Sing harmony to a song
Learn to sing two-part harmonies to a simple song by listening, practicing matching notes, and performing with a friend or recording for feedback.
Step-by-step guide to sing harmony to a song
Step 1
Choose a simple familiar song you both know well like "Twinkle Twinkle" or "Happy Birthday."
Step 2
Decide who will sing the melody and who will learn the harmony first.
Step 3
Have the melody singer sing the first short phrase slowly while the harmony singer listens carefully.
Step 4
Harmony singer finds and sings one steady note that fits under or above the melody’s main note and changes it until it sounds pleasant.
Step 5
Sing the first phrase together three times with the melody and harmony parts at the same time.
Step 6
Switch roles so the other person becomes the melody singer.
Step 7
Repeat steps 3 to 5 for the next phrase until you have learned its harmony.
Step 8
Practice connecting the learned phrases by singing the whole song slowly while each singer keeps their part steady.
Step 9
Record your song so you can listen back and hear how the harmony fits.
Step 10
Ask a parent or friend to listen and tell you one thing you did well and one thing to try next.
Step 11
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
I don't have a recorder — what can we use instead to complete 'Record your song' and share it later?
Use a smartphone voice memo, a tablet, or a laptop microphone to complete the 'Record your song' step and save the file for sharing on DIY.org.
What should we do if the harmony singer can't find or hold a steady note in step 4?
If the harmony singer can't find a steady note in step 4, hum the note first, use a keyboard or pitch app to match it, and practice singing that single pitch alone before trying step 5 together.
How can we adapt the activity for different ages when following steps 3–7?
For younger kids, shorten steps 3–6 to one very short phrase with a parent singing the melody and the child humming one steady harmony note, while older kids can extend step 7 by adding a third part or practicing more challenging intervals before recording in step 8.
Any ideas to improve or personalize our song after we've learned the harmony and recorded it?
Enhance the project by adding simple instrumental backing from a keyboard or app to support step 7, editing the step 8 recording to add effects or balance levels, and then personalize the final file before sharing on DIY.org in step 10.
Watch videos on how to sing harmony to a song
How to Sing Harmony - Step-by-Step Lesson & Harmony Exercises for Beginners!
4 Videos
How to Sing Harmony - Step-by-Step Lesson & Harmony Exercises for Beginners!
How To Sing In Harmony | Beginner's Introduction
How to Harmonize (for Beginners)
Teach Your Children Well - Harmony Tutorial - learn to sing in harmony by ear.
Facts about vocal music for kids
🎯 Absolute pitch is rare—about 1 in 10,000 people—so most singers learn harmony with relative pitch and practice.
📱 Recording yourself and listening back is a super-fast way to spot tuning or timing and get better quickly.
👯 Singing harmonies with others can boost mood and teamwork—people who sing together often feel closer.
🎧 Solfège (do–re–mi) is a classic ear-training tool that helps singers find and remember harmony notes by ear.
🎶 Two-part harmonies often use thirds and sixths, intervals that naturally sound sweet and blend well.
How do you sing two-part harmony with a child?
What materials do I need to teach two-part harmony?
What ages are suitable for learning two-part harmonies?
What are the benefits of learning two-part harmony?
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