Multiphonics

[mfox]

im quite interested in learning more about multiphonics,, any one know a good book?

thanks

 

[bubbie_king]

I am interested too!
What are multiphonics though?

 

[Bobby G]

In effect, blowing more than one note simultaneously, like an interval - the easiest one to get is on a note like a low C; if you adjust your embouchure slightly while blowing the C, you can introduce an overtone/harmonic that gives you a G above it while still retaining the low C.

I'm certainly no expert, having found these almost by accident when missing low notes, then experimenting to the point where I can control it.

I believe some people can get some more unusual note/overtone combinations, even have the ability to play chords. I imagine this is how John Coltrane got some of his strange tones.

Cheers, Bob

 

[mfox]

im like you bob..found some by accident, looked into it..want to know more..i also heard its a way to check intonation on an axe..

 

[Bobby G]

That would be true, mfox - if you blew a C, then introduced the G harmonic, or the C an octave above it should be the exact pitch of the correctly blown note.

A lot of guitarists tune by using harmonics rather than a tuner, y'know...

Cheers, Bob

 

[spike]

Of the sax players that I listen to a lot of michael brecker and james carter spring to mind as multiphonic masters, the two books of brecker transcriptions from hal leonard contain a few multiphonic fingering suggestions for notes as they occur in the transcriptions, if interested let me know and I'll look through the books and pinpoint the uses and appropriate fingerings and post a few track references. might take me a while but twould be an interesting task.

The easiest type of multiphonic is to play the upper register without the octave key pressed and allow the lower harmonics to come through.

 

[mfox]

any help or info would be greatly accepted spike.. 🙂

 

[spike]

Coupla quickies on tenor from Delta City Blues, from "Two Blocks from the Edge" at the beginning, easy to spot when listening, (they're the elephant notes) it's difficult to count but it's about bar 8 or 9 and then 8 bars later two eighth notes on the second beat an A and a B played at 8va with following fingerings:

A = normal E fingering with octave key and additionally C key closed
B = normal F# fingering with octave key and additionally C key closed

To practice try alternating between the E and F# aiming for the altissimo and allow the lower partials to sound, it's not too difficult, should give a raunchy multi-note mating call.

Overtone excercises are essential practice to build up control to play this kind of stuff. Later on and throughout the Delta City Blues track mike is hitting first, second and third overtones from the bottom of the horn at will.

gruss - spike

 

[martin_br]

It's just a question of forcing the higher harmonics.
Certain fingering/embouchure combinations will give multiple notes.

Try bottom Bb without your ring finger left hand and with some sensitive gob manipulation you should get Bb/Ab ish simultaneously.

Another simpler way to get started is to play a G (with 8ve key) and jump straight to bottom C with 8ve key and retain same note.
(3rd Harmonic).
Play chromatic scale upwards and see if you can keep the series of 3rd harmonics going.
Repeat ad lib for 5th and higher harmonics.
5th of C is E.7th Bb 9th (getting tricky!) D..

 

[greg_strange]

There is a guy in the US called Bert Wilson who is a guru with multiphonics, harmonics, altissimo, etc. Apparently he was a teacher to Ernie Watts, Lenny Pickett. Quite a few years ago he wrote several articles in Saxophone Journal magazine and there was an interview with him as well. He suffered polio as a child and is confined to a wheelchair. I saw a TV programme several months ago about the life of Native American sax player Jim Pepper and there was an interview with Bert and he's honking away in his wheelchair. I think Bert might be a mate of Tim Price - check out Tim's website, I think there is an article about Bert on there.

Happy honkin'
Greg Strange.

 

[Linky Lee]

You need to listen to a song called 'ku ku' it's on Rob bucklands latest cd www.robbuckland.com and is fantastic.

It's also on soprano! the second movement is the craziest.

The composer Barry Crockcroft is an Australian saxophone player and writes music specificaly for saxophone that only saxophones can perform with certain tricks, fingerings etc. It's rediculously good fun and sounds great.

The second movement of Ku ku is basically building up a riff based on multiphonics and altissimo. Super stuff. I saw this guy play it aat 10am Yesterday morning and again in concert later that day. It really is amazing. Though only a sax player would appreciate it fully!

Here's the multiphonics riff:
http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=multiphonicsriffsw3.png