How to sing harmony - A simple ear training exercise

[@surfolydian]

some more ideas (aka torture): - only play the lower / higher note first, try to sing the lower / higher note, then check - play a scale while singing a given interval higher / lower - sing one fixed pitch while playing a scale - sing a scale over playing the root note / 2nd note / 3rd etc. - sing arpeggios of major / minor / augmented / diminished triads / 6th / 7th chords - sing stacked, dissonant intervals - sing a simple melody backwards - sing a simple meldoy bit flat / sharp - play a note, wait 10s then try to sing it on pitch, gradually increase the waiting time

[@tinajarvis950]

Overall I enjoyed my listen. I only want to add that your lead vocalist has to watch his speed while singing, he was nervous which caused him to go ahead of the music at times and the correct speed is crucial in order for the listener to get the most out of what your bringing to the table. Lots of potential, love your tone, keep singing!

[@alexs.5843]

Yes, good idea Thank you

[@DrRhyhm]

@@tinajarvis950 That has to do with rhythm not intervals.

[@huss2600]

Thank you so much!

[@s4lroachclip]

This lesson is inspiring. I realized, from this, that I have a chance to be able to feel comfortable singing with people. Before, I would just not try at all. If you enjoy singing...then SING! Never stop trying, some people have to work harder at it than others but as long as you try and keep trying that is all it takes. If you don't try at all you will never get better. Be positive and keep working at it and watch Singers Secret videos.

[@caitlinzr02]

Thank you so much! For the longest time I've been practicing harmony and would sometimes get it and sometimes wouldn't. I would look all over KZbin finding the perfect video for me and I think I found that video.

[@Singersstory]

+caitlinzr02 you're welcome! :)

[@tead.4352]

If anyone is interested in singing the best success that i've ever had was by following the Bens Singer Blog (just google it) definately the most incredible idea that I've followed.

[@andyowens9683]

Double rude

[@limlinna728]

Just found your channel and it really work. Sometime i get it, sometime i lost..but with your methode I can catch the note better. Thank you so much

[@savagemanman]

Thank you so much for your great tips! I am learning harmony singing and finds it nearly impossible to sing correctly. When asking people (or even my teacher) they simply tell me to listen more to the chords, pay more attention, then I'll eventually get it and be able to sing harmony. But nothing in particular they advice how I can improve. Because I don't know how and what to listen to, no matter how hard I tried I don't think I'll never get there. Your tips is really useful and it's something I can manage and I can check by myself immediately if I singing a note right. Will watch more of your videos and recommend them to my friends and singing classmates.

[@Singersstory]

+savagemanman You're welciome! :)

[@snehasexperiments9905]

Hey! Thank you so much! Simple and to the point! This actually helped me understand how harmonies work. Although I watched this video just 5 minutes ago without ever having tried harmonizing properly, I can actually harmonize! This is so easy and right now I can't believe about the times I have thought about not being able to harmonize! Thanks a lot! :)

[@Singersstory]

+SnehaPradhanOfficial You're welcome! :)

[@Michellemcd543]

thank you! I will try this on my cover of ed sheeran. when I played back my harmonies it sounded funky! lol probably because I guessed and my ears haven't been trained for long! thank you!

[@mariafombawele7066]

thank you so much I am struggling so much to harmonize .this really helps!

[@tchelicon]

We're going to share this with our vocalist audience. Great exercise!

[@JimmyChaos1985]

Thank you! Not as easy as you'd think. I find going full octaves whole trying to keep the root note a good exercise too, and mixing in a few sharps and flats too. Basically all slight variations of what you have taught here. It's rather a satisfying exercise too. Thanks again :)

[@s4lroachclip]

no keyboard but have guitar and mic these will help allot. usually ill play a note and try to match it with my voice but it takes a bit of adjustment to get to the note, then i can hit it again and again, during that session. ill start then doing a series of notes but havent thought to do chords or play two notes and sing one thanks for the lesson.

[@karlacristobal5423]

Thank you so much for this tip! I don't really understand how I do it, but I do know that there is the I-III-V rule involved. This will really help me tackle lower notes based on the root. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@jah-rulehutchinson4975]

omd this is freaking helpful you have no idea how long I've been looking for this thank you :)

[@Singersstory]

you're welcome! :)

[@jerky2112]

Why would you say its more difficult if the notes are spread further apart? It will be easier when the notes are spread far apart as each note will stand out more. An octave and major second for example will be easier to discern the two notes than a minor second.

[@ashfentonmusic5972]

jerky2112 harder because u may not be able to reach the notes because of the range unless u sing them in their respective octaves lower or higher

[@paulawilliamson637]

jerky2112 thank friend ;)

[@ChefClary60]

Thx. I sent to a band mate who is struggling. I learned by singing Barbara Ann and other Beach Boys songs with a buddy back in 70s. I also always search for a harmony when a song comes on the radio.

[@mcdevious2229]

Very good way to show this. I always wondered which note I would track when listening to a chord. Thank you!

[@dinomaslamoney6309]

Thank you for this tip. It will really help me to sing at church.

[@emmanuelehiozuwa9052]

Pls is there a scale to practice in vocal harmony e.g like the major scale & how do you use the major scale in all 3part harmony.. I just want to get the concept form the scratch.. For example should the scale be practice like; main melody; do re mi fa so la ti do, them the harmony from the 3rd; mi fa so la ti do re mi, and the harmony from the 5th; so la ti do re me fa so... Please help!

[@TheDancingkittykat]

Thanks..I just joined the choir and am singing alto. I am going to do this exercise. It seems very helpful..

[@niky9965]

Ah I joined the choir too and I'm in alto Aswell! I struggle with this a lot and we have a piano at home but never use t so this is super useful! Hopefully it's going well for you too!

[@s4lroachclip]

i wish i joined the choir but i played the bass drum, or got a pair of crash cymbals, sometimes i got to play snare, but i was laughed out of my audition for jazz drummer, so i cranked up the 80's hair band rock n roll and never learned how to sing. Now even a rock drummer needs to sing backups to get a gig.

[@niky9965]

HRRoach i dont believe that its too late. if you still have the passion; make your dream come true

[@s4lroachclip]

thx niky9965, with this lesson it is as if a new road was opened and is going the way i need to go. Your comment is inspirational as is the video lesson. It is rare to see such kindness these days on the internet. In a profound sort of way this video and your encouraging words, have helped me keep the dream lights lit.

[@niky9965]

HRRoach ah no problem! i know you can do it, whatever you have set your minds on you can achieve, just believe in yourself and STAY COMMITED!! i know somedays it seems like youre not getting anywhere, but theyre all just baby steps and we dont really realize that because we are so focused on pushing our vision towards our goal, and not giving ourselves enough credit. baby steps are still steps, and steps take you closer to your goal, your goal that i know you have the absolute capability of achiving. i hope you know what you want so you can get it:) if you ever need help or advice message me!

[@anchy588]

Among a lots of videos, this was actually helpfull

[@julianaahvun5428]

hi..i just joined choir in school and i am in alto. I have never learn vocal before or learn any basic..when my senior ask me us to warm up i dont know how to warm up while following the piano..i think i am tune deaf..bc i dont even know if I am doing the warm with the correct notes or not..

[@arthurgasca8777]

IT´S BEAUTIFUL !!!

[@seraph-wt2vy]

Ok first of all, you have a brilliant voice. Just love love love it =) Second, your way of teaching is simple and easy to understand. Third, I actually learned to harmonize!!! :D :D Thank you so much xx p.s - Cute smile too, by the way :)

[@ucabarnym.8240]

Thank you! Your video really helped me regain my harmonizing voice again. 😁😁😁😁😁

[@GaBraca]

Thank you so much for this video. I need to do a lot of ear training and this one looks very helpful! Thanks!

[@emmyloumusicou]

Omg I was so mad at me because I cant hear the harmonys...but this will help me! thank u girl u are amazing 💞

[@Singersstory]

Thanks Emily! :)

[@youngmusic5925]

I am a middle school teacher and I am trying to build a choir. Thank you for this online tip.

[@Singersstory]

You're welcome!

[@ainain9x]

Oh my, this is exactly what I need. Thank you!

[@giselledorsett7259]

Wow! I'm a little out of practice and I found this very helpful! Thank you!!

[@emiliemusic0625]

hi, thank you for your sharing. can I use the same way to practice grade 6 aural (singing upper part melody)?

[@ImKrissLee]

This is really so practical!! Thank you.

[@Singersstory]

You're welcome! :)

[@rommie4770]

Thanks for that vocal tip.

[@UntoHimLeather]

God bless you. 'm really delighted simple to mark what the other note is! Big book compressed in 3:36 minute!! Hope one day I may invite you to teach the Worship song leaders! From Ethiopia.!

[@UniqueTouch]

oh smack thats Great stuff Mrs Nicola Milan is it?!!! I have been singing since 18 publicly and had my own groups in the Latin Tropical Salsa genre where harmony in the Chorus is a must have! I have escaped with ppl telling me wrong note Mr. millan but we can work around it as long as i dont change over to another key. I hate that though I have gotten by with it. I would love to be the one who is finally leading the harmony So I thank you for this video Mam! I've done the school thing but omg its just too too expensive for personal lessons. Anyw. thanks a Mil for helping!!!

[@mdwayne741]

Great lesson.. this really helps.

[@guitaring1]

great exercise, thanks!

[@sarahoneill8207]

Thank you! Such a simple and practical exercise.

[@aliciayee3893]

Question. For the warm up, like do we sing it like DIRECTLY after? Or can we pause and think?

[@ShakeelAhmed-ls1mq]

thnx dude....its really nice method...i like it

[@sentimentaloldme]

This is very useful...thank you...I'm practicing recording harmony with my own voice...I'm just doing it by ear...the big problem I'm finding is holding the note...

[@s4lroachclip]

you are running out of air

[@sentimentaloldme]

I have practiced this with a free recording program called Audacity...I'm not running out of air...when I record the harmony part on the second track...I seem to slip away from the harmony and back into the original melody on some of the lyrics...(I can pick up most tunes by air..and play almost any melody on piano without sheet music). ..

[@mazharmannan97]

Great work!!! Thanks for the tips.

[@funwithry1320]

Thnx! In gonna try this exercise right away 🎹👌🏽

[@allPodd]

Hi. Thank you for the tip. It is easy to understand. I have a question about why this would be effective. Why would singing one out it two random notes train my ear? Thank you.

[@chippchipp1]

The idea is that you start to hear chords as separate, distinct notes

[@Tony.H03]

Does she also have a video about finding harmony? That's what's hardest for me. Sometimes I find it, sometimes I don't. Mostly I'm able to sing the chord notes and about 50% a third above. I can sing almost any harmony once someone showed it to me, but finding a harmony is hard. Is there a video to help you do that?

[@chippchipp1]

Loop the part of the song you're trying to figure out, and try to match the harmony part you want to learn. It will become more clear every time you listen to it

[@georgeskomorowski]

thank you dear!! That was easy and cool!!

[@Singersstory]

You're welcome! :)

[@kristin3471]

thank you this was very helpful!

[@janesuba7688]

This helpful for me

[@mjt11860]

great exercise! thanx.

[@seabreeze3906]

A note above? Or a triad above?

[@JerryAndJulieMusic]

Love this!!

[@rickanarchy1637]

what great tips! thanks

[@marianobmarques]

Big help. Thank you,

[@Singersstory]

+Mariano Marques You're welcome! :)

[@patboyle578]

Smart practice drills

[@SkyLights702]

thanks 4 the helpful tip

[@kyleneshannon6596]

This helped me out thanks :)

[@lovelore]

Thank you this is a good idea

[@Singersstory]

You’re welcome 😊

[@Sixpoint7five]

Silly question, is there some kind of average time for this excerise to start working? Intermediate vocalist Good video btw, very useful

[@Singersstory]

It would be different for everyone depending on how good your musical hearing is.

[@bradh.3542]

Thank You!

[@scrubs4everr]

amazing tip! thank you!

[@skwisgaarskwigelf2775]

Ah thank you! Everytime I try to harmonize with my friend I always mess it up!

[@satinlover14]

THANK YOU MS.LIFE SAVER

[@chrisfolkharmonicaplayer6292]

Simple harmony is just 2 notes apart. So when you do this on a key board , play 2 keys at the same time with just one key un touched in between. Play scales, going back and forth this way. If you listen to the Everly Brothers , many of their songs , such as "Bye Bye Love" are sung in simple 2 part harmony. I'm part of a sing along group and it's really fun to do that upper harmony, while most are doing the lower part. Try this at a birthday party singing the final "Happy Birthday To You " and you'll impress others.

[@anthonysilva5312]

Great tip!

[@philiplandicho]

this is something new to me. Great tip!

[@antonshramenko4293]

thank you! that is helpful!

[@Singersstory]

+anton shramenko A pleasure :)

[@gerardgerard8344]

Excellent Tip! I will try !! Cheers, G :D London

[@princessbiker1975]

you sound like my piano teacher " if you make a mistake start over " lol

[@OfficialTvZ]

i can,t even sing a note in pitch after playing the note,how am i supposed to sing this//

[@Fremulshmat]

This is a great idea....thanks for the tip :-)

[@keturitahandie4695]

Omg This is so effective.

[@burpo]

Great tip.

[@kaih6361]

thank you

[@babadihatti1126]

beautiful

[@alexbrown2815]

Nice tut.. however I think the more octaves apart is the easier it is.

[@michaelashe5265]

+Alex Brown Totally agree!

[@joohop]

Thanks Chicken i do struggle but i try ;)

[@rachelcorley1178]

Great video!!

[@emmyware4216]

Nice

[@fredfive]

You're pretty and talented. Thanks for sharing.

[@HotShotR92J]

Very helpful. Very pretty.

[@sherrylbellerkkila9982]

The sound is too low! All my speakers were turned up and I could not hear a word!

[@baibhavsingh2697]

1:31 I loved how you laughed.

[@MrLynnporter]

Sorry, but I have trouble understanding what you're saying and therefor doing on the keyboard. Would be better with clearer sound. I'll try it again later.

[@abrahamgomezfrancisco9039]

beatiful with glasse

[@WSGtr12]

I've been trying to hit 20 in a row for four days know. If I don't go to sleep I think I'll die.

[@Singersstory]

lol. You'll get there :)

[@DurgaDas96]

You speak clearly, simple and straight forward. But i don’t get the exercise.

[@melodydib5337]

My ear gets the lower notes better than the higher ones

[@gaylecheung3087]

Every great if we had two singers with you

[@abadonlucif2073]

that is not harmony..that is the low and high note. usualy in the harmony if the main singer in e note, low harmony backup singer is in c note and high harmony up to e note. like single key and combination key, that combination give the harmony. that harmony combination need the pro. home singer like me can understand that, but you pro give me stupid tip.

[@chippchipp1]

That is absolutely not how vocal harmonies work. The highest harmony note is rarely the same as the low harmony note but an octave apart, unless you're doing a five part harmony or something of that nature. If it's really basic three part harmony, its usually just triads. However, more complex harmonies are all over the place. Take the Beach Boys for example.

[@tinamackey4137]

Ok, so if you know so much about harmony, where's your video tutorial??? If your just being critical, then here's some criticism for you... Learn how to speak proper English.

[@abadonlucif2073]

dumb always dummy...

[@tinamackey4137]

Yes Abdon Lucif you are a dummy. But it doesn't have to be that way. You could start by not being so critical of others. If you were nicer, people would be more willing to overlook your ignorance.

[@abadonlucif2073]

hahahahahaha..you enjoy to learn cat walk from crab..bravo..

[@micktiano9386]

This would have been better of her volume was louder on the video, I couldn't hear a lot of what she was saying, and I have perfect hearing

[@blindcansee1]

if you wash any of my videos.you'll see that I need so much practice! :-/

[@IG-bestkingmusic1]

👍👍

[@AVibrantVoice]

dont have a instrument but i downloaded a free piano app. thanks

[@filippovannella4957]

the further the notes are the easier it is, not the contrary.

[@Singersstory]

Actually some people find it difficult the other way around. Its an individual thing.

[@mariopascalonline9052]

get a piano app on your phone/tablet

[@nolifeonearth9046]

dont go into the woods with that color. My grandmother told me that once

[@erikjensen6171]

thanks so much ! you are beautiful too;=)

[@Singersstory]

+Erik Jensen Thanks!! :)

[@alexs.5843]

I'm sorry, but that's so cute :)

[@KrisGoetting]

great tips, but the sound is horrible

[@CeeJay611]

I'm sorry this doesn't help me because I don't understand any of it. Back to the drawing board. Thanks anyway

[@angelpuckett01]

You have one of the sexiest voices I've ever heard!😍

[@arguingwithstupidpeople2047]

"Hominy?" I wanted HARMONY. Damn Brits, pronounce your "ahs."

[@Singersstory]

I'm not British.

[@arguingwithstupidpeople2047]

@@Singersstory Aussie then - same speech impediment ;-) Thanks for the personal reply and your great videos!

[@miniramptricks1986]

i wanna hear u actually sing something

[@Singersstory]

+hartay mujeeco Head to my own music website www.nicolamilan.com for all of my stuff. :)

[@jeffsvacuum]

thank you, very helpful!

[@Singersstory]

You're welcome! :)