Barbershop Harmony: the gift that keeps giving

If you’ve never experienced barbershop-style harmony, you should. I was recently at a convention of these singers and overheard two hotel guests talking about all the music that was being made in the hallways on the lower level. The man said, “It’s a barber singer’s convention.” His girlfriend replied, “What is that?”

I was stunned. I thought everyone knew about us! But I live in a kind of bubble and I only hang out with these types of singers.

So what is it and why are you missing it?

The four-part close harmony barbershop style dates back to roughly the 1930s. The so-called “standard” chord is a normal triad of root, third, and fifth notes, with a seventh as the fourth note of the chord. What is important to note about this type of harmony is that when done right, the chord will sound more “full” because the chord could be producing overtones or undertones. You may not know the term, but you have heard it on a guitar where the player lightly strikes the higher strings and it sounds light and airy. Or better yet, whenever you see someone lightly tapping a glass of wine and making a high-pitched noise, that’s called overtones or overtones. The barbershop seventh chord can produce very rich and full overtones and overtones.

A common mistake made by hairdressers, as they call us, is that we are a group of gray-haired men dressed in red and white pinstripes with a straw hat. That is the classic barbershop look. The sound, however, is anything but dated. Yes, many of us are retired or in our 50s, but the vibrancy of this music is for everyone.

In fact, when you look online at some of the international champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society, they are made up of very young and talented musicians. (Yes, there are competitions to determine the best in the world for that year). As we age, we lose some of the range and stamina we once had, so the younger generation is picking up where we left off.

Now, I warn you, every time you hit the barbershop mistake, there is no going back. It’s like a nasty addiction. Normally, you get addicted to singing in a quartet and “playing” the chords. There is no other way to hook me that I know of. After that you will be alone. I can not help you.

Spring and fall shows are very common across the country. Often times, the choirs will also prepare music for a Christmas or holiday show. Find one in your area and see what it’s all about. Admission prices are generally affordable. Show producers often bring in excellent quartets and choirs to impress and entertain. Often times, you can see the best of the best at no additional charge.

Even though there are thousands of hairstyling videos online, you don’t get the same feeling and experience as when you are present. The mics are great and you hear some very fascinating chords, it’s just not the same.

However, where the hairdressing community shines is on Valentine’s Day. On that day, the quartets go out into the communities and hand out Valentine’s cards that their loved ones have paid for. It is the event that brings us over and over again.