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Unit 2 · Build the chord

The barbershop seventh

Hear the chord at the heart of barbershop, then hold its seventh on top of three guide voices, lower than you'd think, until it rings. Free, in short steps.

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The barbershop seventh

The barbershop seventh has the dominant seventh's sound, on many roots. Tune its seventh low, lower than you think: 31 cents under the piano's.

The chord. So, re and ti: the guides

Your note. Fa, on top: the seventh

Low. Lower than you think

What you sing

  1. Listen to each, as often as you like.
  2. Hold fa on top of so, re and ti, low, until it rings. Headphones on.
Try one round

Challenge: One line, four chords

Your do is a different pitch as a root and as a seventh. Hold it where it was and the seventh sounds sharp: let it drop.

Home (I). Do, as the piano has it

The chord on la. Your do rises a half step to di, the chord's third: 14 cents low

The chords on re, then so. Do is re's seventh, 31 cents low; then ti, so's third, 14 low

What you sing

  1. Through the four chords: do, di, do, ti. Let each one settle where its chord rings. Headphones on.

Singing safely

Sing straight, not squeezed, at a medium-soft volume. Wear headphones: ringing needs them. Stop if anything tightens or hurts, and rest when hoarse.

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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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