How do I learn a harmony part by ear?

By the RepeatWatch team · Updated

Quick answer

Loop one line of the song, slow it to about 0.75×, and sing the melody until it's secure. Then listen for the harmony voice above or below it and sing just its first note against the loop. Add notes one at a time, and practice switching between melody and harmony on alternate loops.

Try this now: loop a chorus line and sing the melody. On the next loop, sing the note just above where the melody starts and hold it. Does it blend or clash with the recording?

How to learn a vocal harmony part with loops

  1. Pick a recording with clear harmonies. Choose a version where the harmony is easy to hear, such as a live acoustic take, and loop one line.
  2. Learn the melody first. Sing the melody along until it is automatic. You need to know where it goes to hear what moves against it.
  3. Find the harmony's first note. At 0.75×, listen above or below the melody. Hum the first harmony note and hold it while the loop plays.
  4. Add one note at a time. Harmony parts often move with the melody a third or a sixth away, but not always, so check each new note against the loop.
  5. Alternate loops. Sing the melody on one loop and the harmony on the next. Set Pause between loops to 2 s to reset your ear.
  6. Climb and save. Speed trainer: Step +0.05×, Every 3 loops, Goal 1×. Save each harmony line as a section named for your part, like "chorus high harmony".

Try it now: paste a YouTube link.

5 common mistakes

  • Trying to learn the harmony before the melody is secure.
  • Drifting onto the melody note when the two parts get close.
  • Only singing along with the recording, where the original harmony singer covers your wobbles.
  • Assuming the harmony always stays a third above; good parts change interval.
  • Looping too long a passage to hear one voice clearly.

Frequently asked questions

What is a vocal harmony?

A vocal harmony is a second voice singing different notes from the melody at the same time, often a third or a sixth above or below, so the two blend into a chord.

How do I hear the harmony in a song?

Loop a short line and slow it to around 0.75×. Sing the melody, then listen for the notes that don't match yours. Headphones make backing voices easier to pick out.

How do I stop drifting to the melody?

Practice your part against the melody on alternate loops and hold your first note while the melody moves. Start slow and raise the speed only once your part stays put.

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