Barbershop Theory 8: The 5 Steps of Barbershop Arranging

[@passonthering]

Absolutely perfect! My sixth step is polishing. Often the performers aid in this step. This is a “Must Watch” for anyone approaching barbershop arranging! Bravo!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much Paul! So true, especially when working on commission pieces for groups!

[@evanoverman7885]

Thanks for this video! Very well polished and produced. So many helpful tips and tricks

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much!! Really appreciate that!

[@FlatGuy-d5n]

one thing i could suggest when making tags is borrow from the minor side, like in Cmaj, you can use chords from Cmin, it gives an intense feeling

[@jeffcarroll6196]

One thing that you could add is to make sure that you have a Barbershop Quartet (or Chorus) willing to sing your arrangement so that you can hear the result of your effort. It is very useful to be present when they rehearse the song - as you will learn what works well and where they have difficulties! It would be an idea to join the Chorus to experience for yourself how difficult - easy - effective your arrangement is - and you will meet many of the Barbershop effects and styles in the process of singing other arrangements. Jeff

[@ValerieBurke-ut6mc]

I have tremendous respect for your teaching videos and truly believe in the process to give back. But, with respect to your question, simply put a great baker must completely understand the science behind ingredients that differentiate the best bakers from the beginners. If baking is your lifelong passion then you spend years perfecting the basics. I sing harmonies easily by ear but struggle with writing them down because I’ve never taken the time to study the science. This video relaxes the anticipation of the finished “sound” and forces a composer to learn the craft. Well done! Thank you.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much for you kind comment! Love the analogy!

[@goldmans95]

One I've been waiting for!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks dude!! Hope it was worth the wait 🤞🏻😄

[@goldmans95]

@@BarbershopTagAlong nailed it bro

[@ManrikiKusari]

I’ve been waiting for this, can’t wait to make my own barbershop song now!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Let’s gooo!!!

[@jeffcarroll6196]

Don't forget to find a Barbershop Quartet (or Chorus) to hear your arrangement sung. Try to be present when they rehearse your arrangement - you will learn much from hearing the arrangement sung!

[@jeffcarroll6196]

Also, find (or borrow) several Barbershop Arrangements to study as you approach your arrangement. You may find Barbershop books in your local Music Library! Good luck!

[@reidrainwatermusic]

This is a phenomenal video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much!! Really glad you liked it!

[@ronjames-music]

Great video. I'm amazed at how your were able to produce such a video with all of the various clips you provided. It must have taken you many hours to complete this one. I agree with your approach.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much Ron! It took around 30 work hours I think 😅

[@1stCZbarbershopper]

This is GOLD!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks!!! Really appreciate it!

[@Mrphilharmonic]

I think you should combine your video clips and put them a ‘master course’ on a 3hr DVD. You’d make a mint!! I’d buy it.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Haha, that's not a bad idea!

[@flynntaylor561]

Been waiting for this one for a while, a lot of good considerations and things that I haven't considered. In terms of the question at the end, I personally feel that it depends on the case whether or not you should put off all of the embellishments. Sometimes you think of a really cool idea early and put it in, which motivates you a lot, but it's also good to build a solid foundation and add some interest to it afterwards. It's probably pretty contextual, and depends on your situation (e.g. if you need to get an arrangement done quickly, it could be good to get the more foundational steps finished first rather than adding in an embellishment that may or may not fit well into the chart as a whole). It's a good question and I'll have to think more on it. Great video though! I've done a lot of research into barbershop theory online over the past few years, and I want you to know that your videos have been one of the best sources for theory knowledge that I've found on the internet, whether that be reinforce ideas that I've already heard, or reexplain stuff in a way that's a lot clearer to understand. I'm so happy that you've covered arranging, and thanks for all of the hard work that you've put into all of your videos so far. I'm usually not one to comment much, and I'm sure there are a lot of other people who haven't expressed their appreciation, but what you've done is doing so much for our weird little hobby :)

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much for your very kind comment ❤️ And I think you’re right about it be circumstantial: sometimes using the fun and wild ideas in the beginning can act like fuel on the bonfire, and the next day it keeps you stuck for hours! Again, thank you so much for you comment - really made my day❤️

[@flynntaylor561]

I'm happy I was able to make you feel good :) I just thought of a question - in bar 2 when you add the Adim7, that obviously changes the melody. What factors do you consider when it is and isn't appropriate to change alter the melody? Of course, you decided to change the melody here, but how would you know when an idea would change the melody too much to be worth it?

[@mr.stawmp]

Great video, will definitely be using this :)

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks!! Glad to hear it!

[@pe8268]

I already have a few potential arrangements floating around my head but I don't really know how to get all these ideas out of my head and onto sheet music, following these steps will probably help quite a bit. I'm pretty sure I already heard you talk about this when we visited y'all in December (BYC Member here😝) but it's wonderful to have it available in full video form now, thank you!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Yeah, this is based on my talk back in november, but it’s much more in detail and with better examples!

[@teodorlontos3294]

Thank you for a great video! Coming from a classical composition background, the theory has never been any problem for me. I am however always getting stuck when it comes to the topic of form. How many verses should I use, intro or no intro, should I use a key change and where? Some insight on this in a future video would be great! Kind regards from Sweden!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much!! Yeah, that can be a tricky part of arranging. For me, it comes down to the original song. If there isn’t enough “Spice” to work from, I tend to add a keychange, an intro or some other thing to make the arrangement more interesting. Cheers from Denmark 😄

[@Mrphilharmonic]

What a fabulous guide to developing a fascinating skill. I love the way you deal with each step logically and musically. Excellent explanations and illustrations! So easy to follow. I only wish they had taught like this in college! Superb!! Can’t wait for more ‘advanced’ stuff.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much for all the kind words!! Really glad you like the video!

[@sjtaylor128]

Very entertaining and instructive. I've dabbled in arranging and have a story I'll share. I once arranged a song for a Harmony College contest to get a free attendance scholarship. I got the scholarship but in the meantime my quartet was casted for a Music Man production. The rehearsals and performances lasted several weeks and I missed Harmony College that year. I gotta find my Barbershop Arrangers Manual and my old notes. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Really glad you liked it! Yeah, go dig out those notes!

[@ofirgaash]

I appreciate your hard (and professional) work!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!

[@hampus7474]

Wow, what an incredible video! As someone who is a beginner (even at basic music theory) this video perfectly captivated me the entire way through. Although I didn’t understand everything (patly due to English not being my main language) it was still super interesting and easy to follow and I can definitely tell that the video had a lot of thought and care put into it. Can’t imagine how helpful this would be for someone who really wants to learn. Me personally, I loved the examples and I had fun singing a long. It was also incredibly cool to hear the comparison to really see how all the small changes add up! Felt like I had to leave a comment to show appreciation for putting in the time and effort in order to give out this information for free.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much for you kind comment!! It really means a lot to me to hear!! ❤️ I hope this can serve as a guide and get you further into the arranging journey!

[@ginah8995]

Love this!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks!!

[@DigitalChocolates69]

Dude thank you for sharing this. You just gave me the tools I need to start arranging. This made sense!!!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

You’re welcome!!! So thrilled to hear that!

[@DKMonsieur]

Excellent video! As for your question at the end: I generally like outlining what kind of textures I will be using in different parts of the arrangement with just a few words at each place before starting with step 3. This way I can gather inspiration about what I want to do and get a feeling for how the arrangement will look at the end without getting too bogged down by the details, or without feeling limited by the harmonies I have already put down on paper. But I'm very much a beginner, so anything I say should be taken with a grain of salt 😅

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks!!! That sounds like a great idea!!

[@jeremyconnor8625]

Can’t wait to watch this later

[@silverstonegg2349]

Very useful, thank you!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

You’re very welcome!!

[@ugrasdurmus8704]

great video... thank you... loved it.. very instructive crystal clear

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much! Glad to hear that it was clear to follow!

[@lindqva]

Great video Søren! Many great tips and ideas. I've so many times started an arrangement with the aim of making it shop but ended up disappointed just because I wanted to spice it up too much. Your 5-step model will make it easier in the future I hope. Greetings from a northern neighbor! 💈

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thank you so much!!! So happy to hear that! 💈❤️

[@TheCrazylegs246]

Great video! I loved your theory videos over barbershop before this. Is there any possibility for you to do any arrangement coaching in the future (or do you know anywhere someone could go to get advice on specific arrangements)?

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks!!! I appreciate that! I could be open for helping out with some feedback 😊 I’m usually faily busy, but I’d be happy to help any way I can.

[@GustavHagner]

Awesome!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Taaaak!!

[@jpizzle1553]

Great video! Just one question for a beginner though. If I’m using a music notation software like musescore, what would be the best voices to use to listen back to while I’m writing?

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Thanks, glad you liked it! I usually use something that can sustain long notes (so not piano, for instance). I usually just use vocals or trombone/saxofone

[@FlatGuy-d5n]

hi. im a twelve year-old, i know alot of music theory, i know how to compose melodies from chords. i can identify chords from a song by listening just once. also knowing all 7 modes, and even complex chords etc. wish me luck, im gonna write one. I'll show it in my channel after i finish it.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

How cool!! Best of luck with your arrangement!

[@YquemPelloMusic]

It must have needed such a big amount of time and work to make this video ! And it really pays out, it's super clear with all the before/after samples (with human voices ! It's way more useful than with midi playback) My favorite part is the list of embellishments, I already know I'll come back to it regularly, as I do with your video listing the vocab chords. To answer your question about my arranging process : I'm also a fan of step 2 (notating the melody and original chords' symbols), but maybe not for the whole song. Maybe just 1 chorus and 1 verse. And I tend to skip steps 3 and 4 and do it all during step 5... and I agree that it's easy to get lost there :D so yeah, 1 2 5 for me Bravo, keep up the great work :)

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Yeah, it tool around 30 hours or so to make 😄 Really happy you like the video! Skipping some steps is fine, if you have experience arranging. I have sometimes written the tag first and then work backwards, but it’s SO easy to get lost that way 😄

[@Grstn-Grstn]

Man, I missed this video. I've been trying to compose Barbershop pieces like they were choral arrangements.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Hope you liked it!

[@BRAN06]

YES!

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

🫨🫨🤩🤩

[@FlatGuy-d5n]

also i gotta ask, what software do you use to create those?

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

The videos you mean? I use my phone to record video and the free version of DaVinci Resolve to edit.

[@snoobertwilliamson]

really basic question, is the bass clef transposed up an octave? or perhaps the other way around?

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Treble is sung an octave lower than notated - I think I forgot to put the symbol

[@snoobertwilliamson]

@@BarbershopTagAlong thank you

[@grantheineman]

Hell yeah

[@Pyrotechn1cs]

Im would like to try But i hate my voice 😞

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

Your voice is unique, and that’s what makes it beautiful! Plus, you don’t need to use your voice to arrange music!

[@vegacore101]

I did a Barbershop Tag to a song off the top of my head just from listening to the instrumentation. Tim Waurick told me my Tag was transitional. It went from Barbershop, to an element of Eric Whitacre dissonance (which I never considered that to be the case until it was pointed out to me, having not listened to any Whitacre music) back into Barbershop. I may (or may not) have used some of these elements you speak of in this particular Tag I linked. My Tag for a song titled Back Into Your Heart kzbin.info/www/bejne/nojFfnprr5tohcksi=LrJ0C7jIopgFXzmS

[@cadenseward2054]

First comment, not that it matters.

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

It so matters! Really hope you enjoyed the video!!

[@puravidajazz6048]

Funny how the Barbershop guys turn it all into Rocket science 🙄🙄

[@BarbershopTagAlong]

What do you mean? Do you mean that I’m turning it in to rocket science, or that barbershoppers in general do that? 😊