Beginner Harmonics/Overtones

[Chris98]

Hello,

How many of you incorporate harmonic/overtone exercises into your practise sessions? And what is it that you do? And why are they so important?

For those of you familiar with the ‘Creative Saxophone Work Book’ I have been doing the harmonic exercises in there but have recently been looking at ‘The Saxophone Intonation workbook’ and in there they seem to hold overtone exercises in very high regard,

“Mastering overtone exercises can become one of the most enjoyable and beneficial tasks you will undertake.” “Viewed as your own special style of meditation, played slowly and deliberately. Make them a mantra.”

I’m not sure I can put my hand on my heart and say I have such dedication but I’m willing to put the effort in.

All the best,

Chris

 

[half diminished]

Hello,

How many of you incorporate harmonic/overtone exercises into your practise sessions? And what is it that you do? And why are they so important?

For those of you familiar with the ‘Creative Saxophone Work Book’ I have been doing the harmonic exercises in there but have recently been looking at ‘The Saxophone Intonation workbook’ and in there they seem to hold overtone exercises in very high regard,
I’m not sure I can put my hand on my heart and say I have such dedication but I’m willing to put the effort in.

All the best,

Chris

Yep, but I'm not too good. I can get most of the upper octave by fingering the lower notes without the octave key and by adjusting the embouchure and can get 3 or occasionally 4 'overtones' fingering low B, low C and low D- though mostly just 3.

As for it's importance, I believe it is very important both for learning better control over your sax for things like intonation and it's imperative for being able to play altissimo well - which I can't (yet ).

Or I may be wrong (again)

Oh and you should get hold of 'Top Tones for the Saxophone' - I know Andy Sheppard and Karen Sharp both use and recommend it.

 

[Chris98]

Oh and you should get hold of 'Top Tones for the Saxophone' - I know Andy Sheppard and Karen Sharp both use and recommend it.

Thanks Ian, that book does keep coming up I should really get hold of a copy.

All the best,

Chris

 

[half diminished]

Thanks Ian, that book does keep coming up I should really get hold of a copy.

All the best,

Chris

Chris

It is a great book and there are lots of excellent exercises for working on sustained tones, tone dynamics, uniformity of tone character and of course overtone exercises. It's helped/ing me a lot.

 

[Linky Lee]

I practice them myself too, though am in a very similar situation to half diminished with my progress.

I don't really know how important they are or how much they'll do for your playing, but my inonation and control has definately improved over the last few months. But of course that could be due to a million other things.