I’ve posted before about the camping weekends our music club hosts twice a year. At the last one we had a new event - similar to the epic / viral “pub choir” videos that are around, we had a “Club Choir” workshop led by a group of experienced singers. We are planning another camping weekend very soon and to get everyone in shape for the next club choir I’ve helped put together a bunch of “Sing Along” videos so anyone can practice their harmonies.
Since it’s based on two of the more common songs, Wagon Wheel and Country Roads, I thought I’d share the playlists here in case they are of use to anyone. You’ll see a video of the group performance, then individual videos for the different vocal parts to work on
I’m assuming you know / can sing the melody like the lead vocal track. What we did in the workshop was divided into groups for each harmony and got to where we could sing that interval well and then all joined up at the end. Get to know the harmony like you know the lead vocals and then work on singing it along to the lead vocal track. I struggle with staying in harmony when I hear the lead. As with anything takes time and practice
One thing I want to confirm… the harmony tracks have a slightly different melody than the main vocal, correct? In country roads at least – I’m not working on wagon wheel at the moment.
I always assumed that harmony lines were exactly the same melody as the lead…just transposed up or down.
correct; some parts might be unison but often they go in different directions.
This is what creates the rich effects tat can give you goosebumps.
Thanks for the example files @tony
I think it’s an excellent exercise for many of us to study this example.
If you can throw in just one harmony and mix it gently in a recording you make, you can give it a bit of magic.
Sometimes a harmony can be a kind of padding.
Check this vocal of Paul Simon in Sound of Silence: it isn’t as dynamic as Garfunkels part but by creating waves of distances and unisons in the vocal lines, this melody sounds just as valuable as Garfunkels. On its own though, it might sound dull.
