Altissimo

Hiya · Altissimo

I've been playing sax for two years and I think it's about time to increase my range. My goal by the end of the month is to be able to hit B (two octaves from middle b).

I was just wondering if it's possible to go that high on a 3 1/2 reed, or would you need like a 4 1/2?

Any advice + tips would be very helpful.

Altosaxophonerules

Can you tell us what figerings you are using for altissimo? I'm not too sure about reeds, but what are you using usually? If you're using a 3 normally, i wouldn't suggest using a or 4 and a half to do altissimo. I would suggest using a 3 and a half or 4.

Hiya

I use a 3 for jazz and 3 1/2 for classical. I'm trying to hit a G, the fingering I use is: octive key, 1 and 3 (on the right hand), 1 and 3 (for the left hand) and the side index finger button.

Altosaxophonerules

You would be able then to hit Altissimo G on 3 and a half, just a little harder. Maybe 4 or 4 and a half will work for u.

Hiya

I also heard that you had to change your embouchure when you do altissimo. Is that true?

reisio

Yes, of course - your embochure should change naturally as you go up and down the range of the sax. Play a chromatic scale in front of a mirror sometime and watch your mouth.

JPSaxMan

Well....it's not your embouchure that should change. The embouchure should NEVER change...it's your jaw position. If your embouchure changes that means your biting, especially when you go down low, and that is BAD. BAD BAD BAD BAD.

What needs to change with altissimo the most is your air cavity. Remember the theory that low notes need warm air and mid-high range notes need cool air? Well altissimo notes need COLD air, so your air cavity (your throat positioning) the best way I can describe it (kinda hard to), is if you were swallowing. It tightens up as you go up in range. That's what needs to change the most. Otherwise altissimo never happens.

I'll admit...a new type of embouchure might help your altissimo...this embouchure is known as the 'ooo' embouchure and you basically form your lips like you're saying 'ooo' and put the mouthpiece on that. This is opposed to rolling in your bottom lip all the way and putting the piece on that (like a clarinet...which I did for six years of sax playing before I found this out :-(). This new embouchure will help you attain altissimo. But this embouchure should not deviate. If you have to roll in the bottom lip a little bit overall (which is what I do), that's fine, it's still better than rolling the bottom lip all the way in. But foremost, embouchure position should never change.

Hope this helped. Cool

Altosaxophonerules

At http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-embouchure.html they have some pics of the different embouchures including the ooo type embouchure.

reisio

I would include jaw position somewhere within "your embouchure", but whatever floats your boat.

JPSaxMan

Jaw position: Position of the jaw bone that permits the flow of air and determines and if the air is hot/cold/x-tra cold

Embouchure: Formation of the lips to accomodate the mouthpiece, uses the muscles in the lips as well as some in the face to form the embouchure.

Two different things, one should change in the range of the saxophone (jaw position, and one should not (embouchure). Cool