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Unit 2 · The vowel switch

Sixths, octaves, fifths

Flip across a sixth, an octave and a fifth, the smallest and hardest, without sliding, then sing all three in a row. Rest first if you've flipped a lot. Free.

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Sixths, octaves, fifths

The same flip across three leaps: a sixth, an octave (often easier) and a fifth, the smallest and hardest. The sixth and the fifth on their own, then all three in a row.

Rest first. You've sung a lot of flips: a minute's quiet, then a gentle warm-up

Bigger can be easier. The octave gives the voice room to tip over

The fifth last. Small leaps tempt you to slide

What you sing

  1. The three leaps at your own pace first: a sixth, an octave, a fifth.
  2. A sixth: listen, then sing it back.
  3. A fifth, the hardest. Flip, don't slide.
  4. Now all three in a row: a sixth, an octave, a fifth.

Challenge: Call across the valley

Herders called across valleys with a yodel, and the valley carried it, so you never need to push: medium volume.

Warm up first. A lip trill or a quiet siren, up and down

Listen to the call. Then answer it

Each call longer. One hook, then two, then three

What you sing

  1. The first call: one hook.
  2. Two hooks.
  3. Three hooks, in time, a breath after the second.
  4. Sing the hook once more, then hear yours beside the guide's.

Singing safely

Voices that are still breaking should wait before yodeling. Keep every flip light and at a medium volume, land gently, and stop if anything tightens, tickles 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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