Do you need an online tutor to help you sing in tune? The archive contains posts with sing-along songs.
Right now the posts in the archive focus more on sing-along singing example tracks than songs. However, many posts now contain full sing-along videos, especially in the Shape Notes and Solfege category.
The archive pulls from two main categories: Singing in Tune and Shape Notes and Solfege. The Singing in Tune category focuses on teaching how to sing, with a strong emphasis on how to harmonize in tune. I geared the posts toward singers. However, flexible pitch instrumentalists (such as violin, brass, and woodwinds) will find the posts helpful too.
The Shape Notes and Solfege category focuses on sight singing and melodic tuning. The Singing in Tune and Shape Notes and Sight Singing categories both have sing-along songs. Moreover, they serve as sound models for well-tuned harmonies and melodies in each category respectively.
I have crafted all of the examples using a special tuning system. This system is not the tuning system, SET, described in the Intonation blog category.
Rather, the system used for the post examples reflects how singers and flexible pitch instrumentalists actually tune their instruments as they perform. In other words, the examples balance the tuning needs of the melody against the tuning needs of the harmony.
This remains an important point, because melody and harmony do not tune the same way. When tuning harmony, the musician needs to focus on the three main aspects of the chord’s tone color. However, when tuning melody, they need to focus on what Ron Gorow calls span.
Nevertheless, the sing-along songs provide good sound models for both harmonic and melodic intonation.
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
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Have you ever wondered how Eastern European vocalists sing polyphony in parallel 2nds? Do you want to know how world music works? Understanding world music involves stepping outside your own perspective and seeing from the world musician’s point of view instead. Click to answer the question, “How do you sing Eastern European vocal harmony in 2nds by ear?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“I have a hard time hitting my notes. Can I use the piano to learn singing?” That depends. For some things, the piano will be a real asset for learning to sing. However, for others, the piano creates more problems than it solves. Click to answer the question, “Can I learn singing on the piano?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” Because they’re easy to read, shape notes will always be a good choice for struggling readers, and it makes a great introduction to solfege too. However, the limited shape note repertoire means that shape note singers may want to learn to read standard notation as well. Click to learn how to transition from shaped notes to standard notation. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Why is it important to sing the dynamics for a piece of music? Dynamics play an important role in notated music, helping bring interest and variety to your songs. If you want help understanding how dynamic signs work, click to answer the question: “Why is it important to define the dynamics to sing a piece of music?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you ever marveled at how some people can easily sing with a beautiful tone? Do you need help learning how to harmonize in tune? Good news! Vocal harmonizing can be learned, and the sing-along soundtracks will help. Click to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Sharps, flats, and naturals (collectively called accidentals) grew out of a problem that needed to be fixed in the mediaeval music notation. The music theorists of the time slapped their fix onto the preexisting notation system, and that fix is still with us to this day. However, having confused generations of budding musicians, the results of the fix leave a lot to be desired. Click to answer the question, “What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you have a hard time singing in tune with the rest of the chorus when they sing loud? Have you ever wondered, “Can singers sing in tune even if they do not hear their voice?” Click to find out how to fix this problem. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Is singing solfege actually helpful for learning to hear intervals by ear? Sort of. In some contexts, solfege can be useful for hearing how the intervals sound so you can sing in tune. In others, solfege won’t help at all. Click to answer the question, “Is singing solfege helpful for learning to hear intervals by ear?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Is there a difference in difficulty in singing specific vowels? Yes, some vowels will be easier to sing in tune, and others will be easier to sing with a strong tone. Click to understand why there is a difference in difficulty for singing specific vowels, and how to do something about it. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Do you find sight reading hard to do? Have you ever asked if there is a better way to learn sight singing? Shape notes can really help. Click to answer the question, “Is there a better way to learn sight singing?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.