barbershop harmony
Close four-part vocals
Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music for four parts—tenor, lead, baritone, and bass—characterized by close harmonies and a ringing, resonant blend.
The style emerged in African American communities in the late 19th century and became associated with amateur singing groups, often performing sentimental or nostalgic songs.
The name evokes an era when barbershops served as informal gathering places where men might harmonize together.
- Tin Pan AlleyMusic publishing district
- overtoneSubsidiary meaning or harmonic
- chord progressionSequence of tonal changes
- lead vocalPrimary singing part
- community singingCrowd performing songs together
consonance · regional chapters · historical recordings · pitch pipe · musical heritage · oral tradition · melody · a cappella · international conventions · nostalgia · staging · quartet · choreography · woodshedding · cultural identity
- harmonychord, chords, triad, triads, consonance
barbershop harmonyinstrumental music
Music without vocals
orchestral music · electronic music · solo piano · big band · symphony
barbershop harmonyatonality
Absence of key signature
dissonance · serialism · cacophony · noise music · atonal music
barber, barbershops, barbers, shopped, shopping, shopper, shoppers, barbering, barbered