Estimated reading time 4 minutes
Table of Contents
Why Use the Guitar to Learn How to Sing in Tune Like an A Cappella Singer?
Do you want to know a good way to train your ear to harmonize in tune? All you need is a guitar. Read more to learn how to sing in tune like an a cappella singer.
- When open D tuning is fine-tuned using harmonics, it makes playing the guitar a lot of fun. However, it also fashions a powerful ear training tool to help vocalists sing in tune.
- The guitar tuning creates a model of what a well-tuned chord should sound like. It helps singers who struggle with intonation to experience good harmony for themselves.
- Singing to the piano teaches vocalists to sing vague harmonies, because piano technicians tune the piano to equal temperament. Equal temperament compromises some of the harmonic intervals in order to limit the piano to just twelve notes. The piano makes a poor harmonic sound model.
- The fine-tuned guitar fills the gap, providing a much-needed harmonic sound model.
Alternately, you can use sing-along soundtracks to learn how to sing in tune:
This article uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
A Cappella Group Video
How to Tune the Guitar
To tune the guitar, please refer to the blog article:
The post also shows how to play the chords in open D. After tuning the guitar to open D, you can use it as an effective sound model for singers.
Exercises for Mastering Singing in Tune Like an A Cappella Vocalist
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
The above vocal exercise starts with the notes of the top four strings of the fine-tuned open D guitar tuning.
- The sopranos match their note to the first string, the altos to the second string, the tenors to the third string, and the basses to the fourth string.
- The exercise fits the vocal range of each voice type fairly well. Nevertheless, the basses will probably need to drop out on the last three bars.
- Once the singers have the exercise down, switch to the popular vocal warm-ups. For example, one warm-up has singers changing the vowels (Mee, Meh, Mah, Moh, Moo) while singing the same notes.
- The guitarist can play a selected string to bring out one part if the vocal section in question needs help with their part.
Alternately, singers working by themselves can work on singing different parts of the chord by switching which string they are singing with. Also, it is good ear training for flexible pitch instrumentalists as well.
Tips for Mastering Singing in Tune Like an A Cappella Singer
Take time tuning up the vocal harmonies.
- Notice how the chords are all whole notes and the tempo is a slow 55 beats per minute (bpm). This allows the singers enough time to get the chords in tune. Feel free to hold it for longer if necessary. For best results, sing without vibrato.
- The guitarist shifts the chord up one fret each time the chorus sings the next higher harmony. The guitar can also accompany songs. If the guitarist gets drowned out by the chorus, he can play with light to moderate distortion.
- Solfege (Do, Re, Mi) can be an effective method for working on sight singing and melodic tuning. However, it will not train the singer’s sense of harmonic intonation.
- Harmonic sound models, provided by retuned synths and guitars can teach you how to sing in tune like an a cappella singer.
For those people who are not comfortable retuning instruments:
© 2020 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
Yes, it is Possible to Tune a Guitar Perfectly
“Why does my guitar sound out of tune even after I’ve tuned it? Is it possible to tune a guitar perfectly?” Yes, it is possible to tune a guitar perfectly, and it’ll give your sound a boost! Click to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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What’s the Difference Between Practice and Play on an Instrument?
Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between practicing and playing? Practicing will be a important part of your growth as a musician. According to the “New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,” studies have found that the best pianists and violinists needed 10,000 hours of practice to master their instruments. Not that you need 10,000 hours to start playing decently, but the master musicians do show us the importance of practicing. So, do practicing and playing get the same results? Read more to learn, “What's the difference between practice and play on an instrument?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Why Can I Play Piano Hands Together but not Separately?
Do you ever find yourself asking, “Why can I play piano hands together but not separately?” Really, it depends on the type of music you play. Some pieces lend themselves to hands together work, while others will be better suited for learning hands separate. Click to learn the factors that impact how you learn a new piece of music. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Once Sheet Music is All Digital, Why Not Always Colour-Code Notes?
“Once sheet music is all digital, why not always colour-code notes?” Since most sheet music can now come in digital format, will there be any good reason not to color code the notes all the time? I’ve long advocated using color coding for helping special needs students to learn music from sheet music. However, the opening suggestion (by a person on social media) goes one step further. It proposes making a permanent change to how people read sheet music. Click to find out the arguments for and against adopting universal color coded music notation. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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