What makes it sound so different from choral music?
Barbershop harmony IS unique! The melody is “inside” the chord with the harmonies above and below the melody. The barbershop sound is “cone” shaped, with dominance in the lower voices and the higher voices singing with less weight and intensity. The barbershop sound is characterized by unique chords called “barbershop (dominant and secondary dominant) seventh” chords which often produce an overtone or “ring”. Barbershop up-tempo songs are sung with a high degree of physical and vocal energy, ballads are famous for creative musical/lyrical interpretation and physical expression. Barbershop arrangers use embellishments as “swipes,” countermelodies, bell chords and repeats, with the body of the song between a verse or “intro” and a “tag,” which is a barbershop song’s big finish.
