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You are here: Home / Sax Lessons / Sax Altissimo / New Altissimo Lesson
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New Altissimo Lesson

New Altissimo Lesson

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 7 customer ratings
(7 customer reviews)

$9.99

SKU: 260 Category: Sax Altissimo Tags: altissimo, fingerings, saxophone, video lesson
  • Description
  • Reviews (7)
  • Lesson Sample

Description

This is a remake of my original Altissimo video lesson.  The original lesson was one of my first video lesson that I had done and the quality was not as good as my current lessons so I decided to redo it.  This covers the same material as the first lesson but is easier to watch.  I also include some  files of the fingerings that I use for the altissimo range on the tenor saxophone. Here is the description from the original  video lesson.  I have also included the original lesson as a bonus in case there is something in there you would like to see.

Get ready to wail!!!
Finally, a comprehensive lesson on the altissimo register, which allows you to see and hear the whole process, as each step is clearly explained and demonstrated in a logical and easy to follow manner. In this great half hour video lesson I show you how to get started playing the altissimo register just like the players you see and hear on record. No longer do you have to decipher quasi anatomical descriptions of how to produce those top tones. With this video lesson you get to watch and listen as all the necessary techniques are demonstrated for you in a step by step manner. I show you the exact same methods I use with my students to get them playing in the altissimo register. It’s just like being here in the studio having a one on one lesson with me as I walk you through the entire process from the fingerings, to the techniques I use to voice the upper notes.

I show you the fingerings and the necessary tongue position to get these high notes to speak clearly and in tune. I discuss and demonstrate the common mistakes many beginners make when attempting to play the altissimo register for the first time. I show you what’s going wrong and why and then show you how to voice the note correctly. I discuss the common beginner’s habit of “biting” to get the altissimo notes and show you how you can use correct breathing and tongue positioning to play the upper range without having to resort to biting.
I then demonstrate how to navigate your way through these various altissimo fingerings so that you can play musically in the altissimo register. We have to find fingerings that facilitate playing actual lines and musical phrases in the upper range and I discuss and demonstrate how you can accomplish this. I demonstrate playing pentatonic scales and licks in the altissimo register as a means to achieving this fluency and learning to really get around up there.

Once we’ve learned to play these upper notes, I walk you through a number of ways you might actually use them in a solo.

This lesson is a must for anyone who has struggled endlessly with the vague descriptions and meaningless jargon found in most books on the subject. I also include a 4 pages PDF file including various altissimo fingerings you can use for each note.   (Audio,Video & PDF) (33 minutes)

7 reviews for New Altissimo Lesson

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Jon G (verified owner) – July 20, 2009

    I love the two Altissimo lessons. In the first Steve shows you how to play the notes and in the second he shows how to put them together into usable licks. The video(s) really help unlock the way to do this stuff. In the past I tried to learn these notes with limited success – now I can play all of them (which my neighbours will verify) and am now starting to use (some) of them with confidence. Highly recommended – well done Steve !

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    C.N. (verified owner) – September 4, 2010

    Steve is the best! His explanation and demonstration of the altissimo register is easy to understand and follow. And the icing on the cake, you get a video to see and hear the lesson as well! Having this video lesson to refer to again and again on altissimo is invaluable! If you want to learn how to improve your application and understanding of the altissimo register, get this video. It is a must have. Thank you Steve! C.N.

  3. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Tom P (verified owner) – November 4, 2010

    How I wish I could have this video long before I had to self-study on those altissimo fingering charts. Thanks for a great lesson, Steve.

  4. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    SelmerC* (verified owner) – January 2, 2011

    All credit to you Steve for lifting the lid off this topic, reproduced in the higher resolution it offers anyone interested in the subject a great lead in, still lot’s of hard work but perhaps now without the book throwing thanks to this.

  5. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Roger (verified owner) – April 4, 2011

    Really found this very helpful – great lesson.
    Steve gives great examples and context in this lesson. I really recommend this one if you’re working on your altissimo.

  6. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Bernhard (verified owner) – November 23, 2014

    I nearly gave up with this ….!…!.Top tones. I gave them the last chance with this lesson. And oh Wonder! I just chatted the A and went up to C 30 min after the Video ( i recorded it on Video)! The G is still in the mist. But this is really cool! On this lesson is nothing really new to me but the way you took me through, was a master piece. I am so exited. Thank you Master Steve : )

  7. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Michael Byington – October 2, 2015

    Your material is great! I got your New Altissimo Lesson 6 months ago and I have learned more from that than in all my 44 years of playing! I appreciate your down to earth teaching method and I really appreciate the heart that you teach with. I have been a subscriber to your lessons for the past 6 months and I have learned a great deal. Over that period of time I have had some questions and you have never failed to respond. Thanks! I have already recommended your lessons to a number of players in my area. Again, THANKS! Your lessons have been a real blessing!

    Sincerely, Michael Byington

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Lesson Sample

https://public.neffmusic.com/New%20Altissimo%20Lesson%20clip.mp4

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Testimonials

I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.   I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more  bite sized way.
Milton
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
I want to say something about Steve Neff’s series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice … Read more
Pete
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane
I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil
Just a brief note to compliment you on your teaching skills and in particular for the honesty of your lessons.  I am a returning alto sax player in my 50’s and I was looking for a no nonsense, straight to the point kind of guidance. I had intended to email you with a few questions regarding the use of the bis key but then I noticed that there was a lesson on that specific topic and after viewing it,  all my questions were answered. I once took a group lesson with a well known professional sax … Read more
Patrick

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