How to Sing Harmony

Updated 8/16/2024

By Camille van Niekerk

What is Harmony?

First, to understand how to sing harmony, we need to know what melody is!

Melody is the principal part in harmonized music.

It’s the lead line, the part we remember and sing along with.

If I asked you to sing "Happy Birthday," you’d be singing that song’s melody. 

Harmony occurs when more than one note is played simultaneously, creating chords and chord progressions.

In this singing lesson, when we’re specifically talking about vocal music, harmony can be defined as any vocal part that is sung with the melody, but is different from the melody.  

In general, harmony parts follow the shape of the melody.

For example, if the melody goes up, the harmony part usually goes up.

This isn’t always the case.

A harmony part could stay on the same note for an extended time.

Or it could do something completely different from the melody, in which case we might classify it as another kind of vocal part, like a descant.

But for the most part, harmonies tend to mirror the movement within the melody (pitch going up, down, or staying the same). 

How do I get started?

The best way to begin singing harmony is to learn the harmony parts that exist in your favorite songs.

That means: instead of singing the melody with the lead singer, you’ll listen for the background vocal parts and sing along with one of them.

Listen for the harmony part on the chorus especially, and see if you can sing along with the backing vocalist.

Watch your vocal range when working on this, since the lead singer of your favorite song might have different range than you.

A few good ones to start with: “Africa” by Toto and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Pretenders.

You can also choose a duet and sing along with one of the singers, since they often switch off singing melody and harmony.

Try “Señorita” (Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello) or “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” (John Legend & Meghan Trainor). 

Vocal Lessons for Beginners Tip: it’s easier to hear the distinction between two voices when they sound very different from each other.

So choose songs that have a girl singing lead and guy singing harmony, or vice versa; that way, you’ll know that you’re either singing along with the guy or the girl.

How do I stay on my harmony part?

In the beginning, ignore the melody!

You’ll eventually get used to singing harmony and staying on your part.

But if you’re just starting out, you may find yourself defaulting to the melody, since it’s the part you know, and it’s louder in the mix of the song.

Do your best to tune into the supporting vocalist and sing along with them!

How do I create my own harmonies?

You don’t need to read music or be an extremely advanced singer to create your own harmonies!

Most singers start “hearing” and singing their own harmonies once they’ve been learning harmonies for a while.

You intuitively begin to pick up on the song’s chord structure and sing a harmony part that both fits within the chords and follows the melody line as they learn how to sing better.

Instruction in sight reading, ear training, and music theory will also help you create your own harmonies, as you learn about chord structure and progressions within popular music.

Check out our tutorial on harmony here!

How do I know if I’m doing it right?

There’s no actual “right” and “wrong” in music, but there are some rules that you should follow during your online vocal training to produce music that sounds most pleasing.

The only two “rules” for harmony creation would be: don’t clash with melody, and don’t clash with the chords.

There’s a musical term for “clashing” called dissonance and it is sometimes intentional.

But in most contemporary and popular music, your harmony should sound like it fits.

It’ll be pretty obvious if you sing a note that doesn’t fit with the melody and chords.

If you’re unsure, ask a vocal coach for beginners.

Which kinds of songs are easiest to harmonize with?

The simpler, the better.

If you’re just starting out, look for easy songs to sing.

Using acoustic live versions of songs will ensure there are no extra recorded vocal layers to worry about.

Look for duets, and learn the supporting vocalist’s part, ignoring the lead.

Then when you’re ready, look up solo performances and practice creating your own harmony.

If you play an instrument like guitar or piano, you can learn the chords to a song and slowly work out a harmony part using the pitches in the chords you play (that aren’t already being sung in the melody).

If you’re into a capella music and want a challenge, try singing along with just one of the singers in an a capella group (like the Pentatonix). 

Good luck, and have fun harmonizing!

FAQ

How to learn to sing harmony?

Start by listening to songs with harmonies and practice singing along with the harmony parts. You can also use a piano or guitar to help you match the notes.

How do I harmonize my voice?

To harmonize, try singing a third or fifth above or below the melody. It’s about finding the right notes that complement the main tune without clashing.

How do people sing in harmony?

People sing in harmony by picking notes that blend well with the melody, usually following the chords of the song. It takes practice to get a feel for how different notes work together.

What are the rules for singing harmony?

The basic rule is to choose notes that complement the melody and fit the chord progression. Avoid clashing notes and listen carefully to ensure everything blends.

How do you sing harmony without being confused?

Focus on your part and try to block out the melody if it’s throwing you off. It helps to practice your harmony part on its own until you’re confident.

How do you build vocal harmony?

Start with a strong melody and then add harmonies one at a time, making sure each new part fits well with the others. It’s like stacking layers that all work together.

Does singing harmony come naturally?

For some people, it does, but for most, it takes practice. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes.

Are vocal harmonies just chords?

In a way, yes! Harmonies are like the vocal version of chords—different notes coming together to create a fuller sound.

How many voices are needed to make a harmony?

You need at least two voices to create harmony, but the more voices you add, the richer the harmony can become.

Is it possible to sing in harmony with yourself?

Yes, it’s possible using recording techniques. You can record yourself singing the melody, then layer your voice singing the harmony on top.