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Harmonizing

#2
If you have some basic working knowledge of theory and you have access to a piano. start with a root in any key and try to sing a 3rd or a 5th against it. these are probably the most common triads or stacks as there sometimes refered to. start there and just keep practicing till your ear becomes accustom to hearing those intervals.
 
#3
Learn the chords going with the melody. Try not to sing a harmony that drowns out a melody. Harmonies should be complementary. Listen to some great harmony vocal bands, and sing some of their parts together. It's great practice.
 
#6
For some reason, it's easier to find harmony parts when you start out by first singing in unison with the lead (singing the exact same part and same pitches). A good singer told me that one time and it helped me a lot.
 
#7
brawdylucas said:
i know some theory about 3rds and 5ths so would you recommend just finding the note the singer sings and dropping to a 5th or going up to a 3rd or 5th
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Not so often "fifths", you'll get into trouble - occasional use, perhaps.

Try thirds above the melody (as suggested) and sixths below.
 
#8
DBCrocky said:
For some reason, it's easier to find harmony parts when you start out by first singing in unison with the lead (singing the exact same part and same pitches). A good singer told me that one time and it helped me a lot.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I was a Vocal Jazz Performance major, and I still learn the lead first. After I've learned the lead part, I think about where harmony would sound good, then when he goes up, I'll go down (or vice versa) until I hear a pleasing harmony. Once I have that in my head, I try working out a harmony that moves in the same direction as the lead, but at a different interval.

I also second getting a vocal coach to help you learn to hear harmonies, as hearing it in your head is the key. Once you can hear it, you can sing it.
 
#10
Singing harmony is a lot like playing bass!

You want to find your own melody (i.e. sequence of notes) to sing that complements the lead vocal. It may be very similar, or it may be different. While the lead is changing in pitch, maybe your harmony will be holding steady on one, or a small number of different notes. Sometimes, it may be the opposite - the lead vocal holds on one note & the harmony "moves" up or down the scale. Sometimes it's appropriate to sing in unison with the lead. Sometimes you hold a note/syllable while the lead moves around it.

In other words, it's a lot like playing bass!
 
#12
depending on your range relative to the lead, start with either 3rds above or 6ths below. throw in some contrary motion for the occasional 4th or 5th. 2nds and 7ths can be used as passing tones or as suspensions (2nd to 3rd or 7th to either 6th or 8ve). avoid parallel motion (5th to 5th) when possible.
 
#13
thank you all! also would it be helpful to use a keyboard for the theory work such as which harmony to sing, like if my singer is singing say a D would it be helpful for me to go back later to a keyboard later and go a 6th below or a 3rd or 5th above and see what sounds good
 
#14
I like to sing harmonies, but honestly I just sing what sounds good for the song. This isn't the best live example, but I have no idea if I'm singing 3rds, 5ths, etc. I kind of go for what sounds best for the mood. That said I wish I did actually know.
 

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