AboutBrian Philbin Expertise I can answer questions about Barbershop Quartet Music as well as early Musical Theatre songs and the beginnings of Popular Music, both of which are incorporated under the Barbershop Quartet umbrella.
Experience I majored in Theatre and Musical Theatre at Eastern Michigan University and perform in a Barbershop quartet and have taught and coached the subject world-wide (US, Canada, England, Russia, New Zealand, etc.).
Organizations SPEBSQSA, Inc. (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quaertet Singing in America - the founder's had a sense of humor about their hobby)
CASA (Contemporary Acappella Society [of America])
Metropolis (A barbershop quartet) - http://www.harmonize.com/metropolis
Publications The Masters Voice, The Harmonizer and various forums on these subjects.
Education/Credentials Baccalaureate of Science in Theatre and Musical Theatre.
Awards and Honors 3rd Place 2003 International Bronze Medalist Quartet
1998 National A Cappella Champion
Question Dear Brian,
I'm doing some recording in Cakewalk Home Studio, and I want to use vocal harmony. I'm not a musician, but years ago I used to sing a pretty fair harmony by ear. But I'm finding that the sense seems to have lapsed, and I need some musical guidelines about how to put together one or two barbershop-type parts for a given song. I don't really read music, but I can figure it out note by note, and if I know what notes to use, I can pick it out on my guitar and memorize it.
So what I'd like is some key topics to get me started in the library -- what headings should I be looking for?
Any advice you might have to offer would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike Nestor
Answer Hi, Mike!
Thanks for your question!
I don't think that I can really recommend anything you'd be likely to find in your library, but I can attempt to explain the basics.
Keep in mind that this harmony is almost built for people who don't read music (like myself) and is referred to as "ear singing" or "harmony by rote" (meaning harmony one has heard and repeats).
1) Barbershop-style harmony begins with the Lead/Melody part in the "middle". So, rather than having the melody of the song as the highest part (as it is in most choral arrangements, in the High Tenor or Soprano), there is one part always harmonizing above it and one always below it.
The Bass singer always provides the roots of the chord and the Tenor (High Tenor) always provides the harmony that you would most often consider "natural" harmony.
Using "You are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine", if you think of how you would naturally harmonize to it with a higher voice than the melody, that will give you a good idea of the Tenor part.
The leftover notes used to fill in four parts is left to the baritone, which essentially is in the exact same range as the Lead (in between the Bass and Tenor), but avoids all of the Melody notes.
2) The parts are Homophonic, in that they typically all sing the same words at the same time (rather than Polyphonic, like a Madrigal or Classical piece tends to be).
3) The most common chord used for all of the harmonization are Minor 7th chords (same as blues, also referred to commonly as a "Barbershop 7th). This is part of what gives barbershop that Ringing, "buzzy" sound that you hear when it is done well.
Currently, most barbershop is sung with straight tones (singing without vibrato) in order to clarify the chords (and improve the ringing of the overtones).
And here are the best cuts that will provide "typical" barbershop harmony for your ear. Unfortunately too many of them are Ballads, but the couple of uptunes (Bye Bye Blues, Goodby Old Dixie and Hello, My Baby) should give you a balance of ideas for this):
Acoustix - I'm Afraid the Masquerade is Over RealPlayer stream
Boston Common - City That Has No Heart RealPlayer stream
You can also write directly to Dr. Greg Lyne at SPEBSQSA.org with questions on what books might be available or resources online that can get you the specific musical information you might need beyond what I've given you.
I hope that this is helpful. If I can clarify anything, please let me know and I'll do my best to provide all the help I can!
