What's he talking about

[Lorraine]

Hi all,

I know I've only been playing 2 months so this is well out of my league (I can't play higher than a high D) but this guy plays an A then plays an A# but fingers a D# (second harmonic?).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grjWx8YeFok&feature=player_embedded#!

How does he do it in terms of actually playing it? I am rather slow witted so nothing too technical please.

Also - if anyone has any tips on how to get beyond the high D, D#, and E, (don't know if I've got an F yet), I just sound flat when I try and can't seem to figure out where to put my hand to play the notes themselves.

Thanks!
Lorraine

 

[ArtyLady]

Hmmmm not sure I can tell you without trying it but looks interesting so gonna try it tomorrow! - I dont' think he is using standard altissimo fingerings, but think he's using harmonics that work better for the chromatic gliss.

With regards to your D# E and F, don't rush them, they will come with time

 

[Saxlicker]

Not sure I can explain any better than he has so I have to opt out of that one.

But regarding getting higher than D / D# in the palm keys.Repetition is the key, commiting the mechanics to memory.

I'd recommend this....
Warm up first, know that your fingers, embouchure, mouthpiece set up and reed are truly ready.
Play D / D#/ E / F /F# a few times in the middle of your horn until you hear and remember the intervals comfortably.

Now make sure you have good embouchure and air support and pre think those intervals.......
Go for the palm keys now.......
Repetition of all the above, back to back for as long as you need too as often as you can. 20 mins at time may be.
Eventually they will come...even if you get to E and its another few days before you get your 1st F.

You have a lot to think about at the moment and the finger pattern,embouchure and air stream will become committed to memory. Somewhere in that journey hearing the intervals will allow the notes to pop out.
Good Luck....

 

[Nick Wyver]

Zannad is Dean Hilson AICMFP.

 

[zannad]

Zannad is Dean Hilson AICMFP.

Hey!! You still owe me a beer...;}

 

[muzza]

In the video, he is using harmonics, sometime referred to as overtones. It means he is manipulating his [FONT=&amp]embouchure[/FONT] to play higher notes than he is fingering.

 

[johnboy]

Don't worry about these things (sounding the D# and above), just keep practicing and it will all fall into place.

John ;}

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

Hi all,

I know I've only been playing 2 months so this is well out of my league (I can't play higher than a high D) but this guy plays an A then plays an A# but fingers a D# (second harmonic?).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grjWx8YeFok&feature=player_embedded#!

How does he do it in terms of actually playing it? I am rather slow witted so nothing too technical please.

Also - if anyone has any tips on how to get beyond the high D, D#, and E, (don't know if I've got an F yet), I just sound flat when I try and can't seem to figure out where to put my hand to play the notes themselves.

Thanks!
Lorraine

To be honest, if you;ve only been playing for two months you really don't need to know about this stuff just yet, overtones, harmonics and altisimo is advanced stuff, and at this stage will only hold you back and in any case with only two months of playing under your belt your embouchure will not have developed sufficiently to enable you to get up there.

Best thing (at this stage anyway) would be to concentrate on using and becoming familiar with your palm keys and side keys, particularly the E key so you can move chromatically from D through to F in the upper register.

Maybe another good idea would be to invest in a tuner so you can check the high notes are, well......in tune...

 

[saxnik]

Johnboy and Fraser are quite right - the high notes will come, and many players never bother with altissimo (unless they feel some need to make siren noises like me!).

If you do get a tuner (I've said this before) the correct technique to use one is:
1) turn it on (ideally transposed to sax pitch otherwise 'A' on the tuner is 'B' on a tenor or 'F#' on an alto sax)
2) close your eyes
3) play the note
4) open your eyes to check the pitch

What I'm saying is, don't accidentally get used to tuning your sax by looking rather than listening!

Good luck with it all, sounds like you're very keen and likely to go a long way!

Nick

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

many players never bother with altissimo

My teacher who is a local pro is 76 years old, he started playing when he was 17 and never bothered with altisimo at all throughout his career. Interestingly i got him playing the altisimo register easily within less than half an hour, only thing was he couldn't remember the fingerings right away!

 

[allansto]

Don't worry about these things (sounding the D# and above), just keep practicing and it will all fall into place.

John ;}

Ditto
Ive been learning for 8 months and only up to the high D recently so dont stress your doing well
relax...... dont try to learn too much too quisk, as you may get stressed later... trying too hard to make it all happen at once.
Enjoy the journey
Im trying to contend with flats, sharps , timing , tuning , Dynamics, tone,etc all at once at the moment
Ive been having trouble with my low c and B for nearly 3 months but Its getting better slowly so I will get there
So will you.......... your only 4 lessons in.
Keep at it and good luck.
Allansto

 

[ArtyLady]

Tried it....couldn't do it....went back to my trusted altissimo fingerings ))

 

[Nick Wyver]

Tried it....couldn't do it....went back to my trusted altissimo fingerings ))

I can do it but I can't think I'm likely to use it much (or at all). I'll stick with my usual fingerings too.