Sing a Harmony
Learn to sing and create a simple three-note harmony with a friend, practice blending voices, and record your performance using a phone.
Step-by-step guide to sing a harmony
How to Sing Harmony for Beginners!
Step 1
Pick a short three-note melody you both like and agree on it.
Step 2
Decide who will sing the high note who will sing the middle note and who will sing the low note.
Step 3
Play each of the three notes on the piano keyboard or pitch source so you hear the exact pitches.
Step 4
Have each person sing their assigned note alone slowly to match the pitch.
Step 5
Hum together for 30 seconds to warm up your voices.
Step 6
Sing the melody together in unison once to get your timing the same.
Step 7
Begin the harmony practice slowly with each person holding their assigned note while the others join in.
Step 8
Practice matching your volume to your friend so the voices blend evenly.
Step 9
Sing the three-note harmony three times in a row without stopping.
Step 10
Agree on a clear start cue like a counted "1 2 3" so you begin together every time.
Step 11
Ask an adult to record one final take on a phone while you perform your harmony.
Step 12
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!?
What can we use if we don't have a piano keyboard or other pitch source?
Use a free piano app or online virtual keyboard, a tuner app that plays reference pitches, or a pitch pipe so you can complete the step to "Play each of the three notes" and hear the exact pitches.
I'm struggling to hold my assigned note steady or match pitch—what should we try?
Follow the instruction to "Have each person sing their assigned note alone slowly to match the pitch" by humming first, checking the note on a piano app or tuner, taking deep breaths, and practicing shorter sustained notes before the full 30-second hum.
How can we adapt the activity for younger children or older teens?
For younger kids, simplify to a two- or three-note melody, shorten the 30-second hum and use hand signals for the "1 2 3" start cue, while older teens can work on tighter three-part harmony, increase repetitions beyond the three takes, and try multi-track phone recording as in the "Ask an adult to record one final take" step.
How can we enhance or personalize our final harmony before sharing it on DIY.org?
Add simple percussion like claps or a tambourine, record extra vocal layers on the phone to thicken the harmony, plan a short video or matching outfits for the final take, and trim the best performance before you "Share your finished creation on DIY.org."
Watch videos on how to sing a harmony
How Can Kids Learn Harmony In Music Classes? - Childhood Education Zone
4 Videos
How Can Kids Learn Harmony In Music Classes? - Childhood Education Zone
Teach Your Children Well - Harmony Tutorial - learn to sing in harmony by ear.
How to Sing Harmony - Step-by-Step Lesson & Harmony Exercises for Beginners!
Harmony in Music Explained for Kids | Musical Building Blocks | Green Bean's Music
Facts about singing and vocal harmony
🎶 A three-note harmony usually makes a triad (root, third, fifth) — mix them to get a 'happy' major or 'sad' minor sound.
👂 Singers use ear training to hear tiny pitch differences so they can blend perfectly with friends.
🎤 Close harmonies (like barbershop) can create a ringing sound when overtones lock together.
📱 Modern smartphones can record surprisingly clear demos — lots of musicians start with phone recordings.
👯 Practicing harmony with a friend builds listening skills, timing, and teamwork — and it’s more fun!
