First-ever harmony maker
Create harmony online
When people think about what makes a song stand out, they often mention the melody, the lyrics, the production quality, or how it resonates emotionally. Vocal harmonies might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but without them, a song can feel flat and lacking.
A fascinating thing about harmony is that our brains sometimes hear it in music, even when it's not really there. This happens because a melody can give clues about what harmony might fit well with it. However, this isn't always clear-cut; the same melody might suggest one type of harmony to one person and something different to another.
Harmonizing vocals is essential in shaping the mood of a piece of music. By adjusting the harmony, you can completely transform the emotional tone of a song, even if the melody and rhythm remain unchanged. A cheerful melody can suddenly feel melancholic, or a sad melody can become more uplifting, all through the subtle yet powerful influence of harmony.
Melancholic mood
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Uplifting mood
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Learning how to harmonize vocals is an essential skill for any budding singer or musician. Virtually any song utilizes harmonious voices built into the structure of the chord progression, so understanding harmony is essential to making music. However, generating harmonies can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially for those who are not deeply versed in music theory. This is where Audimee, with its AI singers, comes in. Audimee offers a powerful harmony maker tool that simplify the process of creating harmonies.
What is harmony in music?
Harmony in music is when different notes are played at the same time to create a fuller and more expressive sound. When these notes are combined, they form chords. The way these chords move from one to another is called a chord progression. For example, if you play a C major chord (which has the notes C, E, and G) and then move to an F major chord, that's a simple chord progression. Harmony can make music sound pleasant and stable, or sometimes a bit tense and in need of resolution, depending on the chords used.
What is vocal harmony?
Vocal harmony is the combination of different vocal lines sung together with the melody to create a rich, unified sound. Unlike a melody, which is a single sequence of notes, vocal harmony involves multiple voices singing different notes simultaneously, enhancing the depth and texture of the music. The beauty of vocal harmony lies in how these voices blend, creating a pleasing and cohesive sound that adds emotional depth to the music.
The music theory behind vocal harmonies
Vocal harmony is the combination of different vocal lines sung together with the melody to create a rich, unified sound. Unlike a melody, which is a single sequence of notes, vocal harmony involves multiple voices singing different notes simultaneously, enhancing the depth and texture of the music. The beauty of vocal harmony lies in how these voices blend, creating a pleasing and cohesive sound that adds emotional depth to the music.
Keys and scales in vocal harmonies
Keys and scales form the backbone of vocal harmonies, guiding which notes sound good together and shaping the overall feel of your harmonies.
Keys
A key serves as the musical "home base" or the tonal center of a composition. It defines a set of notes that sound cohesive when played together. Every key is centered around a tonic note, which is the main or "home" note of the key. The remaining notes are harmonically connected to this tonic, creating a sense of resolution when returning to it. For example, in the key of C major:
The tonic note is C.
The harmonically related notes are D, E, F, G, A, and B.
The tonic acts as the point of resolution in both melodies and harmonies, providing a stable foundation for vocal layers.
Scales
A scale is a structured sequence of notes within a key, typically arranged in ascending or descending order. Scales give us the framework for creating both melodies and harmonies. The two most commonly used scales in vocal harmonies are major** and minor scales:
Major Scale: Known for its bright, uplifting sound, the major scale is often used in songs with a positive or energetic mood. For example, in the C major scale, the notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
Minor Scale: With a darker, more introspective quality, the minor scale is often used for melancholic or emotional music. In the C minor scale, the notes are C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭.
Both scales can be used in different harmonic contexts to create a variety of moods and textures in vocal harmonies.
Thirds, fifths, and drone notes
When it comes to vocal harmonies, some of the most commonly used intervals are thirds and fifths, as well as the use of drone notes to create depth and richness.
Thirds
Harmonizing in thirds is one of the most popular and pleasing methods in music.
Major Thirds sound bright and happy. For example, in the key of C major, singing C and E together creates this uplifting harmony.
Minor Thirds sound more emotional or sad. In C minor, singing C and E♭ together gives a more melancholic vibe.
Famous example: In The Beatles' "Because", the vocals are arranged in thirds, creating a rich, layered sound that's both soothing and emotional.
Fifths
Fifths are another essential interval in harmonies, and they give a strong, open sound.
A perfect fifth is when two voices sing five notes apart, like C and G. This creates a powerful and stable harmony, often used in pop, rock, and folk music.
Famous example: Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" often utilizes fifths in its harmonies to create a clean, powerful sound that enhances the song's haunting quality.
Drone notes
A drone note is a note that stays the same while the melody or other harmonies move around it. The most common drone is the tonic (the key's root note).
For example, in the key of C minor, you could hold a C note as a drone while other harmonies change around it. This adds depth and creates a grounding effect in the music.
Famous example: In The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black", the sitar often plays a drone note, while the melody and harmonies evolve around it, creating a hypnotic effect that underscores the song's dark mood.
Where is vocal harmony used?
Vocal harmony is widely used across various music genres, including pop, gospel, jazz, and choral music. It plays a crucial role in enhancing background vocals, adding richness and depth to a song. Techniques like stacking and doubling vocals rely heavily on vocal harmony to create a fuller, more layered sound. These practices, often supported by harmony maker units or harmonizers, help musicians craft the intricate vocal textures that define many popular music styles.
How to use Audimee to generate harmony
Go to the Audimee harmonies page.
Upload your vocal track by selecting your vocal file.
Set the key for your vocal recording to ensure harmonies match.
Choose a preset or press "Add track" to customize your harmony.
Pick an AI singer from the available options.
Select a harmony line, such as thirds or any other option.
Preview your audio to hear how the harmony sounds.
Once satisfied, press "Convert".
Download your final files once the conversion is complete.