Barbershop Harmony Primer

When most people think "Barbershop," they think of old men in boaters
and armbands warbling some old grampa music. Maybe Meredith
Willson's The Music Man comes to mind. Fifty or
seventy-five years ago, that would probably be an accurate
description. Today, our style of music has grown and evolved into a
higher art form, enjoyed by men and women of all ages.

SPEBSQSA, Inc. has defined the Barbershop Style. Their

definition of the Barbershop Style is the standard by which most
other Barbershop Societies define their styles today. In part, the
Barbershop Style is defined as:

Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music
characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in
a predominantly homophonic texture.

Barbershop music features songs with understandable lyrics and
easily singable melodies, whose tones clearly define a tonal center
and imply major and minor chords and barbershop (dominant and
secondary dominant) seventh chords that resolve primarily around the
circle of fifths, while making frequent use of other resolutions.

Barbershop singers adjust pitches to achieve perfectly tuned chords
in just intonation while remaining true to the established tonal
center. Artistic singing in the barbershop style exhibits a fullness
or expansion of sound, precise intonation, a high degree of vocal
skill, and a high level of unity and consistency within the
ensemble.

That's a mouthful in itself. It is said that a picture is worth
1,000 words. If that is true, a video must be worth even more. Also,
watch the "Singing is Life" video which is linked in the left side
bar.

Former Barbershop Society president and acclaimed coach and director
Dr. Greg Lyne explains the element of the barbershop sound with help
from International champs Marquis.

Listen to more great barbershop harmonies on the web.