Fingerings

The left-hand for Ab3 is the same as the left-hand for the octave below (Ab2) except that you add the resonance key for the third octave.  The right-hand is very different.

Note: The blue whisper key indicates that the whisper key improves response, intonation, and tone. However, high Ab can be played without the whisper key if necessary.

 

Response

The fingering on the left gives the best response, intonation, and tone on high Ab/G#.  But even with a really good fingering you still need to:

• Have an accurate aural target
• Blow a fast, cold, steady airstream
• Support the reed with your embouchure (lips)
• Keep space between your teeth
• Keep oral cavity open

Intonation

This fingering gives the best intonation and tone quality. However, too much lip pressure will still make the note sharp, so

• maintain space between your teeth
• open oral cavity
• voice a medium to low vowel shape depending on how sharp the note is.

  tuningdrones.com

Easy or Sounds Best?

This fingering is the easiest technically speaking because it involves the fewest fingers.  Unfortunately, it also sounds thin and is very sharp. Simply adding the Bb key and covering the A tone hole make a huge improvement in both tone and pitch so don’t take a shortcut and use the “easy” fingering. It takes much more work to get the “easy” fingering to respond in the right octave and then you have to adjust everything to get it in tune.