fingering comes out as G# and G# fingering comes out as G. What a learning curve. lol
Yeah, I rarely read those notes. After F# those lines look crazy. On tenor, the fingerings are different. Especially the G. These are just for the alto.
Good video! My first one was G and A because the fingering I used it was easy to go back and forth
Great video! Your G Altissimo fingering was a game changer for me in the past. Not really comfortable in the beginning, but once you learned it works always!! 😊😊😊😊
Yeah, it's a super stable fingering, but takes a minute to get used to the crazy fingering 😵💫
Thank you for this lesson. It's very helpful with lots of practice.
Finally an altissimo chart where I can understand the fingering. Thanks Scott.
Yeah, a lot of them have a zillion fingerings and don't really make much sense. This one is just simple and to the point. These fingerings have worked on every alto that I've played.
Thank You ! Very helpful ! Tongue position,,YES ! So that has been my problem. (ok, one of my problems)
Great video!!!
Thanks!
Commenting because you welcome them. Interesting that you have 22k views but less than 100 comments here🤔 A lot of lurkers out there😉 As for altissimo notes, I am a total newbie with a cheapo-ish, but boss-sounding tenor sax, and I accidentally played a lot of accidental altissimos by biting a little too hard on the reed. The notes sounded great, and crystal clear, but weren't the notes i was shooting for with the fingering positions. I had originally gotten discouraged because i "missed" the note due to Emboucher, but at 6:56 in your vid here, you seem to be giving some wiggle room to finger position as long as you hit the right note, using Emboucher or whatever, and that thought is very liberating for me. Plus, I see some young experts on UA-cam making a lot of note changes without the full attendant finger position changes. It is going to be fun experimenting. Once I get more familiar with notes, finger position and Emboucher, my next step will be lessons, probably starting with online, and probably with your offerings.
Thank you so much for helping out
A brilliant video Scott; great content as ever. Cheers 🍻
Great lesson Scott. Thank you.
Scott can you set up a pdf of Altissimo for tenor sax an baritone? And thank you for the alto pdf ,🤝🙏❤
Thank you sir 🎉❤
Thanks😃
A BIG thanks
thanx scott 👍🏼
You're welcome!
Alto saxophone definitely
Thank you so much 🎉🎉🎉
Hi I'm from Nigeria
I am an upcoming saxophonist
Please I need tips if I'm using a mouthpiece for a long time; it's been two years. Does that affect the sound or me hitting high notes correctly. Thank you ❤❤❤😊😊😊.
Mouthpieces (the plastic/metal thing you blow into) generally do not wear out. Reeds (the cane thing you attach to the mouthpiece) need to be changed pretty regularly. The exact time depends on how often you play, but at least every month or two.
Tenor is easier. F# was my first altissimo note. Thanks for the video.
👍👍👍
My first altissimo was G (pop fingering) I actually learned that after 3-4 month of playing, because I needed it for a song I was working on. The easiest for me is A, but I can play up to D (yesterday I got a D# a couple of times)
My 12 year old kid actually got his first Altissimo yesterday, altissimo G. With the “wrong” fingering. But cannot get it with the correct fingering.
But he has to go from F# to G to be able to get it. He cannot start off with the G
So if anyone has any suggestions, we’re all ears
Thanks for the video, Scott. You talked a lot about using the correct tongue position, but you didn't describe what the correct position is.
Most of the time you want a higher Tongue position, and you want to think about a “He” or “hiss” sound. And most of it is trial and error to see what works for you.
Hi, Mister Paddock,
What is the highest note you use (altissimo wise) when you play?
I think of altissimo D as the top note of my altissimo range, but using overtones, I can go much higher. I just feel like D is where the functional part of my altissimo part ends, and everything above that is note "on demand"
@@ScottPaddock yeah D is also my highest and l have no appetite to expand that range. I am trying to keep things even when it comes to the overall sound.
Altissimo G was my first
Still working on altissimo Bb with low Bb fingering… feels close
Try the Bb fingering from this video, I bet it will pop out!
Why not not tenor fingerin chart?
Scott, but what about the mouthpiece in altissimo? When I started experimenting with different 3-D printed ones and going for a darker sound, I noticed a big loss in those altissimo notes, either from the baffles or length of facings apparently. Why no mention of mouthpieces in altissimo I wonder? thanks!
Hey, some mps definitely make altissimo a little easier.... especially high baffle mps. However, in this video, I was referring to different fingerings, and how they weren't that important.
Point taken Scott! On the other hand, isn't it worth mentioning that many types of MPs make Altissimo notes all but impossible? @@ScottPaddock
Thanks Scott - Top stuff. Appreciate all you do. Tenor is far easier to hit the notes than on Alto !!
A lot of my past students agree with you! I think it is the tongue position doesn't need to be as extreme on the tenor.
Hi. My saxophone does not have the last top key. Can I sing the notes in altissimo if it doesn't have that key?
It's there, it just might look a little different. Sometimes it's a button looking key, other times it's a tear drop. It's the key directly above your B key.
On my soprano sax, I haven't really had any problems pulling out the altissimo notes except for that altissimo F#. It might be the reeds. I'm using Rico Royal 2.5. I used a Rico Royal 2.5 Bb clarinet reed once and the altissimo notes just wanted to sail out of my saxophone but, the narrowness of that reed hurt my lower lip so I stopped using it.
it's not from the reed , you should fix the leaking
I have a hard time with altissimo on the soprano - it's much more natural on alto and tenor for me. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend using a clarinet reed on the sax. It's not quite wide enough.
I haven’t tried altissimo on my soprano or my nino. I really don’t feel the need for that …. Maybe I am too empathetic for the neighborhood canines!
@@terryhorlick9707 I'm with you! The soprano is already high enough! How do you like your soparnino? What make/model is it?
@@ScottPaddock Scott, mine is an eBay purchased Chinese no-name horn. It was unplayable until I modified the plastic mouthpiece. It started playing well after I spent time re-regulating and setting all the linkages. The biggest change was when I took a soprano metal mouthpiece, turned it down shorter on a lathe and added a bit of a baffle with epoxy. Soprano reeds work great by cutting them short to fit the mouthpiece.
I like to have the Nino around when playing alto as it eliminates transposition… so much easier than doubling on soprano.
When I have to do some waiting around for my grandkids I find the Nino is handy for practicing in the car… I take it lots of places I would never risk schlepping my Selmer VI.
The Soprano comes out when I will have an audience, the Nino is a bear to play in tune on A and higher above the staff. It has two palm keys… don’t miss having the F palm key! Soprano has nice tone throughout, Nino only in the lower register… perhaps more work on the mouthpiece might improve this!
How to be consistent on altissimo g? I got higher note when I'm playing altissimo g
That’s what those overtones are for. By being able to control those you learn the embouchure and throat voicing to be able to control those note. Or you could just brute force it. Just keep trying and eventually you’ll be able to. Make sure to rest your face though.
So far only played altissimo on tenor. First notes. C,c# D.
Oh wow! Starting up at the top. Most people hit the A or G first. Congrats!
@@ScottPaddock yeah. I can’t hit the notes below though. 😑
Lovely 😍
They do and don’t….. if you want consistency then you want to nail the fingerings but like he said the tongue position is key to voice the note. And if you understand overtones then you understand if you can’t voice the note then no fingering altissimo or not will not be right
Woooowww amazing 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks!!
Alto altissimo G and A
I think alto is far easier but my tenor tone is overall better when I’m wailing so….
Tenor F# was my first
Note So where should the tongue position be ?
On the roof of your mouth?
Thx leny
on the tip of the reed
For the altissimo notes make the sound "eeeeeeee" and that will put your tongue in the right position. Then experiment with moving it slightly forward and backwards to dial it in.
Thx Scott🎷✌️🪈😎
🍷🍷🎷🎼🎶🎶🎶🤙
Hey Paul! 🍺🍺🍺
@ScottPaddock I've been following you for years Scott. I'm from Chioggia in the province of Venice You are magyko 🍷🍷🎷🎼🎶🎶🎶💪🔥💗
Alto sax
Tenor was easier for me, f# was the first note I achieved.
Thanks, I’ve failed all altissimo above F# for over 50 years. Your videos seem to hint to me that maybe Earl Bostic wasn’t really super human!
I prefer alto sax
@cyberbusker Thank you Scott. Nobody explained as well as you to a Newbie like me 4 years in. The mysteries have been revealed. Now this tounge thing…
Thanks! Yeah, tonguing is one of the toughest things to teach because there are a few different concepts, everybody's tongue is a different shape, and you can't see inside your mouth. I've done a few videos on the subject on my UA-cam channel, check them out!
Tenor is easier to play in general than the alto
Alto is much easier