A Guide to Vocal Techniques Across Genres: Part 7 of 10

 

Vocal Techniques for Barbershop Quartet Singing: The Art of Harmony

Disclaimer Reminder: These explanations are meant to give an overview only, and it should be understood that there is considerably more complexity and detail than what I can disseminate in this platform.

As we continue our journey through the vocal techniques across genres, we have arrived at an intriguing destination – the world of Barbershop Quartet Singing. [Note: Barbershop Chorus singing will be explored in Blog Post 8 of the series.] This style calls for a unique blend of personal proficiency, harmony, and the ability to tune with others. Today, we dive deeper into the subtleties of this genre and explore how to hone the required skills.

Introduction: The Unique Demands of Quartet Singing

Barbershop Quartet Singing is a special form of vocal ensemble. Each of the four singers — the lead, tenor, baritone, and bass — plays a critical role in creating the overall sound. The genre's success relies on the individual vocal skills of each singer and their ability to harmonize with one another. It demands an incredible sense of pitch, timing, and balance. Unlike larger choirs, there's no place to hide in a quartet – each voice part is distinct and equally important to the ensemble's overall sound.

Role of Individual Proficiency and Versatility

Each singer in a quartet needs a high degree of vocal proficiency. They should have a well-developed sense of pitch, a versatile vocal range suitable for their part, and a strong sense of rhythm. Additionally, each singer needs to be capable of adapting their vocal tone and volume to blend seamlessly with the rest of the group. Further, their ear must be highly developed to be able to recognize the slightest adjustments needed to align with the other voices.

The Importance of Blending and Tuning in Quartet Singing

In a Barbershop Quartet, the harmonious blend of voices is just as important as the melody itself. This requires each singer to adjust their vocal timbre and volume to match the others, resulting in a unified, balanced sound where no one voice stands out, but rather, their voices align to create a single unit of sound containing all four parts within it. Tuning is also essential. Given that the barbershop style relies on reinforcing overtones between voices, even slight tuning discrepancies can be very noticeable.

How Barbershop Harmony technique compares and contrasts with the other styles we’ve been exploring.

Barbershop harmony singing in a quartet setting indeed shares some fundamental aspects of vocal production with opera, speech level singing (SLS), and belting, while also requiring its own unique technique.

  1. Alignment/Posture: In terms of physical alignment and posture, barbershop shares much with the other genres. Good posture, with alignment from the ankles, through the hips, spine, and to the top of the head is universal. It helps maintain a relaxed and open throat, enabling unimpeded airflow and facilitating resonance.
  2. Breath Support/Control: Breath support in barbershop is closer to SLS than to opera or belting. Singers need to support the tone with a steady airflow but it doesn't require as much "pressurized" breath as opera or belting. The goal is a natural, conversational style of singing. However, the longer phrases and some of the more extreme dynamics often found in barbershop may demand a level of breath control closer to opera.
  3. Resonance: In barbershop, the focus is on achieving a "ringing" sound that maximizes the overtone series, creating expanded sound or "lock and ring". This is different from the round, full resonance in opera, the natural resonance of SLS, or the bright, forward resonance in belting. Resonance in barbershop is further complicated by the need for the quartet to tune their voices to each other, creating a blended resonance that's more than the sum of its parts. It is important to note here that for the highest level of quartet singing, there is a key distinction between SLS and the ideal barbershop sound. Yes, both are to sound “natural.” However, barbershop celebrates the harmonic expansion, while SLS does not. It is interesting to note, however, that when singing within the context of a barbershop CHORUS, the production can be well-served with a decidedly SLS approach. Indeed, there are top-level choruses that employ more of an SLS approach to their singing, and those that focus more on the individual harmonic expansion of each voice.
  4. Diction: Clarity of words is essential in barbershop, as it is in SLS and musical theater (where belting is often used). This is slightly different from opera, where the specific sounds of words often yield to the needs of the vocal line. In barbershop, the text must always be clearly understood, which requires crisp, precise diction.
  5. Expression: In barbershop, the expression tends to be more direct and speech-like, similar to SLS and musical theater. This contrasts with the often grand, larger-than-life expression found in opera. That said, barbershop singers take great care to express the emotions and storytelling elements of their songs, just as in all the other genres.

Remember, while these general comparisons hold true, there will always be individual variations based on the specific demands of the music and the choices of the performers.

Exercises and Tips to Improve Quartet Singing

  1. Matching Pitch and Timbre: Try singing long, sustained notes together and work on matching your pitch and tone to the rest of the group. This exercise can help you learn to adjust your voice to blend with your fellow singers. Work slowly and focus on unity.
  2. Harmonizing Exercises: Practice singing exercises, tags (ends of songs) and simple songs in four-part harmony. Start slow, focusing on tuning and blend, and gradually increase the tempo as you get comfortable.
  3. Listening Skills: Spend time listening to each other sing. Pay attention to each singer's unique vocal characteristics and learn to anticipate and match their phrasing, dynamics, and tone. A good coach can help speed this process considerably.
  4. Individual Vocal Technique: Don't neglect your individual vocal technique. Regular exercises to improve breath control, range, and agility will help you contribute more effectively to the quartet.

In the world of Barbershop Quartet Singing, teamwork is the key. While individual vocal skills are essential, the ability to blend with the group is paramount. So, practice, listen, blend, and most importantly, enjoy the beautiful harmonies you create together!

Up Next! Here's the link to the next part 8 of 10 in the series: Vocal Techniques for Barbershop Chorus Singing: One Voice in Many

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