How to Play Altissimo on Saxophone (alto and tenor)

Рет қаралды 397,126

Күн бұрын

#bettersax #saxophone #saxophonelessons
Jay Metcalf gives a lesson on the trick that helps overcome barriers in playing altissimo so that you can play with consistency and confidence in the altissimo range.
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Пікірлер: 338

@ntxmt 6 жыл бұрын

BTW - The pentatonics patterns course is great. I'm going through it and really enjoying it. I like the cut to the chase method of getting to where I can play rockin' solos. Thanks bro. Well worth the price of the course.

@momijipress583 5 жыл бұрын

I played alto sax in high school band back in the '60s, and although I never had lessons, decades ago I stumbled across Sigurd Rascher's "Top Tones" book, but could never figure out how to do more than a couple overtones on the low Bb. From the '90s I slowly learned by trial and error in weekly church worship band rehearsals to do simple improv on alto and then tenor. Last year (at age 65), I found Jay's pentatonic courses, and committed to practice at least 15 minutes every day. I also took his advice on doing just a bit of overtone work in each practice session. After about three months, it just started to click and I started finding the altissimo notes. However, it's taken patience for a year to get to where I can now RELIABLY play all the altissimo notes on Jay's fingering chart and I'm getting close to actually using them live. It's basically the brain, the air flow, and the inner mouth muscles and tongue figuring out what they need to do to produce each note. For me, the proper positioning of the tongue along with that high intensity puff of air from the diaphragm to get the reed vibrating the overtone immediately is key. Practicing the overtones daily will help your body figure out what needs to happen for those higher tones. It's definitely NOT biting. And the correct hardness of the reed for the mouthpiece is also an important factor. Right now I'm having the most success on my tenor with a Vandoren V16 T7 mouthpiece and a Legere 2 1/4 reed. For daily altissimo practice, I love the consistency of the synthetic reed. So don't give up! You can crack the code!

@bettersax 5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you’re getting the reward for sticking with it over the long term.

@momijipress583 5 жыл бұрын

@@bettersax Thanks, Jay. Your courses, regular videos (you went the extra mile with that Rigotti reed video!), and the Anytune Pro+ app for slowed down repetitive rehearsals of challenging licks have revolutionized my practice time. It's taken months for me to learn your Amazing Grace improv tiny piece by tiny piece, but when I first heard it I said "I need to learn that!" Through that piece I've learned fingering habits to facilitate clean playing of faster licks that I wish I'd learned decades ago.

@xindorio7966 4 жыл бұрын

Im kind of knew to the saxophone scene but.im getting better a lot faster that expected. Do you think with your experience that I should go for a better mouthpiece

@PrinceSwaggy 6 жыл бұрын

I tried Altissimo G on Alto and I endeded up reaching a Altissimo C

@BfMoriturus 5 жыл бұрын

Well, you hit the next overtone series ;)

@Shark_and_Bait 5 жыл бұрын

Good job tho

@lewcus4318 4 жыл бұрын

Baritone Saxophone for bari I use the leak key as altissimo a🤣 I have a yanigasawa tho

@waterbiscuit9222 4 жыл бұрын

I did too, I think. it may have not been C, but I went higher than I should.

@isaiahd9947 4 жыл бұрын

I have a leaky pad that makes my altissimo G an altissimo B

@GeorgeSKLeong 3 жыл бұрын

This has to be one of the best tutorials on altissimo and the high G given here works like a charm on my alto. Thank you, Jay

@victorhwang2258 2 жыл бұрын

I hit altissimo G on the tenor for the first time while watching this video for the first time!!! Thank you so much for the insight! Been trying for over a year.

@gdoggcasey 5 жыл бұрын

I just got a sax yesterday and have been having so much fun learning. I have been soaking in so much info from so many different people, and they are all great. Your stuff seems to be on another level though. I already signed up for the beginner course and the crash course (got the pentatonic scale memorized and looking forward to the next video) and I can see myself getting really stuck in and getting better. Keep up the great work!

@robertzantay5923 Жыл бұрын

I’ve been playing saxophone for a long time maybe 50 years professionally, and I recently changed from a hard rubber to a metal mouthpiece and suddenly I can get all the Altissimo notes but I couldn’t connect them until I did what you suggested of learning the front keys as opposed to the Palm keys. This allowed me to immediately connect all the notes from high E to the C above that. Now I need to check out the more in tune fingerings. thank you so much, great stuff!

@bettersax Жыл бұрын

Great!

@MichaIsraelKovler 3 жыл бұрын

As always - an excellent tutorial on the subject! Finally starting to get those high notes. Thanks Jay, it really helps.

@1otisoti 5 жыл бұрын

I owe you a debt of gratitude for this,I`ve been pinching for 30 years,always knew it was not correct b/c the overtones weren't present...I practicing according to your instruction here...need to get the "plaid" out but it`s coming..thanks again man..

@JeremyLCrabtree 5 жыл бұрын

I realize I'm two years late to this party, but... The one thing I find very helpful, that you didn't mention, is being able to "audialize" the notes you want to play. That is, you should be able to hear, in your mind's ear, the notes you're trying to play. Even with the fingerings, altissimo notes don't just pop out. You have to know what the note should sound like, and be able to adjust your embouchure and throat to make it speak. The long tones help train your muscle memory to be able to reproduce it on demand. (disclaimer: I've played or ~29 years, but I'm still just an amateur)

@BrunoNeureiter 5 жыл бұрын

Did you mean audiate?

@amj.composer Жыл бұрын

@@BrunoNeureiter Listen to the pitch in your head. It's the MOST important thing when singing or playing a brass instrument, it's slightly less important on woodwinds, but since altissimo deals with harmonics you really wanna imagine the pitch in your head (or audiate).

@joseceraia Жыл бұрын

I completely agree " You have to think that note you want to play on the right pich ", just like with overtones.

@spontaneousgroovincombusti2902 3 жыл бұрын

Jay, you are a dear man with the heart of a true teacher.

@dniym-vw5mp 3 жыл бұрын

Me watching this a day before I even start playing tenor

@hello16yearsago43 2 жыл бұрын

Practice!

@JonathanTheTrombonist 2 жыл бұрын

I *might* get an alto sax this summer, but I don't even know

@mdiskandarabdulhamid4618 2 жыл бұрын

Lol same

@dniym-vw5mp 2 жыл бұрын

hey guys switched to bari this year 😗

@xxthe_rainxx7445 2 жыл бұрын

@@dniym-vw5mp that’s so cool! I’m happy that you stuck to saxophone (:

@venitaalexander3759 11 ай бұрын

I love your lessons, ever since I fell in love with the sax, I have followed your classes. Thank you for all your advice. 😊

@saxcowboy Жыл бұрын

Overtones help tremendously with throat position etc and pre hearing the tone helps as far as being in tune. Great lesson Jay!

@no-hd6db 5 жыл бұрын

*_Leo P Wants To Know Your Location_*

@kalebjames22 5 жыл бұрын

Yeet Inc. good one but he plays baritissimo

@Pbug323 5 жыл бұрын

Kaleb James it still was a good one

@aspartameonmycoat 5 жыл бұрын

I straight up came from the video of Leo P at the BBC proms

@ethanweber5182 4 жыл бұрын

Kaleb James you mean baritone? BarAtissimo is a subway sandwich

@carson3838 4 жыл бұрын

Bark Simpson it’s a joke

@MM-th4zu 6 жыл бұрын

Great lesson, thank you so much! 😀

@craigmmiller35 6 жыл бұрын

I have several of the Better Sax courses and practice them daily. These are some of, if not the best courses for building solid core skills. I consider myself an intermediate level player and I still get a ton of great workouts from the pentatonic and improv courses. So I have to believe the info in this video and on the the worksheet will be helpful as well.

@bettersax 6 жыл бұрын

+Craig Miller Thanks! great to hear from you.

@rudolphwouters9499 5 жыл бұрын

Wow, a whole new world opens up with these high E and high F fingerings, great. Thanks!

@travenmichaels7229 6 жыл бұрын

You are by far the most helpful instructor that I have found here on KZfaq so far. Thanks so much for your work and knowledge sharing, your videos help me immensely. I owe much of my duo's success to your digital mentorship! I'm starting to get my altissimo out thanks to this one! :)

@bettersax 6 жыл бұрын

+Traven Michaels That means a lot to me. It's very rewarding to hear feedback like that.

@instrumentalistjade8367 6 жыл бұрын

i agree... some videos tell its a piece of cake to do altissimo.. but no.. its hards

@grahamlyons8522 6 жыл бұрын

Traven: I agree.

@hdwscoot9884 3 жыл бұрын

You should try saxophone academy ( not saying Jay is bad he’s great)

@67randl Ай бұрын

Thank you for this video. I’m a professional clarinettist, needing to improve my sax skills for an upcoming show. Finally got the feeling in embouchure needed for altissimo after watching your tutorial 😊

@danfarmer7243 5 жыл бұрын

This is the best video on altissimo I have seen. Great work Jay!

@bettersax 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You Dan.

@georgekalowa7206 8 ай бұрын

The lessons have helped so much

@GGflute 4 жыл бұрын

I MUST TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD LESSONS! BEFOR,WNEN I WAS YUNGRE I PLAYED ON PIANO AND FLURE.WHEN I WAS 33 YEARS OLD I VE BAYED MY FIRST SAX B@S -GERMANY.AND I UNDERSTAND,THAT TENOR SOUND IS MY SOUND! AND I GO FOREWORD,TO BE BETTER DAY BY DAY! YOU ARE AN GOOD TEACHER!THANKS AGAIN!

@joshcharlat850 6 жыл бұрын

I'll be doing this soon. Thank you. Very clear.

@davidcohler2728 6 жыл бұрын

muchas gracias! me sirven mucho tus clases!! Excelente forma de enseñar!

@arielmcanulty9007 6 жыл бұрын

This was a big help! I am playing in Rocky Horror Picture and my parts on tenor are just filled with altissimo notes!

@TheDesertRat31 5 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel. This is a good lesson. I stumbled on this method. I wish I had figured it out earlier. Anyway, another key "trick" for me was finally figuring out how to get my throat position correct to speed up the air column for hitting the overtonez/altissimo notes. I found using the throat position you get when pronouncing the letter Q. Getting the back of your tounge high in the throat with the initial attack, then the lift in the tounge immediately after initiating the sound: "ke-yew." As opposed to saying the letter K. Same attack, but the back of your tounge drops for the "ay" sound. The air column slows down. Just like holding your thumb over the end of a garden hose, the tounge position in "Q" creates the restriction to speed up the air column. The front of your mouth stays open and allows for a good embouchure without pinching.

@Danjocross 11 ай бұрын

Wow. What a great video. I've struggled with these high notes for years! This video really simplified and clarified what I need to do differently! Thanks so much. I'll let you know how it works out for me.

@heonskemalandugladea139 7 күн бұрын

Many thanks for this video! It unlocked my alto saxophone for me!

@thomaskipfer1008 5 жыл бұрын

My State University Professor would not help with this lesson. It was up to me to develop this altissimo register on my own. Now, thanks to this short Vid... I can now get altissimo register. You're the rockin' guy! Tom K

@flintlong2937 2 жыл бұрын

Man, I'm loving this! Thanks, so much!

@prithvikumarnandakumar2386 4 жыл бұрын

Bro u r the best you have always helped me when I needed help and I play better every time I see ur vids thanks alot

@miguelvelez6883 4 жыл бұрын

I enjoy every lesson. Many other tutorials confuse me alot. Thanks for your patience I really value your expertise.

@Dizziesaxchick 4 жыл бұрын

This is such a great resource. Thank you.

@a.j.501st 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I have been getting out several altissimo notes on tenor quite consistently. But not G, though. So this will help. Thanks a lot.

@WalkOverHotCoal 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for the video. I especially appreciate the last tip, ie. to work on something else and be better at it first. Horse before the cart. However, this Altissimo bugger is driving me crazy. As soon as I drive past the F#, I hit the ceiling, and I wanted the G and G#. Various fingering charts I tried ended up with indifferent results. The reason is explained in this video. Because I am so attached to the Palm keys to hit the F#, to suddenly change all that finger positions for G and G# become a chaotic event. The author's suggestion to abandon the Palm keys and use the front keys makes much sense. It is a paradigm shift, but I believe it is a worthwhile investment.

@joaoribeiro7334 3 жыл бұрын

Front E - 2:44 Front F - 4:08 Front F# - 7:13 Front G - 9:42

@jadeyabo965 5 жыл бұрын

love you man!

@calendil 6 жыл бұрын

thank you!

@marcosavalente 2 жыл бұрын

Great!! Thank you so much.

@user-hd7vj8ed1o 5 жыл бұрын

Thx for the lesson, really helpful! I finally found m G:)

@ananasbrass 4 жыл бұрын

Я всё ещё ищу и ищу😱🤣

@leonardoll30 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this video. I've been playing alto saxophone for 3 years and a half. I bought a tenor and I think it's easier to play altissimo notes on alto than on tenor. Actually, the notes sound higher than the note I try to play. For exemple, when I try to play a G, I play Something much higher, as I'm playing my alto. :)

@peterz8008 4 жыл бұрын

Great video! Taught me the notes on alto sax.

@waterbiscuit9222 4 жыл бұрын

than you so much! I wanted to learn that, because reasons, and found this course, downloaded the pdf, and hit a high Bb, and I think c on accident with the g fingering. really helpful, earned you a sub.

@lisettestephanio6612 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very really help me you are the best mr jay

@davideiotti9725 16 күн бұрын

Thanks!

@Nottinghamkungfutaichi 2 жыл бұрын

Although I'm a total novice with Alto Sax you have a great way of explaining the methods, thanks

@estebanvenegas89 5 жыл бұрын

Ill work hard to just start with This :0 love ur vids :))

@MYFAVORITECHRISTMAS 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@alexandrinadelosmares5954 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, it helps me lots!!!

@PrinceSwaggy 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much I can hit double alt A's now

@ChaChaWillis 4 жыл бұрын

I think the main problem with altissimo is that many people try to get those altissimo notes out immediately after they learn high f and f#. They dont try to refine their tone with the high notes and make them sound clear and nice. All the points you made in your video are very solid and amazing. What I mentioned at the top is what I'm seeing with my high school

@jeffreyharrison4045 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jay!

@thierryroullier8401 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! depending on reed type that G is coming out unevenly. Practice makes perfect! thanks for all your trainings.

@MrTbill10 6 жыл бұрын

it works!

@Ionlylistentodevayuga 4 жыл бұрын

I just hit an altissimo g and c, thanks for the video!

@Fiscalwatchdog69 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much

@pigsterplays4721 10 ай бұрын

This helped so much I can play high f sharp consistently now and I'm getting close to playing g

@nolanerck4612 2 жыл бұрын

thanks, within a short amount of time I have achieved being able to hit e-f (sometimes f sharp and g) whenever and being able to get to a weird in between a and b flat through scale.

@olembajohnpaul3740 Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir

@paulchen6939 5 жыл бұрын

thanks a lot !!!

@paulrafferty4324 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@tsax4life940 4 жыл бұрын

Very helpful

@raseshgandhi6702 4 жыл бұрын

Very very lovely❤❤❤

@MildleySaxySaxGuy 2 жыл бұрын

i have a tenor and alto sax. i can get up to a G with ease on my tenor but on alto its harder for me. I can do it yes but its quite hefty to do. I also seriously cant get to a G# or above so this video certainly will help me improve. Thank you!

@esfahan1961 6 жыл бұрын

As usual a very helpful and well explained lesson Jay. Don't know how you managed to publish it in the middle of Thanksgiving celebrations. If that ain't called dedication, I don't know what it is :)

@bettersax 6 жыл бұрын

+Thierry Martin Thanks, I'm burning the candle at both ends!

@gerraldroycediang2353 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir. God bless 🙏

@joshcharlat850 4 жыл бұрын

For sure it is a project for down the road. I DO do the overtones because it seems very effective improving sound.

@charlasax Жыл бұрын

Love You , u are wonderful 🎷🎷🎶

@UWeKMayrIII 4 жыл бұрын

Make sure you add to these kind of explanatory videos that the keycombinations C/B/Bb and QF (opens just as far as when using high Fkey seperately) and the lowerhand combination to Bbkey are working properly. Any minor disfunctions in those combinations will hold you back in reaching a good result.

@ntxmt 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Jay. Thanks for the great lesson. How about putting up the score for your into lick? I really like it? On your website in the members are would be fine! thanks.

@imlacsina 5 жыл бұрын

hey man! thanks for the instructions. I'm trying to hit altissimo E using the f key but pressing down button #3 covers the top octave hole. I'm able to hit altissimo F# easily though. What do you think is the problem?

@raphaelsimard8053 3 жыл бұрын

ohhhh niceeeee!

@VideoNash 2 жыл бұрын

thanks

@SAMMYSAXMUSIC 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks :) My old horn has no F# key and this fingering combo works for the F# (severl do) but not the high G.

@dannynavarro1971 3 жыл бұрын

Don't know how long you have been doing youtube videos, but wished I would have had these videos prior to being a music school drop out. You're videos are awesome! Even though I don't play anymore, I watch and enjoy them.

@bettersax 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@jay7331 6 жыл бұрын

Is the octave key supposed to open on the neck when playing front E? I can get the front F but not front E.

@bettersax 6 жыл бұрын

No the octave key stays down when you use the third finger in the left hand (G)

@coffeewalker561 4 жыл бұрын

After watching this video I hit high G within 20 minutes, I highly recommend this video ❤️👍🏾

@angwer2940 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Great video....any chance you could provide the fingerings for C# up to E altissimo? Many thanks

@ricaard Жыл бұрын

I love playing D by fingering a G, and blowing to the next harmonic overtone. It's very reliable, and I love the sound.

@user-gb4bo2zy1f 4 жыл бұрын

hi. thanks for the information G. (by fingering) Better please tell me where you can find the fingering of 3 and 4 actors on the tenor saxophone. thank.

@Sasfoot 5 жыл бұрын

I tried so many techniques in my playing days almost 20 years ago and could never hit altissimo register notes. My main issue was difficulty hitting high E & F using alternate fingerings. I could only ever get them with the palm keys.

@Salty24 3 жыл бұрын

"Maybe work on Something Else" - That's a brilliant thought. Thank you.

@aidan4473 5 жыл бұрын

Does this work on soprano and Bari too? I’m also a tenor tho so this was very helpful

@samanthabajomo6427 8 ай бұрын

Hey I’m trying to download the worksheet but I’m having trouble navigating to the part of the website that has that, I’m currently on the page that has 8 quick altissimo tips and altissimo fingerings one which indeed has the fingerings but neither has the practice worksheets

@MrTexsax 6 жыл бұрын

That was great!

@bettersax 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@michaelszelwis8302 Жыл бұрын

Hi Jay, Thanks for the great video! Behind the download link you included at the end, there seems to be only a page with fingerings on it, but not a work sheet which you mention in your video. In there a chance to get this work sheet? Thanks in advance. BR, Michael

@billyroque7857 5 жыл бұрын

Lenny Pickett, anyone? Thank you for the lesson. Very informative.

@user-bw6jt4nu3i 6 ай бұрын

Hi Jay, my apologies, I tried 5 times to download the altissimo fingerings worksheet, either it wouldn't download or I can't find it. I did download and print succesfully the first time about two weeks ago, but this time I can't do it. Am I doing anything wrong? I have endless trouble succesfully downloading and printing anything on my computer. Any suggestions? Really like your videos. Thanks

@glenfordtanwing5085 4 жыл бұрын

Jay I need more understanding on the high front e fingering please help, thanks

@venicesky5428 5 жыл бұрын

I'm playing 1st alto on this tune called Roman Notes, and there's a part where it goes to an altissimo A. No matter what I do, I can never seem to get even close to an altissimo G/A. Hopefully this video will help!

@bradystewart6420 5 жыл бұрын

I have been working on altissimo for a while now. But for some reason can only play high E F and F# with the palm keys, but not with the front fingerings. Any tips?

@impractical1158 4 жыл бұрын

I don’t have any attachment keys on my saxophone which is a tenor but this would still work with the front fingerings you’ve shown? I’m going to have to experiment with that

@isaiahdray 4 жыл бұрын

everyone’s support in the comments convinced me to subscribe 🙌

@pauldavidson771 4 жыл бұрын

Old video, but I’ve been practicing overtones and recently managed to get up to Altissimo G! I can usually hit it without even building up to it, and J can tongue on the note or play long tones on it! I’ve been attempting higher notes like G# or A but i’ve really been struggling after G, he says G is a hard note to hit so I’m confused why I’m unable to hit G# or A. Anyone have any tips other than practicing more overtones?

@johnmicolaxamana5279 Жыл бұрын

For me it's also depends on the condition of your saxophone and what reeds are you using. Sometimes I hit the G in tenor but I don't know what is the A B but I know the C D E in 4th octave

@stephanbaschung8609 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, I've got a Tenorsax Selmer Mark VI (SerieNr. 164XXX), and the fingering doesn't work to play high G. I am familiar with sharp f, but I use the "Alto-fingering " on my tenorsax. Do you have any suggestions for me to try other fingerings? Thanks and many greetings from Switzerland!

@aprilmeek6540 4 ай бұрын

PLEASE Help. When I try to download your attachments, I get the fingering chart but can't get the exercises. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I love all your videos by the way. Thanks so much for helping us by sharing your expertise.

@abedinsubashi 5 жыл бұрын

What horn do you play? And also can you make a vid on the notes above G. I can play fine up to G but everything above that note is a mess

@elytraaaaa 4 жыл бұрын

I think it's a yanigasawa

@leonardkriekenbeek7346 3 жыл бұрын

Can I please ask, what make and model of saxophone are you playing? I ask only because I've wasted thousands on dud saxophones that are not altissimo friendly and I need to get one that is.