10 Tips for Enhancing Intonation in A Cappella Performances

Introduction

A cappella music relies entirely on singers’ voices to create harmony. Without instruments locking in pitch, the responsibility falls on members’ ears and vocal control. While exciting to perform, the precision required for tuning chords is also incredibly demanding. Even professional groups constantly hone intonation through focused rehearsal techniques.

This article will break down methods for improving intonation in a cappella ensembles of all experience levels. We spoke with the university a cappella group conductors and singers about their ongoing tuning challenges and solutions. Whether you are a quartet or a large competitive group, these tips will train your ensemble’s ears and voices to sing in tune.

First, we will cover best practices for selecting members with good pitch sense. Next are physical and mental warm-up methods setting you up for accuracy. Then we explore tools and strategies for fixing intonation problems throughout the rehearsal cycle. With consistent attention and ear training, your group’s harmonies will sound smooth as silk. Let’s get those vocal chords aligned!

Choose Members with Good Pitch Sense

The first step is selecting singers with naturally good pitch and intonation. Some people have better innate musical ears and can more easily identify when notes are out of tune. They help the group adjust and fix problem spots. If possible, prioritize members who have experience singing a cappella, choir, barbershop, or other harmony-driven styles. Their ears are better adapted to tuning chords.

When holding auditions, have potential members demonstrate their pitch-matching skills. See if they can accurately sing back notes played on a piano. Listen as they sing scales and arpeggios to judge their sense of intonation. Testing pitch helps ensure you choose members with solid musical ears fundamental for good tuning.

One professional a cappella group relies heavily on pitch auditions: “Tuning is always a challenge without instruments keeping us in key. That’s why we put all auditioning singers through ear tests matching pitches. We need super solid musicians in our group,” he says. “If someone struggles with tuning in auditions, I can pretty much guarantee tuning will be an ongoing issue. Save ourselves the headache and choose great pitch singers from the start.”

Another a cappella group also emphasizes pitch awareness in auditions: “Our music director tests people’s pitch matching during auditions. He’ll play notes on a keyboard and have them echo back,” she says. “We listen to see if they nail the pitch or waver out of tune. It shows who has good ears we can count on to tune complex chords.” Getting the right mix of skilled voices lays the foundation.

Warm Up Vocally Together

Make sure your group warms up together before every rehearsal and performance. As singers vocalize, their vocal cords and resonating spaces gradually stretch and align, preparing to sing pitches accurately. Warming up as an ensemble also tunes your ears to each other’s voices and the overall sound.

Use dynamic vocal exercises that move through various intervals and pitch ranges. For example, slide up and down octave scales on lip trills. Or sing major and minor triads up and down together. Chromatic scales are also great for precision. Pay attention to tuning as you warm up. Adjust notes that sound questionable. The goal is to get the ensemble in tune before tackling repertoire.

A group begins every rehearsal with physical and vocal warmups: “We gather in a circle and shake out our bodies to release physical tension,” explains the choir director. “Then we massage our jaw and facial muscles because tension there causes pitch issues. Slow lip trills up and down the scale open up our vocal range. We pay close attention to tuning chords during warmups.”

A cappella groups also cite vocal percussion or beatbox warmups. Tuning to the beatbox lays a rhythmic foundation. University of Southern California group The Sirens runs beatboxers through various ostinato patterns, matching pitch. “It locks our harmony around their tonality. Then we build vocal percussion into our vocal warmups too, like singing scales to a metronome click track,” shares Lydia.

Actively Listen and Adjust Intonation

Singers must actively listen to the group sound as they rehearse and make real-time tuning adjustments. If a chord sounds out of tune, have members sing their notes individually to identify the problem pitch. Then adjust notes higher or lower until pleasing harmony locks into place.

The director can facilitate fixing intonation issues by having singers sustain notes and listening for beats. Speeding up beats means notes are getting closer to being in tune. But beating also helps singers recognize who specifically needs to adjust. Directors should train members’ ears to detect tuning problems and fix them.

A cappella group directors heavily emphasize active listening for group tuning. The director conducts: “I tell my singers to keep a piece of their attention on the group sound as they rehearse. I’ll stop and ask, ‘Is that chord in tune?’ and we discuss tuning. I train them to adjust and listen constantly.”

Another director cues tuning adjustments: “I sing a pitch and have altos match me, then direct tenors higher or lower. We tune chord by chord. I isolate problem notes and have members raise their fingers to claim if it’s them. Call people out kindly to fix tuning issues.” Ear training is central to good intonation.

Establish Starting Pitches Accurately

A common intonation mistake happens when the group starts the wrong opening pitch or sings in the wrong key. Make sure whoever gives the starting pitch has a perfect pitch or uses a pitch pipe/tuning fork as a reference. Sing the tonic triad together before launching into a song to ensure everyone agrees on the key.

Also, decide if your group prefers to sing in equal temperament or just intonation. Equal temperament uses consistent spacing between scale degrees. Just intonation tunes chords based on the harmonic series. Both have pros and cons musically. However, agreeing on an approach helps with intonation.

The music director to give starting pitches: “He has really good pitch memory and knows the keys of all our songs. He’ll sing the starting note of whichever song we’re rehearsing so we all have the same reference pitch. It keeps us aligned to the right key from the very start,” says Grace.

Meanwhile, The Sirens swear by using pitch pipes: “Whoever blows the pitch pipe needs a super steady, accurate breath,” explains Lydia. “We have professional pitch pipes calibrated to A440. Before each song, we blow the starting note and match tones. It ensures we begin in tune.”

Watch the Conductor for Tuning Guidance

The conductor provides visual cues about tuning issues that need fixing. They can hear clashing notes better from the front of the stage. If the conductor winces or makes tuning gestures, listen carefully as he/she isolates the problem.

Make eye contact with the conductor, watching for cut-offs, holds, and vocal gestures. Hold out notes longer if asked to help match the pitch. Conductors may also signal to listen to a specific section or soloist to ensure you tune notes around them. Stay engaged visually to catch tuning directions.

Dr. Jenkins directs her ensemble from the risers during concerts: “Our Cardinal Cadence singers watch me closely for tuning guidance, even as we perform. I’ll signal to hold out a note longer or cue a section to adjust the pitch. My hand gestures keep us aligned.”

Deke Sharon mentions gesturing towards his ear for members to tune in: “I make a cupped hand behind my ear like ‘check the tuning.’ Everyone knows to listen deeply and make micro-adjustments to lock the chord.” Staying visually connected with the conductor keeps real-time corrections flowing.

Use Electronic Tuners

Consider using electronic tuners during rehearsals to check intonation objectively. While the human ear discerns pitch relationships best, tuners measure pitch accuracy. Plug the tuner into a speaker system so the whole group can see the results.

Have members sing sustained notes while watching the tuner’s needle or display. It provides instant feedback if someone needs to adjust to hit the target pitch. Just take care not to become too reliant on tuners. Your ears should guide most tuning decisions during performances.

“We break out our tuners when working on a new piece and something’s sounding off,” says Kari. “The band director will have people sing a held note one by one into a mic. The tuner registers if they are sharp or flat. It helps us isolate who’s off and gets us realigned.”

Grace Carroll also describes rehearsals with tuners: “We run tuners through the sound system and a singer will hold a mic. Everyone watches the tuner read as she sustains a note. It helps us zero in on who needs to adjust the pitch.” Dialing in tricky spots with tuner assists makes a difference.

Sing with Tuning Forks and Pitchpipes

Even with good ears, starting notes precisely can be difficult for a cappella. So invest in good tuning forks or pitch pipes as external pitch references.

Tuning forks provide a reliable standard for matching pitch. Strike the fork so it resonates audibly. Have members listen carefully and match the pitch. Use concert A (440 hz) or another comfortable tone in your vocal range.

Pitch pipes offer chromatic flexibility to blow any starting note. Have your pitch pipe calibrated yearly to ensure accuracy. Just don’t blow too loudly or the pitch distorts sharply. Match the pitch pipe by singing the notes together before beginning a song.

“We swear by using a tuning fork to start songs,” Deke advises. “I strike the A note then hold the fork in front of people’s faces so they can zero in and match the tuning fork pitch. Something about seeing the vibration helps lock in tones.”

Emma notes Divisi’s pitch pipe ritual: “Our music director always blows the first pitch going into a new song. She uses a professional chromatic pitch pipe calibrated to A440. Matching the pitch pipe together helps cement the starting note and key.” Consider adding tuning forks or pitch pipes to your tuning toolkit.

Use Drones to Lock In Tuning

Another handy tool is using drones, which are sustained vocal or instrumental notes providing a tonal center. Having a constant reference tone enhances groups’ pitch awareness and accuracy.

Drones work well to tune tricky chords or solos. As an example, the bass section might sustain the tonic while sopranos solo over it. The drone keeps soloists grounded in the key so they tune each note to the harmonic context. Just ensure the drone itself stays steadily in tune.

“I’ll ask our basses to drone a tonic or fifth so I can tune soloists to that foundation,” says Dr. Jenkins. “The drone provides a pitch anchor for soloists to orient around. It enhances their intonation choices.”

Kari also uses drones to tighten tuning: “If we are struggling to tune a chord, I’ll have altos and basses drone the root and fifth underneath while sopranos and tenors dial in thirds and sevenths. The drone tones reinforce the key so we can lock the harmony.” Drones are powerful tools for honing intonation.

Record and Critique Tuning

Recording rehearsals let your group listen back objectively to identify tuning problems in specific passages. Avoid overdubbing or pitch correction so you hear intonation accurately.

As you review the recording, have members vocalize problem spots together as a cappella. Isolate chord progressions or solos that sound out of tune. Pinpoint needs to be adjusted and practice it slowly with a tuner or drone until tuning improves. Make detailed notes marking problem spots to continually strengthen.

“Our Cardinal Cadence singers record their parts individually on their phones so we can listen back to performances,” explains Dr. Jenkins. “I’ll ask a section to re-record if their tuning is off and submit new takes. It holds people accountable for fixing intonation.”

Grace describes the video review process: “We record rehearsals on our iPads so we can see and hear tuning issues. As we watch back, anyone can shout ‘pause!’ if they hear a problem. We’ll try the chord again without the recording, focusing just on our voice tuning.” Leverage recording tools to keep honing intonation.

Stay Relaxed to Sing In Tune

Tension and poor technique can pull notes out of tune, even for seasoned singers. Jaw, tongue, and neck tension causes pitches to waiver or go sharp. Maintain good vocal technique by keeping the throat open and facial muscles relaxed as you sing. Breathe from your diaphragm to support accurate pitch. Release unnecessary body tension that could throw off your tuning.

Fatigue also impairs intonation as vocal cords tire. Make sure to rest between intense vocal passages. Hydrate often to keep vocal cords from drying out and losing pitch control. With a relaxed technique, singers conserve vocal stamina for sustaining accurate notes.

Kari reminds her Pitch Please singers, “I can see jaws tensing up as our repertoire gets more complex. I remind them to keep faces relaxed or it tightens vocal cords and pitch suffers.” She leads stretches during long rehearsals re-aligning posture.

Emma notes mid-rehearsal breaks: “We take short water and stretching breaks every hour to release tension. Tired voices lose pitch center and control. Resetting with water and body stretches helps us sing better in tune when we resume.” Staying relaxed is key for consistency.

Keep Rehearsing Intonation

Like all musical skills, tuning precision takes regular, focused practice to improve. Set aside a portion of each rehearsal for intonation exercises. Warm up together as a group while consciously listening and adjusting. Work on problem spots identified in recordings, using drones and tuners to help.

As you learn new repertoire, incrementally polish each section’s tuning before adding layers. First, solidify the bass and beatbox lines, then add tenors, altos, and sopranos. Building gradually helps align intonation. Stay vigilant about tuning even after a piece seems performance-ready. There is always room for improvement.

“Intonation is a constant work in progress, especially as we arrange new material,” says Lydia. We devote 15 minutes per rehearsal to specific tuning exercises: “We reinforce tuning physical habits like keeping the soft palate lifted to place tone. We sing unison lines then split into harmony, tuning note by note.”

Deke agrees tuning demands vigilance: “With the House Jacks’ touring schedule, we’ll return to songs we haven’t sung in a while. Even our best-known songs can go out of tune. We incentivize improvement by fining members $1 every time they miss an entrance or tuning moment!” Keep your group motivated to keep refining intonation.

Conclusion

In summary, enhancing intonation requires attention across many facets of an a cappella group from member selection to conducting to tools for pitch accuracy. Master singers develop almost microscopic pitch perception, detecting tuning issues early and correcting them. But with focused ear training and vocal reinforcement, every ensemble can continue improving the precision of their harmony. By implementing these 10 methods for refining intonation, your cappella group will sound its absolute best.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is intonation in a cappella?

Intonation refers to the ensemble singing notes that are perfectly tuned and in harmony. Even slight tuning issues create dissonance.

How can you improve a cappella intonation?

Methods involve ear training, vocal exercises, using tools like tuners and drones, and continually motivating pitch precision through contests and workshops.

Why is good intonation important?

Good intonation creates tight harmonies blending beautifully. Poor intonation sounds disjointed and unprofessional.

How should you audition members?

Test potential members’ pitch-matching and intonation skills. Prioritize experienced singers with innate pitch sense.

What tuning tools help?

Tools like tuners, drones, pitch pipes, and tuning forks assist with precision. But rely first on your ear.

How often should you practice intonation?

Dedicate rehearsal time every session for tuning exercises. Precision requires continual work.

What are the signs of poor intonation?

Clashing harmonies, beating, poor blending, and the group sounding consistently out of tune.