How To Identify and Sing Your Vocal Part.

– written by W.N Vincent

For some people, singing the Harmony is no big deal. It comes effortlessly and naturally.
While for you, it is BIG WORK.

This makes it seem like others are more skillful than you are. More like they are musical ‘gods’.

Singing the Melody or Harmony of a song IS NO BIG DEAL, UNLESS YOU DON’T KNOW IT.

Also, all the steps below are so simple and are not really mysteries, yet many do not know them.
This is a DO-IT-YOURSELF EXERCISE!
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Basically, there are three (3) vocal parts.

– Soprano, Alto and Tenor (SAT)

How is a Three (3) part harmony arranged so that, you as a Soprano, Alto or Tenor singer can easily figure out your own part, work on it individually and sing it?

First of all, let’s understand some terms that concern this topic.

1. Melody:
The melody of a song, for the purpose of this topic is, ‘the neutral vocal part of the song‘.

It’s the part that almost EVERYBODY sings during praise and worship, including your non-musical Pastor and church member.

For example, you know this song?
You are Alpha and Omega by Israel Houghton.
Sing it.

Yes! What you just sang is the melody. That ‘normal‘ part everyone can sing.

2. Harmony:

Simply put, this is an added or extra vocal part which flanks the melody.

It may be more than one vocal part that lies higher or lower to the Melody.

How do I differentiate vocal parts so I can know my own part?

There are different settings or possible arrangements;

Setting (A)

Soprano sings the Melody

Alto sings Alto

Tenor sings Tenor

Setting (B)

Soprano sings Tenor

Alto sings Melody

Tenor sings Alto

Setting (C)

Soprano sings Alto

Alto sings Tenor

Tenor sings Melody.

KEY: Listen carefully to the vocal parts as you play the song and try to listen out for who is singing that normal part.

Part Arrangements:

Primarily;

1. Soprano is the highest vocal part.
Tenor is the lowest vocal part (where there’s no Bass)
Alto is the vocal part that lies between the Soprano and Tenor vocal parts.

2. When you listen to the song, listen for who is singing the melody (normal part).

3. Is the melody (normal part) sang as the highest vocal part?
Or is it the lowest?
Or maybe it is the part that lies between the highest and lowest vocal parts?

4. If the melody (normal part) is sang as the highest vocal part in the song, THAT IS THE SOPRANO VOCAL PART.

Let the Alto vocalist listen for the part that lies just below the Melody, and above the lowest vocal part.

5. If you are a Tenor singer, simply listen for the lowest vocal part in the song. It may be the melody (normal part) or not.

NB: Figuring out where the melody lies will always help you find your part. that is, IF YOUR EARS ARE WORKING (That’s talk for another time).

Dear Soprano singer, it is true that your part is the highest vocal part in the song, but IT IS NOT ALWAYS ‘HIGH’.
Listen before you sing to avoid shouting!

DO NOT SWAP ON THE TENOR because you are supposed to sing the highest vocal part.

For emphasis, if the melody is sang as the middle part, it will be flanked by two (2) parts, one (1) below and one (1) above.

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Can you now find strength and go back to that song you’re supposed to score ahead of your next rehearsal?

I know you’ll do fine!

I’ll be glad to hear from you how helpful this was and to provide helpful answers to your questions with time.

Tag a Musician. Tag a Choir Member!

#SingingVocalParts #SopranoAltoTenor #DoItYourself #ChoirMember
The Music Institute