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You are here: Home / Jazz Videos / Improving Saxophone Altissimo Exercise with Chris Potter

Improving Saxophone Altissimo Exercise with Chris Potter

January 12, 2017 by Steve 4 Comments

I just happened upon this as I was perusing the web and drinking my morning coffee just now. Chris Potter playing Giant Steps.  The hard part…… he can’t go below high C. How many of you are brave enough to take on this challenge?……….I’m inspired to practice!   Awesome!

Filed Under: Jazz Videos Tagged With: altissimo, chris potter, Giant Steps, tenor sax

Steve

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Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

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Comments

  1. AvatarErgin says

    May 24, 2017 at 10:58 am

    How can he do that? I really dont understand how to improve altissimo. I always study overtones and altissimo for more thand 3 years but still can not produce clear and listenable overtones.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      June 15, 2017 at 10:59 am

      Ergin, Do you have a teacher that can do it or have you been trying on your own? Steve

      Reply
  2. AvatarErgin says

    June 30, 2018 at 3:08 am

    My own.

    Reply
  3. AvatarJohn Sweenie says

    November 13, 2018 at 3:22 am

    When I was in the early days of learning altissimo I found (in some cases) the fingered note to be easier than the overtone initially. My altissimo register would improve with the fingered notes, then hit a wall and I could go back to trying to improve the overtones (some still aren’t perfect, I’ve found G to not like to sit well or in tune).

    This is a cool exercise, might have to try it out. I usually just read a tune out of the omnibook up an octave in my warmup somewhere but this would make a nice change.

    Reply

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Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package. I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve’s book Mastering the B… Read more
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