THE PARTS - "WHAT IS BARBERSHOP HARMONY?"

Barbershop is different from any other kind of choral or group singing, but any woman of average singing
ability, with or without vocal training, will find a part that feels comfortable. Finding the right part for your
voice is the initial step, and with a little encouragement - it won't be a difficult task.

Simply put, it is vocal harmony produced by four voices: LEAD, TENOR, BARITONE and BASS


LEAD
The Lead generally carries the melody and sings with authority and clarity, color and warmth.
The other parts literally "follow her lead" and support her artistry. The range of the Lead is
between A below middle C, and C above middle C.

TENOR
The Tenor is the harmony part which is normally sung above the Lead. Tenors have a light,
sweet, pure tone that compliments, but does not overpower the Lead voice. The Tenor provides
the "icing on the cake".

BARITONE
The Baritone provides the all-important "missing" note in a barbershop chord. Though the
Baritone and Lead sing in the same basic range, the techniques for singing the two parts are
different. Baritones sing with a rich, full sound when below the Lead, and with a lighter tone when above.

BASS
The Bass, or the lowest of the four parts, has a rich, mellow quality and sings with volume and foundation.
Her range is in the bottom register, from D below middle C, to F above middle C. Basses drive and control
the tempo of the song.

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