Can't quite hit that high note, all others perfect

[Melissa]

When I learn a tune, I listen to others, I then play as I hear it and after that, change to my own sort of thing. Ok, the intro of this I believe by the info is played by Benny Goodman on the clarinet, I am playing like for like, but just for some reason cannot hit that highest note on my alto. Any suggestions please? to be honest, I have never been up that high on any tune I play so is quite new to me.

This is just something I am working on at the moment after listening to one of my albums, Ben and Art together, I do for some reason adore that high intro and the little flutter down again, simply gorgeous.

 

[Colin the Bear]

What note are you trying to hit?

 

[Melissa]

The highest one at the end of the clarinet? intro- at 1.10 sorry, I don't read dots.

 

[Nick Wyver]

It's a concert G, or top E on an alto. Play it with octave key plus the first 2 left hand palm keys and the top right hand side key.

 

[jbtsax]

Practicing your written E major scale will help you to play this tune on the alto sax. The little turn at the end goes to a high F# which may be a bit difficult.

 

[Melissa]

Oh, how odd, I guess it is the High F# as I already play the two left palm, and octave down ok, it is the one above that, I keep trying with the top right side key at the same time but does not wish to come out, funnily enough, I never had the same problem on Tenor, this is using my Dolnet Alto. It is odd as all the other notes speak beautifully, that High F# does not seem to want to come out.

Like I said, I do not usually go up that far due to the songs I play, and guess that due to playing Tenor beforehand I tend to be a lower note hugger, I am still sort of struggling between the difference of tone between the two.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Oh, how odd, I guess it is the High F# as I already play the two left palm, and octave down ok, it is the one above that,

That's the E.

 

[Greg Strange]

As what Nick said - add the top right side key at that's E, open up the three palm keys with the side key still open and that's F...you may not have a high F# key on your Dolnet alto...

Greg S.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I think you need a finger chart. I find the easiest way to get used to making the top notes speak is to run up and down chromatically.

 

[Greg Strange]

I think you need a finger chart. I find the easiest way to get used to making the top notes speak is to run up and down chromatically.

That's not a silly idea either...

This might help...

http://www.fingering-charts.com/results/Saxophone.pdf

Greg S.

 

[Melissa]

Practicing your written E major scale will help you to play this tune on the alto sax. The little turn at the end goes to a high F# which may be a bit difficult.

That's the E.

As Jbtsax said, is the turn is an F# ? if you play this run yourself, what do you get,

As what Nick said - add the top right side key at that's E, open up the three palm keys with the side key still open and that's F...you may not have a high F# key on your Dolnet alto...

Yep, complete numpty day. I am following the notes, are there other alternative fingerings- I guess I should just keep one sax back for myself, like Greg said, no high F# key on this Dolnet, though some of my others do have that key... case of wrong sax perhaps.

Greg S.[/QUOTE]

I think you need a finger chart. I find the easiest way to get used to making the top notes speak is to run up and down chromatically.

Yes I have been, but seem to stop dead at that very last one, I thought high F# was possible to get even if you do not have the High F# key by alternative fingering? Or what am I thinking of? Pargle!

Unless I have lost the plot, I do not normally have such an issue.. dealing in other instruments and saxes I have all sorts, some with the keys and some without, I do not always remember what I have in my hands and cannot always jump from one to the other without making a right mess, or perhaps I have the onset of oldtimers.

Genuine question. Octave down, play, G then A, then long Bb, then C add two left palms with the C down and what do you have? This does not appear to be on the fingering chart, although even they all look like dots.

 

[Greg Strange]

Sounds like (excuse the pun) you're venturing into the world of multiphonics...

Try this...

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-altissimo

Greg S.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Yes I have been, but seem to stop dead at that very last one, I thought high F# was possible to get even if you do not have the High F# key by alternative fingering? Or what am I thinking of? Pargle!

The usual way is to play the alt fingering for top F and add the Bb side key.