How To Learn To Sing Harmony Part 2
I realized after some research that there is very little written about this subject on the internet. It’s really hard to find a good article about how to learn to sing harmony, so I’m here to write it. I may not be the best writer, but I will make my best attempt to give a better explanation than I did in my last post about singing harmony. As you may know, I have more time than I used to for singing and performing, since I started working with United First Financial.
When you begin, you need to realize that it’s going to take some time. We have been trained to listen for the melody our whole lives. If you realize that it’s going to take a little work and time, you will be less likely to give up and stop trying to learn. So give yourself permission right now to take the time to practice and to be able to mess up. If your family or people living with you are very critical, you may want to practice in a private place for a while. Whether that is in the car, a room in the basement, or someplace else, it is important to feel confident and if you are embarrassed by who will hear you, that will not be possible.
To start with, make sure you can first sing the melody on pitch. If you can’t sing the melody on pitch, or in tune, you need to work on that before attempting to learn harmony. Harmony is harder to hear and needs a good ear to be able to do this. So, if this is a problem for you, first learn to sing on pitch with the melody. Ask someone if you are singing the same note as what is being sung on the radio with your favorite song. Usually, this is easier if the music is loud enough for you to hear it above your own voice. If you are having a hard time with that, you can play a single note on the piano that is within your range and not too high or low. Try to match that. Then, when you match it, try another note and try to match that. People can learn to sing on pitch with a little practice and patience and a listening ear.
After you are comfortable singing melody and are singing on the right note, you can attempt harmony. To do this, many people start with a choir. Practicing with a church choir is a pretty non-threatening way to do this. Most choir members at church are attempting to be Christlike and will not be too mean if you are not on key. They will usually be happy to help you by singing next to you and helping you hear your part. If you sing like this every week, it won’t be long before you can hear the different parts in music all around you.
When you go to choir practice for the first time, you can explain that you want to learn to sing and don’t feel comfortable performing, but would just like to practice with them (unless you want to perform, too). You can ask them to be patient with you. Usually a choir practice will consist of a vocal warm up, and then go through a few songs to practice. They will usually play through parts separately and then try the song with the piano playing the parts. Then, when everyone is comfortable with that, they try it with the accompaniment. The whole choir is learning the harmonies to the songs at the same time. Some members of the choir will be better than others, but they are usually willing to help others learn their parts, too. It is quite a fun experience and I would recommend it highly for anyone who is serious about learning to sing harmony.
Practice your new skills by taking home the music and playing your part on the piano and practicing singing it between choir practices. Before long, you will be singing harmony with little effort.
The reason I’m able to have time to sing and perform is because I’m an agent with United First Financial.
10 Responses to “How To Learn To Sing Harmony Part 2”
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I found your blog via Google while searching for learn music, thank you for posting Learn To Sing Harmony Part 2 | Sister Singers!
Thanks for the comment. I’ll check out your site. Keep in touch.
I didn’t know how much work is involved in singing. I love listening to our choir at church. Their voices blend so beautifully together to create a wonderful sound. Your hub makes me appreciate all of them even more.
Thanks Amy.
Brian
Yes, Brian. It is a lot of work, but it’s so much fun that to me it seems too rewarding to be work. I’m happy that this helped you appreciate your choir more.
I too wanted to say thanks for writing a concise, honest and helpful article on yes, it is possible to learn to sing harmony, with a method or plan to follow! I was raised in an a cappella environment and a lot of southern gospel records were playing in the background of my childhood
and I’ve always gravitated toward singing the harmony… now a friend has asked me to help her learn — and I started putting some notes together and am glad, after reading what you’ve written, that I’m on the right track. Thank You! 
Happy New Year!
C D,
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you found it concise and helpful. I am always interested in connecting with other people who share the same interests as I do, so I’ll be checking your blog out and commenting there as well.
Amy,
Great advice about singing harmony. I am passionate too about singing and really enjoyed your article.
Unfortunately my singing voice is barely good enough for the shower let alone the stage.
But there is hope… a few of the so called professional singers today (and yesterday as well) may not have the best singing voices per se but their passion for music comes through anyways and moves masses, which for them translates into major recording contracts or other success.
Hope all works out well for you…!
Sammie
Sammie, thanks for the encouragement about the article. You’re right about having your passion show in your singing. I think that is a bit more important than how you actually sound as far as bringing in an audience.
following your blog, good stuff!
Thanks, Allena. I appreciate that.