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Unit 1 · Oohs and aahs

A pad

Hold one soft "oo" under the tune, do, then ti when the chord moves, staying still while the tune passes over it, softer than the lead. Free, step by step.

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What it teaches

A pad is one held "oo" under the tune. Yours: do, and ti when the chord moves to so.

Softer than the tune. Easy volume; stop if anything tightens or hurts

Hold still while the tune moves. Your note stays put; the tune passes over it

Headphones on. Through a speaker, the lead and your earlier takes rest while you sing

What you sing

  1. Find each pad note: do, ti, do. Each waits until you're on it.
  2. The first two lines over the chords alone: a soft "oo" on do, then ti as the chord moves. Breathe where the tune would; a quick breath mid-note is fine.
  3. Now the whole verse, the tune coming in quietly over you. Rest where the tune breathes. Your first pad is kept for the course's last lesson.

Singing safely

Headphones on. An easy volume, the middle of your voice, always softer than the lead; bops and doo-wahs sung lightly, never punched. Stop if anything tightens or hurts.

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Stackapella teaches you to sing harmony one part at a time, right in your browser.

Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up.
  • A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
  • Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
  • Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
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