How to sing harmony to Old Joe Clark (fare thee well)

Old Joe Clark (fare thee well) is in A mixolydian, in 4/4. Traditional Appalachian, 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.

“Fare thee well Old Joe Clark fare thee well I say fare thee well Old Joe Clark I'm agoin' away”

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.

Old Joe Clark (fare thee well), third above

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.

Old Joe Clark (fare thee well), sixth below

Solo the harmony, then both. Click a note to hear it.

Sing it, and get graded

In Blend this clip comes up in the lessons that teach its interval, and your microphone marks every note on the staff as you sing it. The first three stages are free and need no account.

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