Reeds legere and altissimo

[mizmar]

So, a couple of months ago I thought I dip my tong into the synthetic reed bowl. Got a Legere Sig 2.25 as a first try. I'm quite happy with it for daily practicing purposes.

But I can't get altisimo G / G# to be reliable.
I was ok there, on cane and upto G# was my comfort range; and can manage higher tones. I practice regularly etc. but I'm back to really having to wrangling it. On an Otto Link tone edge 6, Vito/YTS23

Anyone any experience or wild guesses - should I go to a higher strength? Different cut? Keep working in it? Adjust a key height?

 

[thomsax]

Try different fingerings for your altissimo tones. All saxes are different. Mouthpiece and reeds helps up.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I have a Legere US Cut 2.25 on tenor with a JJ DV 7*

It’s on the soft side but lower harmonics aren’t a struggle. If I was having to play up to C/D a lot then it’s too soft to be confident all gig.

As Thom said, check your fingering, but on tenor there aren’t a lot of options that affect stability. Alto - probably more.

G and G# are harder than A harmonic - you have to be more precise. Perhaps a little jaw forward might help (not jaw bite, forward)

 

[mizmar]

Perhaps a little jaw forward might help

Thanks. That's the what I'm having to do. With cane reed I could manage without moving the jaw.

Maybe next time I'm inclined, I'll get a 2.5er. to compare.
To anyone's knowledge, there's no difference, in this regard, re cut?

 

[Pete Effamy]

Whilst I have a 2.25, when I’m “match fit” I do go up to a 2.5 if it’s a gig with plenty of high harmonics

 

[mizmar]

Try different fingerings for your altissimo tones.

Not many choices for G...

 

[spike]

Not many choices for G...

have you been here:

Lower Altissimo - Alternate Fingering Chart for Saxophone - The Woodwind Fingering Guide

 

[Pete Thomas]

should I go to a higher strength? Different cut? Keep working in it? Adjust a key height?

Keep working on it. I recommend trying softer reeds (whether you think you need them or not) as a great way to improve embouchure, breath support and "voicing."

 

[jonf]

I've used a Legere Sig American Cut on tenor for a few years, on a JodyJazz DV 7* and now on a SYOS 10. I use a 2.25 on the SYOS. On both I find altissimo really easy and natural, totally predictable. Sax is a Yanagisawa T992. I often use alt G and A. In fact, I've been totally won over by the Legeres, and use them all the time on tenor and baritone.

I don't think of myself as any sort of expert on altissimo, but my instinct is also not to go for a harder reed, but to keep at it for a while to see if it comes with time and practice.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I hopefully got some of the new French Cut on the way. Will report back on altissimo once I can play for longer than 45 seconds...

 

[mizmar]

They have a sax strength chart including French cut.
Hard to unpack strength Vs cut as the strengths don't align. But then agan, one could go up or down a eighth(?) in strength by changing cut!

 

[Pete Effamy]

I hopefully got some of the new French Cut on the way. Will report back on altissimo once I can play for longer than 45 seconds...

Ah, but it’s what you do in those 45 seconds…

 

[atwl77]

View attachment 26340

I have doubts about this chart... I have two alto 2.5 Signature reeds, and the chart seems to place them stronger than equivalent strength Vandoren Traditional (which I'm assuming are the blue box reeds)? Yet I can barely handle them at that strength. Both of my 2.5 Signature reeds feel more like a Vandoren Java Green between 2.0-2.5 to me.

 

[mizmar]

I have doubts about this chart...

Fair enough!

But I would expect the chart to be good between different "cuts" of their own products

 

[Pete Effamy]

For me, the synthetic reed takes away any reed worries. In one particular gig that I dep for - it's a rock/rock n roll gig that requires extreme altissimo, the low Bari-style bass thing, section and solo work. That requires the reed to do a lot and I don't want to stress over finding (and relying upon) cane reeds to do this.

The US Cut 2.5 (the 2.25 is ok too) does the job for me and I know that every practice day is a "same day", with no variables - just me and my inadequacies.

 

[Guenne]

Strength charts don't say anything IMHO.
I'm normally playing 2 1/2 Vandoren blue on my Aizen SSO 7, right now I'm practicing with 2 3/4 Signature, and I could not imagine playing 2 1/2. On a different MPC, it might feel different.

Same with Bari. I'm playing (depending on the style) D'Addario Jazz Select 3M or Vandoren blue 2,5 on my Retro Revival "Larsen". I'm testing 2 3/4 Signature, and they feel a bit too soft for loud playing, maybe appropriate for ensemble like sax quartet.

Greetings, Guenne

 

[mizmar]

Keep working on it.

but to keep at it for a while

Yeah... That worked!

 

[mizmar]

Well, using the logic that if I'm going to go legere for a while, I should have a "spare" because my cane reeds are not ready to play should something happen (ie rationalise a little GAS) - I popped to the shop... Thinking just a little stiffer than Signature 2.25...

They didn't have American cut 2.25, so, by the chart, I plonked for a French 2.5.

It is noticeably firmer than the Sig 2.25 ... More, I intuitively feel, the chart suggests... Like the firmer of the 2.5 cane reeds I've ever used. FWIW (not much).

The altisimo G lopped out much cleaner, even though I'd mostly sorted the OP issue, I'd say it was marginal on the Sig2.25 where as it's solid on the French2.5.

 

[Pete Effamy]

It is noticeably firmer than the Sig 2.25

Reminds me of the Spinal Tap conversation about the amp that goes up to 11

 

[mizmar]

Reminds me of the Spinal Tap conversation about the amp that goes up to 11

Well, I am a follower of the great Spinal Tap philosophy on jazz saxophone - it's why I play everything wrong.

View: https://youtu.be/PYSEQImJnNw?t=42s


That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.