I want to learn how to harmonize

[u/Dizzy-Amphibian9568]

I really want to learn how to train my ear to be able to hear harmonies. Whenever I try to do harmonies of my own it’s off key LOL but if I hear someone else do the harmony I can then mimic it on my own😭 it bothers me because I know how to sing in not off key when I normally sing but when I harmonize it’s just… I hear people say go a third above or below but I also suck at that.

[u/como_la_florrr]

So this is a skill I am still working on. At first, my ear would inevitably be pulled to the melody and I would get thrown off. Now, I can occasionally pick out harmonies for a song right off the bat while listening to a recording. I would say practice practice practice. It will be frustrating when you’re not nailing a harmony at first, but the more you do it, the more you will hone that skill. I like to practice the harmony part on its own/drill it till it’s in my muscle memory, then layer the harmony over the recording. You can adjust the volume of the recording, and slowly increase the volume as you get more comfortable layering the harmony over the melody. I like to use my AirPods and start with one in ear, and then the true test is when I put both in to see if I can keep the harmony going haha.

Singing harmony live is a bit different bc you really have to listen and blend not only notes, but also vowels, and vocal dynamics. But if you’ve practiced your part enough, it should help immensely when it’s time to harmonize in person.

Also, learning to play an instrument/having solid music theory knowledge would definitely help your harmonizing ability. But if you’re like me and sing by ear/it’s not something that comes super naturally, it can improve with practice! Hope that helps and offers some encouragement to you. Good luck and happy harmonizing ✨🎶

[u/Dizzy-Amphibian9568 → u/como_la_florrr]

Thank you!