HOW TO HARMONIZE BACKGROUND VOCALS.

Background harmonies, in particular, are more subtle harmonies that are used to complement a lead or main vocalist in popular styles of music, such as rock, pop and hip-hop. Background harmonies are the beginning point for most singers who are learning about harmonic theory, and they are much easier than other, more intricate harmonies.

Step 1:

Learn the key and lead, or main melody, of the song you wish to sing background to and know it well. Harmonies use other notes in the same key to shape themselves around the main vocal part.

Step 2:

Play this lead on your instrument, preferably a piano. While playing, pay attention to the main key the song is in, as well as the keys that are used throughout the song. Beginner harmonies with lead and background vocals are structured much like musical major and minor chords, or the first, third and fifth note in a key.

Step 3:

Incorporate harmonies on the instrument. If your melody is based on the home note, or first note in a key, the first harmony will be based on the third note. Thus, if you play C, G, F for your lead melody, play E, B, A for your first harmony. First harmonies almost always move exactly how the melody moves because they are the harmonies closest to the melody. Thus, in the key of C, if your melody is based on the third, or E, your first harmony will still be based on the C. Second harmonies involve fifth notes or harmonies that are farther apart, and do not always change when other notes do in order to maintain the correct chord structure.

Step 4:

Practice singing along with these harmonies. Also, exercise your ear for harmony by playing various chord progressions and singing only the first, third or fifth note of each chord.