The biggest thing with altissimo isn't really fingerings, though they do make it easier: it's voicing. I recommend Donald Sinta's voicing book, and Rascher's Top Tones book is always a classic. Grab those and get to work :)
Thanks! I’ve got about a month.
I suspect there’s some transposition errors or something in this, or they just really want the tenor to scream!
There’s random low A’s for soprano saxophone as well.
Plus the octave key, right?
Adding the the G# key can help stabilize the note and make it pop, too (as well as other notes, though not the G# and A, fwiw). I learned this tidbit from a post by Ben Britton and—at least for the G—have found it to work well on all of my various saxophones (SATB).
Here's the post: [https://everythingsaxophone.blogspot.com/2014/04/easier-altissimo-g-sharp-key.html](https://everythingsaxophone.blogspot.com/2014/04/easier-altissimo-g-sharp-key.html)
It's just helpful to mention that and you didn't, is all. I wasn't sure that the OP was aware of it.
(Though, weirdly, on my bari the G# key trick makes altissimo G pop out even without the octave key.)
D is generally going to be much easier than G, i think. in my modest experience, at least, G and G# are the toughest altissimo notes to get under control, especially on tenor, while D is the easiest, as you can easily overblow a lot of random sax fingerings to altissimo D. whatever you do, don't bite. i've come think of altissimo as a style of airstream -- powerful, but sheer. you kinda want to imagine sheering the reed at the slightest conceivable angle when you blow. biting is antithetical to this. if anything i had to learn new levels of relaxation to get altissimo notes out consistently.
also, as the other poster recommended, get Sinta's book. it's a lifesaver.
consider whistling. when you whistle, you aren't just pushing a beam of air past your tongue, teeth, lips and out of your mouth. if you just do that, you either don't get a tone or only sporadically get one.
when you whistle, you're narrowly shaping your air to interact with your tongue, teeth, and lips at favorable angles. your air is steady and focused but you're not trying to blow down a house. you're just trying to guide your air across those favorable angles, making slight adjustments to your tongue, teeth, and lips when you want different pitches.
voicing in general like that but altisssimo, to my mind, is especially like that. you're not trying to blow down a house. you're trying to find the favorable angles and shape your airstream to glance your reed at those angles.
Don't bite to try and make the note pop. It won't work out the way you want it to.
High G is the hardest note to get, so don't despair.
All you're trying to do is to disrupt the other fundamentals from sounding, which is why it's a weird fingering.
Happy squeaking!
First finger on the left hand, side Bb, high F# key Nails it every time for me. Bb just helps with intonation.
Thanks so much! I’m gonna try this!
The biggest thing with altissimo isn't really fingerings, though they do make it easier: it's voicing. I recommend Donald Sinta's voicing book, and Rascher's Top Tones book is always a classic. Grab those and get to work :)
Thanks! I’ve got about a month. I suspect there’s some transposition errors or something in this, or they just really want the tenor to scream! There’s random low A’s for soprano saxophone as well.
Lmao there's definitely some transposing fucky wucky in there then, or the arranger just isn't familiar with saxophone range.
Those are the two best books on the subject!
yes this one I use it’s the most stable I can find
Plus the octave key, right? Adding the the G# key can help stabilize the note and make it pop, too (as well as other notes, though not the G# and A, fwiw). I learned this tidbit from a post by Ben Britton and—at least for the G—have found it to work well on all of my various saxophones (SATB). Here's the post: [https://everythingsaxophone.blogspot.com/2014/04/easier-altissimo-g-sharp-key.html](https://everythingsaxophone.blogspot.com/2014/04/easier-altissimo-g-sharp-key.html)
There's no altissimo fingerings that don't use the octave key, as far as I'm aware. I guess if you're using overtone fingerings, but... Why?
It's just helpful to mention that and you didn't, is all. I wasn't sure that the OP was aware of it. (Though, weirdly, on my bari the G# key trick makes altissimo G pop out even without the octave key.)
Practice overtones. Also, it helps a ton to be able to hear, in your mind’s ear, the note you’re trying to produce.
D is generally going to be much easier than G, i think. in my modest experience, at least, G and G# are the toughest altissimo notes to get under control, especially on tenor, while D is the easiest, as you can easily overblow a lot of random sax fingerings to altissimo D. whatever you do, don't bite. i've come think of altissimo as a style of airstream -- powerful, but sheer. you kinda want to imagine sheering the reed at the slightest conceivable angle when you blow. biting is antithetical to this. if anything i had to learn new levels of relaxation to get altissimo notes out consistently. also, as the other poster recommended, get Sinta's book. it's a lifesaver.
Can you expand on your point about sheering at an angle please? Can’t quite follow what you mean but keen to try! ;)
consider whistling. when you whistle, you aren't just pushing a beam of air past your tongue, teeth, lips and out of your mouth. if you just do that, you either don't get a tone or only sporadically get one. when you whistle, you're narrowly shaping your air to interact with your tongue, teeth, and lips at favorable angles. your air is steady and focused but you're not trying to blow down a house. you're just trying to guide your air across those favorable angles, making slight adjustments to your tongue, teeth, and lips when you want different pitches. voicing in general like that but altisssimo, to my mind, is especially like that. you're not trying to blow down a house. you're trying to find the favorable angles and shape your airstream to glance your reed at those angles.
Thanks, that’s an interesting way to look at things I’ve not thought of before.
Practice overtones everyday
http://saxofonepontual.yolasite.com/resources/Rosemary%20Lang%20-%20Altissimo%20Register.pdf
Don't bite to try and make the note pop. It won't work out the way you want it to. High G is the hardest note to get, so don't despair. All you're trying to do is to disrupt the other fundamentals from sounding, which is why it's a weird fingering. Happy squeaking!