I have always wanted to pursue voice lessons, but the only thing I think I can't do is harmonize. Is there some way that teachers teach you to do this? Maybe its because I just sing and have yet to take a lesson and learn to warm up my voice and such....
Still if I could get some information on learning to harmonize that would be great. It seems a lot of people say that it's something that you can't "learn or be taught." Thanks.
2007-03-14 07:56:33 · 9 answers · asked by Essie 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
The main thing is listening ... try to hear a line that's not the melody. For instance, try listening to some famous duets ...
"Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
"Beauty and the Beast" (End Title) - Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson
"The Sounds of Silence," "Scarborough Fair" - Simon & Garfunkel
"Another Time, Another Place" - Sandi Patty & Wayne Watson
I learned how to harmonize by listening to Simon & Garfunkel, and playing clarinet in band. I was never one of the top chairs, so I hardly ever got to play the melody, therefore I got REALLY used to hearing harmony lines. Anyway, I sing harmony just fine now, and I never sang a note until college. It can be learned, just be patient. And if you don't get there, at least you can enjoy some good tunes! Good luck and have fun!
2007-03-14 08:17:15 · answer #1 · answered by Navigator 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much the easiest way to learn how to harmonize is the trial and error method. How the works is that you find a note that sounds good, and you stay on that note until it no longer sounds good. I know that sounds really difficult, but if you fool around with it enough, it becomes fairly easy. A good note to start with is the one a third above or below the main melody. Start with simple tunes like Amazing Grace. Try and hear when the chords (which create the harmonic structure of the piece) change and change your note at the same time.
Also try and sing with other people who are singing harmony in a group. If you can follow along with them, you'll begin to get a better ear for what works and what doesn't in harmony. The most important thing is to familiarize your ears with the sounds of different notes being sung at the same time, and being able to pick out the notes that you want to sing. Formal training isn't necessarily a requirement (I've been at some church meetings where the people harmonized better than my high school choir), but learning how to hear other pitches in the chord is.
2007-03-14 14:38:28 · answer #2 · answered by toomuchtimeoff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be taught, it's easier with some musical training. Your vocal teacher can teach you to harmonize. From the way you are writing it doesn't sound like you know what harmonizing is, it's a part that's different from the melody that provides contrast in it. You don't do it in Solo singing. It's pretty easy to learn, most harmonies usually involve going a third interval up or third interval down from the note. Again, that may not make sense but with basic music training you can learn what an interval is in no time. By the way, and interval is the distance between two notes...
2007-03-14 10:30:46 · answer #3 · answered by Seth 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm only 14 and I've already learned to harmonize. It's not really that hard. You just have to listen to a CD and try different notes that are slightly lower or higher than the melody. Over time you will have developed an ear for harmony and will be able to harmonize with just about any song.
2007-03-17 02:21:23 · answer #4 · answered by Tara W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well here's my two cents! I think the easiest way to learn to harmonize is to learn to your own voice. Make a simple recording of an easy and well known song. It can be as simple as Happy Birthday. Then practice playing the recording back and find a harmony. If you master that, record it, play it back and find another harmony!! I think this is more effective then trying to listen to a harmony to learn to harmonize (if that make sense??). You'd end up learning the melody and the notes, but it doesn't really teach you the ability to find it yourself, and THAT MY FRIEND IS THE KEY. It's not singing the harmony, it's finding it; knowing where it is! Good luck. I think it's wonderful that you are trying to expand as a vocalist!
2007-03-15 10:42:04 · answer #5 · answered by angelrattay 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
harmony is a learned skill that takes time and patience ( as does everything else we want to do well). If you go to your favorite on-line bookstore, you will find plenty of books on ear-training and harmony.
Read up a bit on it first, and then get together with other like-minded people to try it out. it's a good idea to have a guitar or keyboard at hand, to orient yourselves as to where the pitches or tones are.
In the case of singers, one wants to feel secure in one's own vocal abilities first ( voice lessons?!) to be able to let go of the need to listen to one's own voice, and listening instead to how one's tone mixes with those of the others. This ensures a good mix of voices, and also helps us to stay in tune with one another.
Joining a choir should be put off until you are comfortable with these two facets.
Best wishes and keep on singing
2007-03-14 19:58:25 · answer #6 · answered by lynndramsop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be taught to do anything. Get a group of people, and try singing the same note. Thats a good start.
I'm sorry if I didnt hit the point you wanted.
Good Luck!
2007-03-14 08:02:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-03-02 08:12:19 · answer #8 · answered by John 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can be taught.I took singing lessons for a year and it is sort of trickey to harmonize.You have to think of want note they are on and want note would sound good with that 1.then you have to think is it 1 flat or two to make sure you are on key.It takes practice but you can get it.
2007-03-14 11:11:24 · answer #9 · answered by chapstik 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋