Barbershop Harmony

Achieving the ultimate barbershop sound is a thrilling feat that combines several elements of vocal excellence. It starts with a well-crafted 4 part musical arrangement and is brought to life by singers with polished vocal techniques. The true magic happens when their uniquely-balanced and blended voices come together and  create an overtone - a clear, resonant note that seems to "float" above the rest, sending a delightful shiver up the spine of both singers and listeners. It's this audible thrill that exemplifies the art and craft of barbershop harmony, leaving the audience in awe of the sound's pure, resonating power.

Barbershop harmony is vocal harmony produced by four parts: Lead, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass. Finding the right part for your voice is the very first step, and you'll be taken through a quick and easy voice placement on your first visit.  In ten to fifteen minutes, we'll have a solid idea of your comfortable singing range and your familiarity with music in general, as well as your interests!  

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Tenor is the harmony part sung consistently above the Lead. The Tenor should have a light, sweet, pure tone that will compliment but not overpower the Lead voice.

Lead is the melody and is sung in the range between A below middle C to C above middle C.  This is where the melody line of most modern music is sung.  

Baritone covers approximately the same range as Lead. The Baritone harmony notes cross the Lead notes frequently, sometimes sung below and sometimes above. Baritones must constantly adjust their balance to accommodate their position within the chord. 

Bass singers should have a rich, mellow voice and be able to comfortably sing the E flat below middle C.  Many Altos can sing the Bass line, but some are much better suited to Lead or Baritone depending on range and vocal quality! 

Want to know more?  Check out Sweet Adelines International's Barbershop 101 Guide!