Saxophone Overtones
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2019
- 🎷🎷Free Saxophone Exercises: www.thesaxophoneacademy.com
Beginning exercises to begin the mastery of saxophone overtones. Dr. Wally shares free overtone exercises to begin laying the groundwork for more complex studies in future episodes. All exercises can be downloaded for free under the "resource" section of our website.
When you said you teach it different I said “they all say that”.
Next thing I’m able to play loads of overtones when I couldn’t before. Well played sir!
Hey! That's fantastic, congrats Marty! Super glad I could help!
Oh, I thought the whole "playing a middle Bb when I mean to play a low Bb" thing was just an accident. Turns out I'm actually a saxophone master!
In all seriousness, this video is amazing, and I'm looking forwards to practicing overtones (on purpose, this time) once I get my hands on a sax again.
Hey, wait until you figure out your squeaks were just altissimo! Good luck, and hit me up with questions, Pepperam!
Your technique of starting on the higher (middle) octave, then holding the note and changing the fingering to the low octave while maintaining the middle tone has been VERY helpful in playing overtones! Thanks a bazillion! I might actually be able to do a bugle call one year....
Niiiiiice!!!!
I have found practicing matching the overtone sounds with the sounds of the normal fingerings (trying to get the sound with the normal fingering to be as close as possible to the sound with the overtone, while adjusting the embouchure as little as possible between the two) to be very beneficial, and I use it routinely for warm-ups. It helps to find the best starting point for positioning your mouthpiece on the neck and in achieving an even sound through the registers. And it helps as a prelude to working your way into the altissimo as well.
This is excellent, Wally!
When you’re starting out, don’t worry about bringing the overtones in tune YET. The overtone Bb2 will be VERY sharp on most horns. Focus on getting them out with a gentle breath articulation. We’ll address intonation in a later episode!
By far the clearest explanations of overtones !!!! Many thanks
Excellent video...had to replay the start after I finished laughing obout the follicle stimulation and baldness cure. Thanks, amusing and very helpful.
You've changed my playing forever, thanks dr wally
yay! Glad it helped!
OMG!!!!!! I could always play my Low Bb Overtone with up to 2 octaves but the other ones like c and what you've demonstrated in this video I've never done so easily. You make this as simple as a walk in the park. thank you so much for this. Great lesson. I just started following you a few days now and I've been learning a lot by practicing what I've downloaded so far. Thanks, Doc.
Excellent! join our free fundamentals course - it's loaded with fun stuff, and free!
Brilliant lesson. I wish it was explained to me like this 40 years ago.
Thanks Kenneth! Happy holidays and happy practicing my friend!
I like this overtone video! Very helpful! Thanks! 😊
Glad it was helpful!
This is GREAT stuff ...super helpful, especially returning to low Bb and keeping a relaxed embouchure.
Much appreciated Ted! The older I get, the more time I spend on low Bb!
awesome Dr Wallace, got all of them out in this video. 3rd time watching it. really helpful. doing a great job buddy. I will definitely be getting you a large coffee after payday.
So glad you're finding success, James! No coffee necessary, just go annoy your neighbors!
While I had trouble getting to the Bb 3rd overtone (or whichever was the F one) this excercise helped me find it, and now I can do all four. Thank you!
Excellent! Keep at it Corphs! Let me know if you have questions!
👍
Excelente class!
Many thanks!
A partial success; I laughed a lot. Thank you
Congratulations on being on of 3 people who got the joke, and likely the ONLY person who laughed! (and thanks). Happy practicing!
Thank you!
You are absolutely welcome, hit me up with questions!
Thank you so much! I’ve struggled so much with that stupid Bb3 and i finally squeaked it out
Thanks Dr Wally! I just started this exercise today and it sounds instantly nicer to have a melodic approach like yours. I have been trying to get to the third Bb overtone for a few weeks now but I find it very elusive. It often sounds like it's almost getting out but it's merged with another note. I very rarely manage to get it out but still have to figure out how. 😂
good stuff doc!
Appreciate it!
I found this to be very detailed. I gave up with overtones once I was able to get all the way to F from the Bb but I think I'm going to work on getting up to Bb 3.
I love overtones. My wife...not so much...
perfect 👍
Doc - I had always believed a badly (or even goodly) played bagpipe to be the most offensive sound known to the human ear however the torture that is my interpretation of your overtone exercise has led me to a rethink.
On a related note, my wife and children say they would dearly like to meet up with you in person to express their appreciation; I suspect their motivations are not well intentioned and would not involve such niceties as the purchase of coffee - on the plus side, such an encounter may lead to your having an improved altissimo range.
Jardov, I actually read this out loud to my wife. After she finished laughing, she said....."yup." She feels your family's pain.
4 years late to the video but HUZZAAHH!!!!!
I find B flat 3 very easy to hit, but B flat 2 quite a lot harder for some reason
Hi Wally, thanks for this! I finally achieved my Bb2 overtone while fingering low Bb today. :-) It is not consistent: I switch between Bb2 and fingering low Bb, and sometimes I get the overtone; most times I don't. But that's a start! I also find I tense up a lot. Stretching both pinkies to finger the low Bb causes my wrists and forearms to tense, and I can feel my embouchure tensing aswell, but hopefully with more practice and focus these will relax.
Hey Chris! When you DON’T get the overtone - what comes out? Lob Bb or a higher overtone?
I get the Low Bb
Ah! Try raising the back of your tongue - as if you were raising the pitch while whistling. Also, increase air velocity!
@@drwallysax Hi Wally - ok, that is a little more consistent - but often now when I blow middle Bb, then finger Low Bb, I get the F above middle Bb.
Good! Now, hold the f2 and see if you can slur it down (as an overtime) to Bb2! Experiment with slightly lower tongue position.
Hah, this is so much better for practising overtones than the usual honk up and down, half the time missing the note you're hitting and making horrible squealing noises in the process.
Gave the overtone scale a whirl today (I struggle with D3 from a low Bb so been looking for ways to improve) and had a full octave scale on first try without any squeaks, squeals, squawks. Thanks for this! My neighbours especially will be happy I imagine.... Now to get up to that D3 and beyond.
Awesome
Finger fundamental note
B flat
Then go low b flat
Hi Dr. Wallace, I was wondering if you have a specific method you use to practice bebop articulation, and also what you're thinking when you decide to use one articulation pattern instead of another, thanks!
Hey Sequoyah, I'm working on a video, hopefully in the next few weeks that will address this. Hope you're doing well and Happy Practicing!
Question Sir. At the moment I start every practice session by doing long-tones going from low Bb to palm F. Would it be better for me to only do halp the long tones (so lower register one practice, higher the next, etc) and use the saved time to practice overtones, or should I keep my full long tone exersice as well as adding overtoned to my practice?
On the same subject, do you have any resources that could help me plan out my practice sessions better, so they are more well rounded rather than my current stratagy (long tones -> Scales -> melody #1 -> melody #2)?
Yowzer ! Thanks Doc...
You bet!
Great video! I noticed you pressed the left had Db key to achieve the high A at 4:40 into the video. Can you explain this?
Excellent question - and good observation. Experiment on your horn - but in general - overtones on D1 are horribly unstable and out of tune (which is why I don't use it past A2). So for A2, on most horns, it raises the intonation to acceptable levels. Make sense?
Im a sophmore and thinking about doing this. Right now can do overtones until 4th line c.
Excellent, keep at it!
Huzaaaaaaa🎉 thank you😊
yay!
Hello, Dr. Wally! One question: why do you open the low c# key for A2 overtone? Is it more easy to get out it than only with low D without c#, or it's for better intonation? Thank you and excuse me for my bad eanglish...
Better intonation, that overtone is quite flat on most horns. Come to think of it, it does help with response as well. Great Question!
@@drwallysax Ok, master! The next step would be another octave: C3 with low C, D3 with low Bb, Eb3 with low B natural(?), F3 with low Bb, G3 with low C, A3 with low B natural (or low D ?, the 7th overtone is very flat...) and Bb3 with low Bb. That's right? Thanks!
Hey Wally, I notice you have a turntable in the background, I’m thinking of getting one what model do you have?
It's the entry level Rega. RP1 I think?
Hello
I have little problems my tongue is not coming down
But I try to slur.
Start from Bb to Bb try this one slowly.
wall your great from low Bb how many overtons are there and what are the notes
Hey Tommy, That's a long discussion - I'd recommend Rascher's "Top Tones" or at least google "overtone series." If you have specific questions after that - I'd be happy to help!
I guess, In one of your videos you refer to clarinet as "torture stick", well, it seems that you never tried flute ...I got anxiety, almost quit music, loss hair, until I tried saxophone, thanks God I found saxophone in my life 😅
partial...nice bro
My doctoral minor was Dad jokes. I graduated with honors.
@@drwallysax you are great !!!
Oh. So this is what I was doing when I found I didn't actually have to hit the back key to get the higher nots.
I played clarinet in high school band, so a friend gave me his old saxophone, and I tried to played it. With my clarinet, when this happened, it seemed to be a mistake.
Also, I just now learned that altissimo is the register above the second register. What are the names of the low and second register?
Damn, I never knew what overtones were, turns out, it‘s the things I do accidentally when I forget to hit the octave key, very good tutorial
Hey, happy accidents are still happy!
How to do all the overtones outside the note lines ... ?
I hope someone has tips but I am trying to sound out the first overtone, but i keep playing the second, the F. And well if someone has a tip or idea why that is it would be helpful. Thanks a lot and im working my way with it
The exercise zero and the overtone study are really changing my embouchure. However, when I use my alto the low tones come easy and it becomes difficult when I approach the high tones. It is opposite when I use my tenor - here the high tones are more easy than the low tones. What should I look for - embouchure problem or reed adjustment problem?
Hi Kent, unfortunately, I just can't be sure without hearing you play!
@@drwallysax SOLVED! It was all about voicing - which I never understood before I saw your instructions regarding exercise zero and overtone study. Thankyou, Dr. Wallace!
shazaam. I did it, well sort of.
Yay!!!! Let's shoot for a Huzzahh now!
Hello. Saxplayer from Norway. When you play the first overtone it is sharper. Should it stay the same pitch or is it ok if it goes sharper?
Great question! When you’re first starting out, just let it sound naturally (depending on horn, it can be wildly out of tune, that’s normal). Later, it’s a useful exercise to “voice” it in tune. We’ll cover that in a later video.
@@drwallysax Okey thank you very much! I Love that its possible to talk with you so fast!
ptkul123 Voi Happy to help. Please send some Scandinavian weather this way, we’re roasting down here!
How do I download further fingerings for the overtones
Left thumb? On? Off? I keep it off for OT exercises. What do you suggest? Thank you 🙏
Great question, keep the octave off!
Question, is it usual for the F to be significantly easier to get out than the Bb2? Because thats how it is for me
Huzzaaa
Heck yah, Tobi!!!!!
Hello. Is it ok if my new Selmer Soloist "E" for tenor is much harder for altissimo ?
Hey Nicky, should be fine!
@@drwallysax Ok, thanks. That's good to know. I guess I will get acquainted with it...
Huzzah!!
Wooooo! Belated contrats - keep it up Johnny!
Having trouble getting to high Bb on tenor. Any suggestions with oral cavity?
Try a "kee" or "kha" syllable - tongue high. Are you able to overshoot the Bb and slur down to it? For instance - hit the D or F above and then go down?
@@drwallysax Yes, sometimes I hit a super high overtone. Deliberately not buying though
@@jeromeking6001 Excellent (I assume "biting" was autocorrected to buying in your comment?). If you overshoot - slur down - relax your embouchure and move your tongue down until you get the next partial down. Then hold - and remember the tongue position. Playing the note on a piano/keyboard can help for reference. Great question - good luck and keep me updated!
My overtones are starting to come out a little better, but when I try to slur from the octave overtone down to the fundamental, it sounds like a walrus mating. Are there any hints to getting that slur to happen more smoothly?
Bruce, Walrus numbers are dropping annually. It's your duty to help in the mating ritual. Let's keep the wildlife numbers strong!
(or, try relaxing the embouchure - and opening the oral cavity a bit).
@@drwallysax OK, but does that advice pertain to overtones, or walruses? :-0
Hey, is that a Yamaha Yas 32 ?
It’s an 875EX with the lacquer removed. Neck is an older M1, gold plated.
Hazzah!!! Bb 3
HECK YES DAVID!!!! Congrats my friend!!!
I have been practicing overtones for a while but I can never get Bb3 any tips to help?
Hi Jack - couple of questions - can you get higher, but not that overtone specifically? And we are talking the 3rd overtone of low Bb, right? Can you overshoot it?
Yes, the third overtone of low Bb.I can overshoot it and get altissimo notes when I move my tongue to an ew position but when I try to play Bb3 I get an F.
@@jacktilley9849 Ah! Well, first, you're doing very well! Try slurring down from any note above. Many times my students can hit the partial above and slur down. Then hold it, pause, and re-attack with a gentle breath articulation.
Also, experiment with different vowel shapes. For that overtone, try your tongue in the position when you say "air."
Afraid I dont have a great shortcut, but experiment and be patient!
@@drwallysax I will try this thank you for the help!
hazzzzarrrr !!!!!!
YES, get it James!!!!!
Your horn is Yamaha 62 without lacquer?
Huzzah!
Yes!!!!!!! Congrats Rafael!
Where do you get your hair...
Raccoon died next to my driveway. Couple minutes with a hot glue gun and bingo: my hairdo.
I'm struggling to get my small finger to reach the Bb note...
Hey there! Afraid I can't help much with that over the internet - but please don't over do it and strain your finger!
@@drwallysax Thanks so much Dr.
I'll do my best
I had the same problem with my small hands. What I did was to add some felt and cork to the underside of the B flat and B keys and levers to remove all the slack in the key movement so that almost as soon as I touched the B flat key, the pad began to close. Less travel in the mechanism made the for less work to close the pads. I no longer had to throw my left shoulder out of joint to get the mechanism to function properly. Also check to ensure that the pads are closing uniformly on the tone hole. This should remove the "gorilla grip" some of us face. Your welcome.
Huzzzaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
Well done Daniel! Now take a break and have a snack!
Saxophone Academy Done!
Huzzah...
Hey, congrats Joshua! Keep it up my friend!
Yowza!!!!!!!! 🤓
Haza!!!
Yes!!! Keep it up Stephen!
I can only play a high F (even F sharp) or even once a high B flat, when trying to play the low B flat overtone, but never a middle B flat like instructed in the video I am so confused, sometimes it even plays both F and low B flat at the same time but never middle and low B flat 😢
I mean when I start low B flat it sounds like middle B flat for a fraction of a second then Bam it turns into F
I can do overtone naturally for all the other notes up to middle B sharp playing high B sharp but not low B flat...
huzzaaahhh!! but i still can't hold my D overtone long enough. any advice?
Anyone else remind Wally of Penn (from Penn & Teller)?
I tried to grow a ponytail in college, just turned into a huge blond fro.
This gentleman looks like he taught saxophone to the whole Royal Family
I dress for the occasion, but I'm a saxophone teacher for the people!
HAAAZHA!!!!
Whoooo! Keep up the good work Zach!
This isn’t something you can do in a day, me who gets it in 25 minutes completely new to it
Edit: laughs in saxophone language
Huzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
Overtone powers goooooooooooo!!!!!!
Voodoo.....
who do?
I thought I would understand....I still have no clue what overtone is.
that's a rather long discussion. I teach the exercises, but don't really have the patience for long explanation of the science kind of videos. Short answer - they are a tool to learn voicing, or how we shape our oral cavity.
@Selmer Reference54 I am with you. I have no idea either. Tried to google what we are supposed to learn but that confused me even more. Methinks the problem is no music theory in my history. You and I will go sit in the corner until the next video. :-D
@@theomarais8920 the physics of sound waves can be very complex... but an octave (Bb2 up to the Bb3) is like splitting a note into two (like a guitar harmonic at the 12th fret...both are Es (yet one is 12 semitones above) ie one is vibrating at twice the rate...yet they ring together etc).. well... overtones are fractions of tones..split a sound wave .. 1/3 1/5 etc.. ..ringing against a fundamental tone.. if you blow a harmonica (all those tones (reeds ) wavering at once) some of these tones are less heard (some are heard more ) above and below any note... simplified as.....fundamental tone...sub-tone..over-tone etc..maybe like all the colours of the rainbow (in one note) yet one is mostly hearing the blue... its a wave spectrum thing... like a hall of mirrors... but of vibrations...its fascinating... its not really just theory..... its how things vibrate ( as waves) .. at what rate... in relation to their neigbors rates....those waves are all vibrating.. at different rates... top to bottom of horn.. I hope that gets you started ?
@@bluegoose555 Starting to look for the exit. . .:-D I get what you are saying, yes. Thanks
Jokes on you, i play Bb2 when i mean to play low Bb on accident
Help I'm very bad lol
First step of being a legend is being bad. Keep at it ;)
LOL
Don't do that, I like it.
I need a refund...weeks of overtone practice but still no new hair growth!!
I put the "FUN" in No ReFUNds
Huzzah!!!
Huzzah!
Congrats KennyD!
Thank you 😁