How to sing harmony to Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Old MacDonald Had a Farm is in F major, in 4/4. Traditional American, first published 1917. 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.
“Old MacDonald had a farm E I E I O”
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.