vocal harmony
Voices singing together
Vocal harmony is the simultaneous singing of different notes that blend together, creating a richer sound than a single melody line.
In most Western music, harmony parts support a lead vocal: The backup singers provided tight vocal harmony.
Close harmony keeps voices within a narrow range; barbershop quartets are famous for it.
Some traditions feature harmony as equal voices rather than lead-and-support.
- a cappellaSinging without instruments
- vocalistsMusical voice performers
- barbershop quartetFour-voice a cappella ensemble
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
singers · lead singer · backing vocals · blend · madrigal · euphony · descant · choir · call-and-response · sing along · tenor · choral arrangement · gospel choir · baritone · doo-wop · Beach Boys · consonance · overtone
- singingsoprano, lead vocals, vocalist, alto, backing vocals
- American Singingspirituals, blues, country, gospel, barbershop
- Duetspiano duet, violin duet, love duets, guitar duet, pop duets
- musical communicationsinging, humming, whistling, chanting, yodeling
- R&BMichael Jackson, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
vocal harmonysolo
Performance by one
monophony · single voice · solo voice · unison · solo singing
vocal harmonydisharmony
Absence of agreement
discord · cacophony · off-key singing · discordance · out of tune