Bb soprano saxophone

G6

Impedance

Fingering a key depressed a key not depressed a hole covered a hole uncovered a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched Details in fingering legend. Acoustic schematic a closed tone hole an open tone hole Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance Non-specialist introduction to saxophone acoustics Notes are the written pitch. Frequencies are the sounding frequency, for Bb saxophone. Unless otherwise stated, the impedance spectrum is for a Bb saxophone.

This is the first note in the third register, meaning that it plays at the third impedance peak. It is also the first note in the altissimo or very high range. The weakness of the third peak (due to the relatively large cone angle of the saxophone) explains why notes in this range are hard to play and require the player to assist the weak impedance peak of the bore with a strong impedance peak of the vocal tract. See this page for an explanation and some interesting results.

Although this is the lowest note in the altissimo range, it is one of the hardest, because of the weakness of this peak. Compare with G#6, which has a stronger third peak.

Sound

Sound spectrum of a Bb soprano saxophone played using fingering for G6.
For more explanation, see Introduction to saxophone acoustics.

Sound Clip

You can hear G6 played.