The Extreme Ranges

More on the importance of practicing the extreme ranges saxophone.

Last week I communicated the importance in playing the extreme ranges
of the saxophone. This week, I want to add a basic exercise. I call them Low
End exercises and High End exercises respectively. (Pretty ingenious, huh?)

Keeping the type of embouchure that I mentioned last week in mind
(Remember? "e"?),let's try this now:

Starting on low F, play downwards to low B in a pace of even
eighth-notes (medium slow tempo please), and back like this:

F - E - D - C - B - C - D - E - F

Be sure not to change your jaw position (don't drop it) but do not
cause yourself any tension or any pain. Repeat that about 3 times.

Now do it like this:

F - E - D - C - Bb - C - D - E - F

And then,

(The "Flat" keys)
F - Eb - D - C - Bb - C - D - Eb - F
F - Eb - Db - C - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F
F - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F
Fb - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F

(The "Sharp" keys)
F# - E - D - C - B - C - D - E - F#
F# - E - D - C# - B - C# - D -E - F#
F# - E - D# - C# - B - C# - D# - E - F#
F# - E# - D# - C# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#
F# - E# - D# - C# - B# - C# - D# - E# - F#

And now, for the High Notes:

Start on high B and play upwards toward high F and then back down, like
this:

b - c - d - e - f - e - d - c - b (3x)

And then,

(The "Flat" keys)
Bb - C - D - E - F - E - D - C - Bb
Bb - C - D - Eb - F - Eb - D - C - Bb
Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - Eb - Db - C - Bb
Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb
Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - Fb - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb


(The "Sharp" keys)
b - c - d - e - f# - e - d - c - b
b - c# - d - e - f# - e - d - c# - b
b - c# - d# - e - f# - e - d# - c# - b
b - c# - d# - e# - f# - e# - d# - c# - b
b# - c# - d# - e# - f# - e# - d# - c# - b#

What does this do? This helps you keep flexibility and improve your
tone and intonation in these ranges.
Be mindful to LISTEN to what your playing and really test yourself for
intonation. Try using any of the tools I suggested from last week's Sax
Tip (tape recorder, digital tuning device, piano, etc.)

This exercise is available for FREE download as an Adobe Acrobat file.
You'll need the Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0. If you don't have it,
you can download it FREE at www.adobe.com

Click here or go to
http://www.ntn-media.net/mediafiles/SaxExtremes.pdf

Have fun!

Evan Tate