High notes (for beginners)

[bobk]

I am trying to learn 'These foolish things' in Cmaj (from the purple Wastell book as used by Lord Winston!). It has higher notes than I'm used to. I can manage high notes (i.e. with palm keys) in scales. This specifically needs high E. Fine (well OKish) in a scale, but in the tune I never get a hint of it - just a squarky middle E. Is it a matter of blowing harder, adjusting embouchure or something else? I'm mainly perplexed about the fact that I can hit these notes (even high F) in scales but they elude me in a tune...

thanks,

Bob

ps - should've added this is on alto

 

[Linky Lee]

well I can only assume that because you are reading music, and thinking about the various other things at the same time, you're not giving 100% of what you would when playing scales to those top notes.

So my advice would be to learn the specific patches by memory (not names) or by ear, with the rhythms. Hopefully now you have that memorised it's a few less things to concentrate on and then you can go about those top notes as you please.

For these reasons I think memorisation of scales, chords (arpeggios) and theory is essential, especially for improvising.

For example on Sunday I gigged with the tenor in the band which I used to play alto in. If I didn't know my major/minor scales and arpeggios and a few choice 'blue notes' to add into the mix I wouldn't of been able to cope or play any of my solos convincingly. (which hopefully I did!)
It's safe to say I was the best saxophonist of the festival too! (just myself and my ego 😛).
Thinking about it, we were the only band to feature a brass/woodwind section!

 

[bobk]

Great idea - I don't read notes way above the stave nearly as automatically as ones in it, so you may well be right that I'm concentrating on decoding the dots instead of having a direct link (pun not intended!) between dots and hand/mouth.

Thanks for the tip!

cheers,

Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

I see/hear it all the time, normally in my own playing.

You get slightly too far over your comfort zone and suddenly your tone starts dropping off, or your embouchure goes slack/ you bite or something.

It's all due to the shift of concentration. When that happens you know to stop, take a step back, slow down and re-analyse what you're trying to achieve and how to go about it.

 

[jadoube]

Bob,

The piece I had as last weeks homework had similarities. High E, when I'm not used to reading the note, or playing it. In short outside my comfort zone.

I too had trouble hitting the note in the tune. Squeaks and shrieks galore. I suddenly thought - was the same true for other notes in the past? I remember the first tune with an Eb or Ab didn't feel comfortable initially either

For me slow practice sorted things.

John

 

[jersey_mike]

Bob,

I think we all have the same thing happen to us during our earlier stages of playing. Hopefully it'll go away eventually once we're more competant with the instrument. That's what I'm banking on!!

 

[philthd]

i think this is one of the many instances where hearing the note in your head before you play it will help you intone it.

i find this easier in a tune i know and could sing from memory - such as this one

 

[chris_j]

Bobk

What mouthpiece, tip opening and reed are you using? A slightly harded reed might give you the top notes if the reed is closing (but you may loose the low notes!...)

Is it just playing tunes when you loose the high notes? How about an arpeggio? Can you jump to the note when not in the heat of the moment in a tune?Can you tongue it repeatedly? It might be that with missing the note and worrying about it when you approach it again, you are tensing or changing your embouchure. Try making a little repeating exercise around those notes in the tune to practice.

 

[freddysilk]

I've had the same problem as a beginner. The only way I got past this was to spend half of my time practicing and the other half sight reading. I didn't really get to playing the high E and F until around the middle of the beginner book (The dreaded Rubanks book). Get some staff paper and practice writing the high notes until it sink into your memory and then practice playing the notes from the low C up to high E or high F.

It's takes practice so be patient but persistant and one day it will all fall in place.

 

[bobk]

I'm using a Van Doren V5 A25 mpc (tip opening 1.85mm/0.073") and a Van Doren classic 2.5 reed. I can get high D in an arpeggio pretty easilly, E rather less so. I bet I am tensing in expectation of trouble in the tune!

I'll try the various helpful suggestions people have made and let you know how I go.

thanks,

Bob