A Complete Approach to Overtones

A Complete Approach to Overtones is an in-depth treatment on overtones for saxophone. The book provides a full range of exercises and aids to improve the overtone capabilities and overall saxophone playing for every level of saxophonist. Beginners will find the aids they need to achieve their first overtones, and players who can already play a wide range of overtones will find exercises that improve and expand their abilities as well.

"Ben Britton has put together a comprehensive volume explaining the overtone series and how to practice with it. A must-have for serious students of the saxophone." - Charles Pillow, Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone, Eastman School of Music

From the introduction: "One of the most efficient ways to improve saxophone sound or tone is through overtone practice. Just a minute or two of proper overtone practice immediately increases the clarity and richness of tone as well as increases your ability to maintain a great sound while playing technically difficult music. Regularly practicing overtones will lead to consistently achieving those ends and extending your range into the altissimo register. Mastering overtones can result in a near four-octave range with a consistent and beautiful sound throughout." 

Sound clips have been provided for the section of the book, 'Slurring up the Overtone Series.'

Table of Contents:

Introduction
How to Use This Book

Understanding the Notation

Getting Started
How to Play an Overtone
Principles of Correct Technique
The Octave Key
Hear the Overtone First
Practice Guidelines
Calibrating Your Technique

No Octave Key Exercises
No Octave Key Long Tones
No Octave Key Major Scales and Arpeggios
No Octave Key Interval Exercises

Overtone Training Wheels

Long Overtones
Long Overtone Variations
Overtone Series

Scales and Arpeggios
One Octave Major Scales and Arpeggios
Two Octave Scales and Arpeggios
Major Scales in Thirds, Fourths, and Triads
Dorian 13th Arpeggios

Bugling Exercises
Supplement: Bugle Calls (from A Complete Approach to Sound for the Modern Saxophonist)

Voicing Transitions
Slurring into an Overtone from a Lower Note
Slurring into an Overtone from a Lower Overtone
Slurring up the Overtone Series
Instructions on Revisiting 'Bugling Exercises'

Glossary

About the Author