Barbershop is close harmony singing with a distinctive fullness or expansion of sound, precise intonation and high levels of vocal skill. The art of barbershop includes interpretation, emotion and visual presentation.

Standard choral music uses SATB voicing (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass). In barbershops, we use TTBB, or TLBB, for mixed groups. Click the St George Barber Shop to learn more.

Barbershops are shops where men go to have their hair cut, beard trimmed or shaved. They are noted for a traditional and masculine atmosphere and provide haircuts, beard trims, shaves, and styling services. They also offer other grooming services, including facial treatments and neck lathering. In addition to cutting and shaving, many barbershops also offer hair coloring services. Barbershops can be found in a variety of settings, from small neighborhood establishments to large national chains. Some have a vintage vibe, while others are more contemporary. Many of them are designed to be cozy and inviting, and some even have a lounge area where customers can relax while getting their haircut.

The music of barbershop is characterized by close harmony singing using four voice parts: tenor, lead, baritone and bass. Unlike choir, where the focus is on perfecting pitches, the main goal of barbershop is to achieve ringing chords. The sonic result is a sound that is both rich and pleasing to the ear. This unique style of singing is rooted in African-American musical traditions, and it gained popularity in the late 1800s as traveling minstrel and vaudeville shows featured barbershop quartets.

The barbershop sound is recognizable by its use of melodies with sentimental lyrics, harmonies that form a chord structure resembling a cone shape and a musical arrangement that follows a basic symmetrical pattern. The melodies are simple and recognizable, and the harmony creates audible overtones that are both pleasant to listen to and evoke a certain emotional response from audiences. Traditionally, the melody is sung by the lead singer, while the tenor provides harmony above him and the bass sings simpler lower harmonies beneath him. The resulting blend of all four voices is what gives barbershop its distinctive sound.

While the term barbershop is often associated with male singers, it can be performed by men or women, in groups of any size and in mixed or gender-specific ensembles. The organization that oversees the art of barbershop, the Barbershop Harmony Society, welcomes all people who love to make music together.

The organization strives to advance the musical art of barbershop through education, competition, and performance. Today, it is most famous for its yearly international competition that features the best barbershop performers in the world.

What is barbering?

Barbering is the art and science of shaving, trimming, shaping, and styling hair, mustaches, and beards. It is a skilled trade, and barbers must be licensed to provide services to clients. The profession of barbering has a long and rich history. Grooming has been an important part of personal expression since prehistoric times. Egyptians carved grooming tools from oyster shell or sharpened flint, and Aztec and Mayan cultures used shave art to identify societal or wartime roles.

Today, barbering is a highly specialized field with its own unique techniques and equipment. Barbers are trained to use specialized clippers for precise fades, taper cuts, and clean hairlines. They are also familiar with the wide range of male haircuts and styles, and can help their clients choose the right look for them.

In addition to cutting and styling, barbers are also trained to provide hot-towel treatments, neck shaves, and facial massages. Many barbers are self-employed, and they can set their own hours. However, most barbers work weekdays and weekend business hours.

Unlike traditional salons, which are often female-dominated spaces, barbershops are often male-dominated and have a more casual atmosphere. Many barbers form close relationships with their clients and see the same customers on a regular basis. This creates a sense of community and camaraderie that is not always present in the more formal atmosphere of salons.

One of the most important differences between barbershop and salons is that barbers must be licensed to practice their craft. While some states allow barbers and cosmetologists to work under the same license, it is more common for barbers to become licensed separately. This is because barbering requires a different set of skills and training than cosmetology.

While standard choral music uses Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass (SATB) designations to indicate the voices involved in a composition, barbershop focuses on close, four-part, a cappella harmony. The Lead sings the melody, the tenor sings above the Lead and the bass sings below the tenor to create chords that give barbershop its distinctive sound. Moreover, each part is tuned slightly differently to give the harmony its own distinct voice, and arrangements use a special ratio of Lead volume to ensure that the melody can be heard above the other voices.

How does barbering work?

The most common career path for a barber is to work in a local salon. Many salons have different ambiances, with traditional barbershops having a more masculine feel while others may have specialized decor and sports memorabilia. However, the environment is usually welcoming to both men and women. Barbers can also work at their own barbershops, which can allow them to create a more personalized atmosphere and build client loyalty.

The main functions of a barber involve cutting, styling, and trimming hair, including beards and mustaches. In addition, barbers can shampoo, relax, color, and dye hair; trim eyebrows and facial hair; and perform scalp massages.

Those who are interested in pursuing this career can find plenty of employment opportunities as there is always a demand for hair cuts. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for barbers is expected to increase by 18 percent between 2016 and 2026.

This is primarily due to the fact that people are constantly changing their hairstyles and preferring more unique, tailored looks. Furthermore, the average salary for a barber is $39,800. Most barbers also make additional income through tips.

When applying to barber school, there are a few minimum requirements that students must meet. Most schools request a high school diploma or GED certificate, and some require letters of recommendation, personal essays, or aptitude tests.

Barbering is a hands-on profession, so it’s best to attend barber school with a passion for the craft and the willingness to learn. Students will learn the fundamentals of hair cutting, shaving, and styling, and they’ll have an opportunity to practice on a variety of models.

Some barber schools offer apprenticeships in addition to classroom instruction. Apprenticeships offer the chance to train with a master barber and gain valuable job experience before graduating. The apprenticeship process typically takes 6 to 12 months and can be more intensive than training at a hair college, which has the advantage of providing students with hands-on experience. However, it’s important to note that even if an apprenticeship offers valuable real-world experience, students still must attend classroom-based barbering courses to graduate.

What is barber harmony?

Barbershop is a vocal music style characterized by close harmony and the artistic use of musical embellishments to support and drive forward the meaning and emotion of the lyrics. It’s a singing style that emphasizes ringing chords, with strong reinforcing overtones of fifths and octaves, all sung in perfect just-tuned harmony by voices that are matched for voice range.

Most people are accustomed to seeing choral music arranged as Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass (SATB). This arrangement balances sound equally across the four parts to make a full sound. Barbershop uses a slightly different arrangement, with a fifth part called Baritone. The voicings for the four parts of the chorus are TTBB (Baritone, Tenor, Bass, Baritone).

The Lead sings the melody and is the highest voice in the chorus. It has a sweet, pure tone and should compliment but not overpower the tenor and basses. The tenor provides the harmony notes above the melody and may cross above or below the bass. The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes and is often required to cover gaps between other voice parts. The blending of these notes to create chords is what gives barbershop its unique sound.

A special feature of the style is the addition of musical embellishments, including “swipes” and “tags.” A swipe is a musical progression of two or more chords in the same key sung on the same word or syllable to add a forward motion to the lyric. A tag is similar but used more sparingly, typically in the final four or more measures of a song. Without instrumental backing or percussion, a tag may include fewer chords and less embellishment than a swipe.

Women of average voice range who enjoy singing can find a place in Sweet Adelines International. The organization is dedicated to advancing the art of four-part, a cappella singing. It’s one of the most difficult yet rewarding accomplishments of any musical group. The harmonies produced by four women with perfectly blended voices are simply breathtaking. Whether you’re just starting out or have sung for years, there is always something new to learn and discover in the world of barbershop.