PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

A harmony is a series of notes that blends with a song’s melody to add character and please the ears. From figuring out the best combination of notes to singing without straying from your part, harmonizing is tough. Sing along as you play notes on a piano first to get a feel for how harmonies work, then practice with apps, recordings, and alongside other singers. With the right techniques and practice, you can even learn how to harmonize by ear to any tune you hear.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Learning How Harmonies Work

PDF download Download Article
  1. A triad is a chord created by 3 notes; the C major chord is made of the notes C-E-G. Sing or hum along as you play the notes on a piano (or a virtual keyboard app) one at a time. Then play all 3 notes on the piano at the same time, and notice how the notes blend and agree with each other.[1]
    • The root note in this chord is C, and the distances between C and the other notes in the chord are called intervals.
    • Different intervals create harmonies with distinct tones. In relation to C, E is a major third and G is a perfect fifth. These intervals blend well with the root note, creating a pleasing harmony.
  2. Find the C key on your keyboard. If you count the 4 black and white keys to the right, you’ll land on E. For any root note, a note that’s 4 half-steps away will always be a major third.
    • On a piano, a half-step is the distance between 2 keys that are right next to each other. For a white key that's next to a black key, the black key counts as a half-step and the next white key over is a full step. However, white keys like E and F, which aren't separated by a black key, are a half-step apart.
    • Sing or hum along as you play root notes and major thirds on the keyboard. Play a note, then count 4 half-steps and play that note. Singing a root note and its major third will help you learn how to find a good harmony note by ear any time you hear a melody.
    Advertisement
  3. Instead of playing C-E-G, play C-E♭-G (E♭ is the black key to the left of E) to create a C minor chord. Sing or hum along as you play each note one at a time, then play all 3 notes together. Note how a minor interval sounds darker or more unstable than a major chord.
    • Count 3 half-steps to find a root note’s minor third. Sing or hum along as you play a root note and its minor third.
    • While there are countless exceptions, in Western music, composers often use minor thirds to evoke sadness and major chords to convey happiness.
    • Understanding major and minor thirds is key, whether you want to write harmonies or sing a harmony by ear when you hear a tune.
  4. As the notes in a melody change, you don’t necessarily have to move the harmony note with it. Try keeping the harmony note the same as you play a melody on the keyboard. Pay attention to how the note combinations blend, convey feelings, or clash with each other.
    • For instance, the harmony note doesn’t need to change with the melody to maintain a major third interval. It may stay the same until the melody moves to a note that clashes with it.
    • Experiment with note combinations to get a feel for coming up with your own harmonies. If notes clash or sound bad together, try moving the harmony note the same number of steps as the melody.
  5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Practicing on Your Own

PDF download Download Article
  1. From kids’ tunes like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” to contemporary pop hits, play basic melodies on the piano and practice singing along. To focus on hitting the right notes, hum or sing “La” instead of singing a song’s lyrics.[2]
    • A piano or virtual keyboard app can help you visualize the relationships between notes, which is the foundation of harmonizing.
  2. Now that you know more about creating harmonies, listen closely to your favorite songs. See if you can identify relationships between melodies and harmonies. As you listen, ask yourself what kind of intervals a harmony employs, if it blends seamlessly with the melody, and if there are dissonant, or tense, note combinations.[3]
    • As you listen to a song, work on memorizing the harmony. To make things easier, look online for harmony-only tracks of the song.
  3. Useful apps include Sing Harmonies and Harmony Voices. Download an app, learn a song’s harmony, then practice singing your part as you play the melody. When you first practice singing the harmony, lower the volume of the melody so you won’t get drawn away from your part.

    Refine your timing: In addition to a harmony app, it’s also wise to practice with a metronome or metronome app. Singing a harmony requires precise timing, so work on perfecting your sense of rhythm.[4]

  4. Record a track of yourself singing a melody, then play it while you sing the harmony. Gradually increase the volume of the recording each time you practice. This will help you learn how to stay on your part without getting distracted by other singers.[5]
    • Additionally, note any rough spots when you listen to recordings of yourself singing. If necessary, spend extra time practicing those sections of the song to improve your pitch and timing.
  5. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Harmonizing with Other Singers

PDF download Download Article
  1. Using a piano or virtual keyboard app as a guide, start by practicing a simple C major chord. For the note C, sing “one;” sing “three” for E and “five” for G. Sing “one” together at C, then have one person sing “three” at E while the other 2 hold the C.
    • Then, have someone sing “five” at G while the other 2 hold a C and E, respectively. After practicing C-E-G, try other combinations, such as G-B-D and F-A-C.
    • If you’re practicing with 1 other person, just work on 2-part harmonies.

    Tip: Singing the numbers when you practice the C major chord can help you and your friends visualize where the chords’ notes are in relation to each other. Additionally, humming, singing numbers, or using “La” instead of lyrics can help you focus on pitch when you’re learning to harmonize.[6]

  2. Learn your part perfectly to avoid getting distracted by other singers. It’s easy to get distracted by other singers when you’re harmonizing. The key to sticking to the harmony is to learn your part inside and out. Work measure by measure to commit each of your part’s notes to memory.[7]
    • If you’re in a choir, don’t rely on others in your section (such as other altos or baritones) to stay on track. Additionally, don’t assume that you’ll always be surrounded by other members of your section when you perform.
    • If you have trouble sticking to your part, practice singing with a recording of the melody. Play it softly at first, then gradually increase the volume.[8]
  3. Join a choir to put your harmonizing skills to the test. The best way to learn how to harmonize is to sing with others in a group. Look for a choir or chorus group at your school or place of worship, or look online for one in your community.[9]
    • If you’re a soprano and want to harmonize better, try to join a choir as an alto. Sopranos usually sing the melody, while alto, tenor, and baritone sections sing harmonies.
  4. While apps and other resources can be super helpful, nothing beats working one-on-one with an experienced voice teacher. In addition to harmonizing, a voice teacher can help you with other singing techniques, such as breath control and vocal health.[10]
    • Additionally, consider taking classes in music theory to learn more about how harmonizing works.
  5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What notes harmonize with E?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    The perfect 5th above (B) and below (A) harmonize best. Major and minor thirds above (G#, G) and below (C, C#) do also, depending on the other musical context happening. If you get deep enough into music theory, like Jazz prodigy and composer Jordan Collier, any note can harmonize with E.
  • Question
    What does it mean to sing melody?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Singing melody is singing the primary notes of the song. For example, if all instruments were taken away and all that was left was one singer singing the most important part of the song, that is the melody of the song.
  • Question
    What does it mean to harmonize in music?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Harmonizing is adding notes that complement the melody. Most harmonies follow the overtone series, using mostly perfect fifths, major thirds, and minor thirds.
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

About This Article

Annabeth Novitzki
Co-authored by:
Music Teacher
This article was co-authored by Annabeth Novitzki. Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004. This article has been viewed 1,172,655 times.
23 votes - 80%
Co-authors: 57
Updated: June 25, 2024
Views: 1,172,655
Article SummaryX

To harmonize, you want to add notes that complement the melody of a song. Every note blends and agrees with some notes more than others, so you'll need to determine which notes to sing or play together to create a harmony. For example, the notes C, E, and G go nicely together, and you could play all 3 notes at the same time to harmonize. To practice harmonizing, try using a sing-along-harmony app on your phone or computer. For more tips from our Musician co-author, like how to harmonize with other singers, scroll down!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,172,655 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Alice Garcia

    Alice Garcia

    Mar 10, 2018

    "Very clear and concise. I know the notes on the piano and not much more. The third and fifth information made..." more
Share your story

Did this article help you?

Advertisement