Topmusicanswers
- What is the point of an overtones saxophone?
- How do you play high overtones?
- How do you get harmonics on a saxophone?
What is the point of an overtones saxophone?
Practicing overtones, or harmonics, is a common altissimo exercise to train the player's ears to hear the intervals as well as their body to help to produce the tones in the altissimo range through a mastery of embouchure and breath support. The Overtone Saxophone is a great tool to practice overtones over Low Bb.
How do you play high overtones?
For practicing overtones, first you need to get your embouchure used to the overtones. A simple way of doing it is to finger the higher register, start blowing, and letting go of the octave key. Repeat it several times until you can play the higher note from the attack, without using the octave key.
How do you get harmonics on a saxophone?
Saxophone harmonics are played by fingering a note, usually a low note such as a low Bb, B natural, C, or C#, and then redirecting the air for each higher note, with a possible slight change in the embouchure pressure. Ideally, the throat does not move when playing through the various registers of the saxophone.
