How To Harmonize (few basic tips)

I used to dream of becoming a singer one day. Hahahah! Yes! I remember my early childhood days, where I belt our Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston songs. I even recall singing "My Heart Will Go On" in front of my grade 3 class. However, as they say, our voices do mature and change as we grow up. My sweet voice changed to a low pitched and very alto, husky voice when I got into high school. So I was asking, what would happen to my singing career now? hahah!

Then, I got into our choir group. Though I only stayed for a year, it made me appreciate and love my voice. I learned to admit that I am not into singing lead parts (I don't have that strong and mesmerizing voice like usual singers do) but I also realized that good singers do have good back ups :)

I am not saying I'm a good back up. This is a disclaimer. Okay? But let me share you a few, effective tips on how top effectively harmonize and sing as a group. :)

Know Your Voice

First, know what kind of voice you have. Knowing my voice helps me a lot in figuring out which part should I sing. Thus I feel comfortable with what I do.

Know The Song

As they say, practice makes perfect-or almost perfect (at least). Listen to your piece over and over again. I remember a few elders in church saying that this new generation has everything that they need to study songs properly. Unlike the old times that they have to purchase cassettes and music sheets, now chords, mp3 copies and song tutorials are just a few clicks away. There is no excuse for you not to know the song. Listen to the song over and over again. Also, one trick that I did (promise, it works!) is that I try to go and blend to every song that I hear. No matter where I am, in a jeep, bus, mall, or wherever, as long as I hear a song, I try to go and blend with the lead part. That helped me develop my sensitivity to voices.


Know The Lead Part

Well, the most important role of the back up singer is to harmonize and blend well with the song leader. It is not enough that you just copy the backings of the original song. As you know, what works for you doesn't always work for others. Sometimes, the song leader has a different pitch, that you may need to deviate from the original backings.


Technical Tips: If it sounds good, it is right.

I usually just use my ear on creating vocal tunes to blend with any song, The explanation to that is this.

In every harmony note, there are 3 (or 4) notes of the major chord. right? Let us see, For the Key of C.

C = 1 - 3 - 5 or C = 1-3-5-7 by adding the 7th and/or the 1st (root) note up or down the octave.

thus,

C = C-E-G


Now, of course, the lead singer would take the note C. So as long as you're singing in the Key of E or G (depending on your voice),  you still should fit in. In short, as long as you sing the notes that go along with the lead Key, you can blend well to the song.

But be cautious not to sing an octave above or below the note. That is no longer harmonizing; that is unison.

You can also try to play with the pitch. A good example is Kari Jobe. She usually blends her voice, singing the same key, but with a different pitch.

I am so desperate in getting into voice lessons, that I started reading good free stuff on the net. I will share more on my next blogs.


 To God be the Glory! :)