ALTISSIMO

ALTISSIMO

It is useful to practice harmonics before studying altissimo fingerings, and before that you need to be able to play the higher notes of the actual register (C-F) strongly and with confidence.

You will often need to change your embouchure to get the high notes. Harder reeds or wider tip opening on your mouthpiece may help, but possibly at the expense of low notes.

ALTOTENOR

FThis was the highest official note for most saxophones until the top F# key was introduced. In order to use the altissimo range above this it is important to get familiar with the front F (AKA auxilliary F) key as shown here. This key is played with the index finger and automatically closes the C key as it opens the F.

This is also a handy fingering when playing an F arpeggio. If you add the G key (LH 3), it sounds an E, this is useful when playing an F major 7 arpeggio

F#Of course, if your saxophone has an F# key, use it

GThis is one of the harder altissimo notes, even though it's not very high.

G#Another difficult note, try this once you are comfortable with some easier ones such as A

AThe R.H. fingers are optional, they help with intonation.

BbThis is the Bb fingering I use, it may not be the easiest to blow, but it's easy to move to this from the A

BLikewise, this allows you to move easily from the Bb

CThis fingering will also get the high F above

C#This is really just an overblown F#

DAlthough it is very high, this should be quite an easy note to blow. Once you get it, try alternating with a bottom Bb

See also the Woodwind Fingering Guide