A Guide to Singing Harmony
by MasterClass: June 7, 2021
A solo melody line can be catchy, but there is a special aural sensation when additional notes sound simultaneously with the melody. These additional notes function as harmony, and they can transform a piece of music.
What Is Vocal Harmony?
Singing harmony involves supplementing a vocal melody with additional notes that fit the underlying chord structure. For instance, if a melody sung over an A minor chord features the note A (the root note of the chord), you could harmonize by singing the note C (the minor third of the chord and a minor third above A) or the note E (the fifth of the chord and a perfect fifth above A).
How to Harmonize When Performing Music
To sing harmony or harmonize on an instrument, focus on the chord progression of the song and the scale upon which the melody is based (typically either a major scale or a minor scale).
1. Thirds: The most common type of harmonization is a third above or a third below the melody note. For instance, if the melody of your favorite song calls for the note A over an F major chord, this means the melody is using the third scale degree. To harmonize, you could sing a minor third above the note A (the note C, which is the fifth of the chord) or a major third below the note A (the note F, which is the root note of the chord). Such harmonies are pleasing to the ear in Western music. (https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=singing%20in%20harmony%20in%20thirds&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:babcc703,vid:DaeXZVa0SYs,st:0)
2. Fourths and fifths: Harmonizing notes with perfect fourths or perfect fifths can create a distinctive sound. This type of harmony pairs well with the pentatonic scales of East Asia (https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=pentatonic%20east%20asian%20scaled&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:11c9d9cf,vid:AB22Pj5nFmQ,st:0)
3. Octaves: When male and female vocalists sing unison lines, they usually end up singing an octave apart due to differences in vocal range. Octave harmonies thicken the frequency spectrum, but they tend not to sound quite as thick as harmonies based in thirds or even sixths. Octave harmonies tend to sound denser on string instruments. (https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=octave%20harmonies&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5096f98f,vid:_6GkPT3zQtg,st:0)
4. Close harmonies: To create the iconic sound of barbershop quartets or vocal pop groups like the Beach Boys, try arranging harmony notes very close to one another. Whether you’re using all chord tones or a few tensions (like a major ninth or a major seventh), you can create a harmonically rich sound—particularly when the close harmonies move together to follow the melody. Close harmonies are famously tricky to sing, and it can take many years of music lessons to master the technique. (https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=close%20harmonies&tbm=&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:81430f15,vid:l07ZIapmFwc,st:0)
Many vocalists take singing lessons to learn vocal harmonization, and classically trained singers can harmonize by reading sheet music. Popular music singers may teach themselves to harmonize by ear, which requires a mixture of ear training and natural ability.
For reinforcement purposes, singing groups within this blog have reached high degrees of their ability to harmonize. I have listened to more than a thousand individual recordings and will reproduce the best of them for your enjoyment. I have created three levels of professionals that accomplished singing in harmony. You will find my “best,” my personal ”favorites,”’and the lowest personal rating of being “ok.” Here they are (listed in no particular order):
My “Best” Harmony song examples (45):
Pentatonix – “Hallelujah” 2016 https://youtu.be/LRP8d7hhpoQ?feature=shared
Queen –“Bohemian Rhapsody” 1975 https://youtu.be/fJ9rUzIMcZQ?feature=shared
Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello – “Señorita” 2018 https://youtu.be/Pkh8UtuejGw?feature=shared
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – “Greatest Hits” 1976 https://youtu.be/pNo2OTI_rIo?feature=shared
The Tokens – “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” 1961 https://youtu.be/OQlByoPdG6c?feature=shared
The Tremeloes – “Silence is Golden” 1967 https://youtu.be/n03g8nsaBro?feature=shared
The Regents – “ Barbara Ann” 1961 https://youtu.be/EDpQY3UW8D4?feature=shared
The Temptations – “Just My Imagination” 1971 https://youtu.be/WNnb1NfLrK4?feature=shared
The Vogues – “Turn Around, Look at Me” 1968 https://youtu.be/xEvZwRJnOnI?feature=shared
The Supremes –“Greatest Hits” 1967 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-SWnPeM409DUE_h0003W3e7h6pLxkRhN&feature=shared
The Ronettes – “Be My Baby” 1963 https://youtu.be/jSPpbOGnFgk?feature=shared
The Reflections – “Romeo and Juliet” 1964 https://youtu.be/vne1U03hqG4?feature=shared
The Poni-Tails – “Born Too Late” 1958 https://youtu.be/p64nDdoniIA?feature=shared
The McGuire Sisters – “Sincerely” 1956 https://youtu.be/mACgf6TXI7I?feature=shared
The Lettermen – “When I Fall In Love” 1962 https://youtu.be/RGWJ3lFvSaY?feature=shared
The Hollies – “Greatest Hits” 1973 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k3hHu0_vJHkNROlQxoFk2ZmTlX5LzYVls&feature=shared
The Fleetwoods – “Come Softly to Me” 1959 https://youtu.be/Dkf-Dhihdrc?feature=shared
The 5th Dimension – “Aquarius” 1969 https://youtu.be/VlrQ-bOzpkQ?feature=shared
The Everly Brothers – “Greatest Hits” 1974 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nD_Joyg35Nvg2NEjUpgM6D19eSjX-1pqE&feature=shared
The Eagles – “Hotel California” 1976 https://youtu.be/09839DpTctU?feature=shared
The Diamonds – “Little Darlin” 1959 https://youtu.be/k061Du6eYvY?feature=shared
The Clovers – “Love Potion No9” 1960 https://youtu.be/jRAGwOEnQUg?feature=shared
The Cowsills – “The Rain The Park And Other Things” 1967 https://youtu.be/uC9tALmALh0?feature=shared
The Chordettes – “Lollipop” 1958 https://youtu.be/vRfHfRUS8i4?feature=shared
The Chiffons – “One Fine Day” 1963 https://youtu.be/D0LYs-VqFuw?feature=shared
The Carpenters – “Greatest Hits” 1969-1973 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp_G0HWfCo5rP9KmuhTem1PCOT-aAcUsx&feature=shared
The Capitols – “Cool Jerk” 1966 https://youtu.be/R73iEOvkr10?feature=shared
The Bryds – “Greatest Hits” 1967 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5g1nz_E8ziflXtMJxXZiTvUjXoAMzrNR&feature=shared
The Beach Boys – “Greatest Hits” 1966 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2PI3BtEVzA7TfhMFjeseXkYvVJpx__ia&feature=shared
The Beatles “If I Fell” 1964 https://youtu.be/F_80s6S_7Vw?feature=shared
The Association – “Never My Love” 1967 https://youtu.be/32OSn3iNw9A?feature=shared
Spanky and Our Gang – “Sunday Will Never Be The Same” 1967 https://youtu.be/07nK9CXZvAI?feature=shared
Simon and Garfunkel – “Greatest Hits” 1972 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mCB7W0hzu4s61-OmXSVUpALalm91lSfe8&feature=shared
Sagittarius – “My World Fell Down” 1968 https://youtu.be/81skBnAAdcQ?feature=shared
Marty Robbins – “El Paso” 1959 https://youtu.be/5Q9bAWGEkcE?feature=shared
Peter and Gordon – “A World Without Love” 1964 https://youtu.be/ke4hgo43JGc?feature=shared
Aaron Neville & Linda Rhonstadt – “Don’t Know Much” 1989 https://youtu.be/i_ElZaDt2D4?feature=shared
Motherlode – “When I Die” 1969 https://youtu.be/6kd_aElZ3w4?feature=shared
Mercy – “Love Can Make You Happy” 1969 https://youtu.be/0XBqYvzkPzU?feature=shared
Little Anthony & The Imperials – “Hit Medley” 1964 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=RDiFHpGkbKHDo&playnext=1&feature=shared
Mamas and Papas – “Greatest Hits” 1998 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrtPMuiedcKo3nzeH8beFWM6Sp2KCu11V&feature=shared
Jan and Dean – “The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)” 1964 https://youtu.be/jVTybxyBspM?feature=shared
Dion and the Belmonts – “A Teenager in Love” 1959 https://youtu.be/yL0NBJuUjUM?feature=shared
Kingston Trio – “The Tijuana Jail” 1963 https://youtu.be/Smyv_nF7Ybc?feature=shared
Mimi and Josi – “Creep” 2019 (The Voice winners) https://youtube.com/shorts/4FAGUVpA_c0?feature=shared
Quorum – “Them There Eyes” 2023 https://youtu.be/63a04A7WV6k?feature=shared
My “Favorites” harmony song examples (37):
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” 1967 https://youtu.be/-C_3eYj-pOM?feature=shared
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme – “Baby It’s Cold Outside” 1960 https://youtu.be/Z77Jyh2UuC8?feature=shared
The Zombies – “She’s Not There” 1965 https://youtu.be/ieWZpXPuIhU?feature=shared
We Five – “You Were On My Mind” 1965 https://youtu.be/c7YSANg8vgw?feature=shared
The Spiral Starecase – “More Today Than Yesterday” 1969 https://youtu.be/89eEa3RvCF4?feature=shared
The New Seekers – “I’ll Never Find Another You” 1964 https://youtu.be/pBaO6ro1CUc?feature=shared. “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” 1971 https://youtube.com/shorts/m2pgQUABpJI?feature=shared
The Shagri-Las – “Remember (Walkin’ In The Sand)” 1965 https://youtu.be/E1GiqcQ3aoQ?feature=shared
The Rolling Stones – “Greatest Hits” 2012 https://youtu.be/glyMqEwW5tQ?feature=shared
Lovin Spoonful – “Good Lovin” 1966 https://youtu.be/t3CQ-5MeRwY?feature=shared
The Monkees – “Daydream Believer” 1967 https://youtu.be/xvqeSJlgaNk?feature=shared
The Left Bank – “Walk Away Renee” 1967 https://youtu.be/qDfrW5cWqMU?feature=shared
The Four Aces – “Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing” 1981 https://youtu.be/cCFftG60A7M?feature=shared
The Happenings – “See You in September” 1966 https://youtu.be/tyYP8G2wc_s?feature=shared
The Five Satins – “In The Still of the Night” 1956 https://youtu.be/AwbXeB-Hpss?feature=shared
The Exciters – “Tell Him” 1962 https://youtu.be/6ajcWXyDv6A?feature=shared
The Dells – Oh What A Night” 1959 https://youtu.be/eD7RiUTWUj4?feature=shared
The Critters – “Mr. Dieingly Sad” 1966 https://youtu.be/HV4Tq1ZJZzs?feature=shared
The Crew Cuts – “Earth Angel” 1954 https://youtu.be/–8_OFubJLM?feature=shared
The Cascades – “Rhythm of the Rain” 1963 https://youtu.be/U0DbYAaZcwU?feature=shared
The American Breed – “Bend Me, Shape Me” 1968 https://youtu.be/PSHo146tQjQ?feature=shared
The Staple Singers – “I’ll Take You There” 1972 https://youtu.be/qXvirzznSn4?feature=shared
Small Faces – “Itchycoo Park” 1968 https://youtu.be/nO9DqvznjrQ?feature=shared
Merilee Rush – “Angel of the Morning” 1968 https://youtu.be/joQUUE8Wc9M?feature=shared
Righteous Brothers – “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” 1965 https://youtu.be/xbg1gkWb0Wo?feature=shared
Lemon Pipers – “Green Tambourine” 1968 https://youtu.be/o6IEgrQ4lrk?feature=shared
Jay and the Techniques – “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” 1966 https://youtu.be/jEPSrdA8kbY?feature=shared
Michael Jackson – “Will You Be There” 1991 https://youtu.be/jQY_QL_wvQU?feature=shared
Danny and the Juniors – “At The Hop” 1990 https://youtu.be/SEPvoNA1OGw?feature=shared
Crosby, Stills and Nash – “Greatest Hits” 2005 https://youtu.be/IHL-6cUtZj0?feature=shared
Chad and Jeremy – “ A Summer Song” 1964 https://youtu.be/ur5pvFCZnaU?feature=shared
Brooklyn Bridge – “Worst That Could Happen” 1968 https://youtu.be/tbNC7a_mdgY?feature=shared
Peter, Paul and Mary – “Puff, the Magic Dragon” 1963 https://youtu.be/s26e_86-K0k?feature=shared
Liam Payne, Lennon Stella and Jonas Blue – “Polaroid” 2018 https://youtu.be/xdrV2c49Vhc?feature=shared
Equip to Overcome and Marina Simioni – “Subtitulado” 2019 VOICE UK. https://youtu.be/P0eLzC2jAtk?feature=shared
Louis Prima and Keely Smith – “That Old Black Magic” 1958 https://youtu.be/02lsKQxpUP8?feature=shared
Peppermint Rainbow – “Will You Be Staying After Sunday” 1969 https://youtu.be/PZYLxrqKG-s?feature=shared
Songs that I rated as “OK” for use of harmony (41):
Elton John and Brian Wilson – “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” 2001 https://youtu.be/L5N1B-gESSQ?feature=shared
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard – “For Loving You” 1967 https://youtu.be/oREo5i_fNPM?feature=shared
George Michael and Aretha Franklin – “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” 1986 https://youtu.be/fDxzQJaA228?feature=shared
Cassandra and Callahan Star (sisters) – “A Christmas Hallelujah” 2021 https://youtu.be/XUJRZRymd1I?feature=shared
U2 – “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” 1987 https://youtu.be/e3-5YC_oHjE?feature=shared
Maurice Williams – “Stay” 1960 https://youtu.be/mSI6zlUeeCA?feature=shared
The Teddy Bears – “To Know Him Is To Love Him” 1958 https://youtu.be/DVieaWu0sLg?feature=shared
The Royal Teens – “Short Shorts” 1958 https://youtu.be/xh1FvPAP6Kk?feature=shared
The Royal Jesters – “We Go Together” 1965 https://youtu.be/qEQgw1xFqXI?feature=shared
The Rip Chords – “Hey Little Cobra” 1964 https://youtu.be/FqAen8PJ064?feature=shared
The Playmates – “Beep Beep” 1960 https://youtu.be/5DPBfbSgqbY?feature=shared
The Platters – “The Great Pretender” 1955 https://youtu.be/RBj2HN2uuNA?feature=shared
The Orions – “Wah Watusi” 1962 https://youtu.be/IRvFaGIO2Gc?feature=shared
The Ink Spots – “Address Unknown” 1955 https://youtu.be/vtcq5T8VV8s?feature=shared
The Jamies – “Summertime, Summertime” 1958 https://youtu.be/zzTi7HiFBVc?feature=shared
The Impalas – “Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)” 1959 https://youtu.be/FuomHDGXzDI?feature=shared
The Gentrys – “Keep On Dancing” 1965 https://youtu.be/AGHFaBx6j8M?feature=shared
The Foundations – “Build Me Up Buttercup” 1968 https://youtu.be/hSofzQURQDk?feature=shared
The Five Royales – “Think” 1957 https://youtu.be/ikugCjrfcB8?feature=shared
The Danleers – “One Summer Night” 1958 https://youtu.be/IvewtgXk2oc?feature=shared
The Delfonics – “La-La Means I Love You” 1968 https://youtu.be/OIqAcijqWOg?feature=shared
The Crests – “Sixteen Candles” 1958 https://youtu.be/qeEeyCON2cU?feature=shared
The Buckinghams – “Don’t You Care” 1967 https://youtu.be/IFJ2vnwRRBk?feature=shared
The Spencer Davis Group – “Gimme Some Lovin” 1967 https://youtu.be/BuQ3PaFyb9A?feature=shared
Sonny and Cher – “I Got You Babe” 1965 https://youtu.be/pwHSBCME49k?feature=shared
Judee Sill – “The Kiss“ 1971 https://youtu.be/kyPhvHEtRuw?feature=shared
Shirley and Lee – “I’m Gone” 1956 https://youtu.be/h5eJ5ttnDbs?feature=shared
Ronald and Ruby – “Lollipop” 1958 https://youtu.be/zzcwn2QHkDM?feature=shared
Paul Revere and the Raiders – “Good Thing” 1966 https://youtu.be/Gn7NfuZ7QoE?feature=shared
Gary Puckett and the Union Gap – “Woman Woman” 1968 https://youtu.be/0Mqsnx2E3ys?feature=shared
New Seekers – “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” 1971 https://youtu.be/koBiXquzmr8?feature=shared
Mickey & Sylvia – “Love Is Strange” 1955 https://youtu.be/5SwMB9v1pQ4?feature=shared
Maroon 5 – “Greatest Hits“ 2023 https://youtu.be/P1SRJKRfsVA?feature=shared
Jay and the Americans – “Come A Little Bit Closer” 1964 https://youtu.be/RF7z3sW8nGA?feature=shared
Every Mother’s Son – “Come On Down To My Boat” 1967 https://youtu.be/t8dU4RKNNBo?feature=shared
Gene and Eunice – “Ko Ko Mo” 1954 https://youtu.be/7h9dej-4-wE?feature=shared
Flying Machine – “Smile A Little Smile For Me” 1969 https://youtu.be/fkDrkspVjrI?feature=shared
Dale and Grace – “I’m Leaving It All Up To You” 1962 https://youtu.be/RBhGIH9c4TI?feature=shared
Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Greatest Hits” 1976 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtzV2248lUVVwS3LSMsWlCBKZ2h4Gs8IP&feature=shared
Chad Mitchell Trio – “The Marvelous Toy” 1963 https://youtu.be/NZeUDAoNrvQ?feature=shared
Buffalo Springfield – “For What It’s Worth” 1966 https://youtu.be/CXvyq4SyDwU?feature=shared
All-Time Greatest Music 