How to sing harmony to Drunken Sailor
Drunken Sailor is in E dorian, in 4/4. Traditional sea shanty, 19th century. Below is the opening phrase with a second voice written under it two ways. Play it, solo the harmony until you can hold it in your head, then sing it against the tune.
“What shall we do with the drunken sailor what shall we do with the drunken sailor what shall we do with the drunken sailor early in the morning”
Third above
The classic close harmony. Your line sits two scale steps above the tune and moves with it, so if you can hear the tune you are never far from your note. Start here.
Solo the harmony, then both. Click a note to hear it.
Sixth below
The same sweetness heard from underneath. The upper voice is the tune, so the melody stays on top and your line is the one that has to hold its ground.
Solo the harmony, then both. Click a note to hear it.