altissimo fingerings for tenor saxophone
TRANSCRIPT
1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
1/8kevindanenberg.com/blog/2011/09/altissimo-fingerings-for-tenor-saxophone/
F3
This note sounds a little dodgy, but in passing this a
nice alternate fingering to the standard palm high F
and front F fingerings. Works well chromatically
through G#3.
F#3
$ O W L V V L P R �) L Q J H U L Q J V �I R U �7H Q R U
6D [ R S K R Q H
By KEVIN DANENBERG | Published: SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
I’ve been interested in the altissimo register since high school when I first heard
Tower of Power recordings featuring Lenny Pickett. There are so many sources of
information out there for people who want to learn to play altissimo (see below for a
few useful links). In this post, I want to share the set of fingerings that I’ve found
most useful in my own tenor playing. I favor fingerings that work well together to
facilitate melodic lines. Some of these aren’t the best available options in terms of
intonation or tone, but sometimes the better sounding fingering is a bit awkward
within a passage. Given this philosophy, here are the altissimo fingerings I use. Try
them out in a melodic context so you can see how they flow together.
Also, if you are new to altissimo, please learn the fundamentals of overtone
production first before jumping into fingering charts. You shouldn’t have to bite or
strain to do any of this. Sigurd Raschèr’s book is where I started.
$ O W L V V L P R �) L Q J H U L Q J �&K D U W
It’s a little unclear, but the palm keys indicated in the charts, from left to right,
are D, Eb, and F.
Notation is as written for saxophone.
Note names are in reference to saxophone range (ie. F3 is the third F from the
lowest available note).
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1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
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A nice alternate to front F. Easy transition between
alternate G3 below.
G3
I usually use front F, but the alternate fingering
facilitates some passages.
G#3
A3
In passing, I just play left hand 2 and 3 (A and G
keys). Adding the pinky G# key raises the pitch and
adds pop. You might like to add right hand 123 (F, E,
and D keys) instead.
SOURCES: Sigurd M. Raschèr. Alternate, Lenny Pickett.
A#4
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1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
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B4
C4
Left hand 3 (G key) is optional here, but I find that it
adds pop, and it often minimizes finger motion in
lines.
C#4
As with C4, left hand 3 is optional.
D4
I mostly use the front F. The alternate fingering pops
1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
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a little better, and flows in sequence with A#4
through C#4. However, using front F resets your
hand position nicely to get at D#4.
SOURCE: Alternate, Lenny Pickett.
D#4
D#4 through F#4 are simply A#4 through C#4
repeated, overblown by a fourth.
E4
D#4 through F#4 are simply A#4 through C#4
repeated, overblown by a fourth.
F4
D#4 through F#4 are simply A#4 through C#4
repeated, overblown by a fourth.
F#4
D#4 through F#4 are simply A#4 through C#4
1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
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repeated, overblown by a fourth.
G4
For me, this is the highest note to easily pop out.
SOURCE: Sigurd M. Raschèr.
G#4
I find this fingering to be a little muted.
SOURCE: Lenny Pickett.
A4
SOURCE: Sigurd M. Raschèr.
A#5
Try arpeggiating up to these at first.
1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
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SOURCE: Norbert Stachel
B5
Try arpeggiating up to these at first.
SOURCE: Norbert Stachel
C5
Try arpeggiating up to these at first.
SOURCE: Norbert Stachel
C#5
None
I haven’t worked out a decent way to get at this note
yet. If you have any suggestions, please share!
D5
This is a harmonic of low Bb flat that just wants to
come out.
1/18/12 Altissimo Fingerings for Tenor Saxophone
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Sources & Resources
I created the fingering diagrams using Bret Pimentel’s wonderful Fingering
diagram builder Thanks, Bret!
Music notation created with Sibelius software
A lot of these fingerings came from Top-Tones from the Saxophone: Four-
Octave Range by Sigurd M. Raschèr. I highly recommend this book. Work
through all the overtone exercises. They are critical for developing
altissimo technique!
Another great book is Larry Teal’s The Art of Saxophone Playing , with many
alternate fingerings up through F4. The reed adjustment chart within is priceless!
These Saxophone Fingering Charts are ridiculously thorough. Go through them
and find what works best for you.
The University of New South Wales has a detailed site about Saxophone
Acoustics . It’s worth learning about acoustic impedance and studying their
database profiling acoustic response well into the altissimo range.
Thanks to Norbert Stachel for his expert mouthpiece refacing work and advice
that has really helped with my altissimo.
I’d love to hear your comments and suggestions!
This entry was posted in Saxophone, Uncategorized and tagged altissimo, fingering chart,
Lenny Pickett, Norbert Stachel, Sigurd Rascher, tenor, top tones. Bookmark the permalink.
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