Following the melody vs. Building a vocal pad

Vocal harmonies are a very powerful tool, and one of the most reliable ways to elevate a production. They are also one of the easiest ways to muddy up, overwhelm, and detract from the core emotion of what a lead melody and lyric are trying to communicate. I'm going to go over some underlying principles to help guide you on how to choose the right harmony.

That said, ultimately, exploration, fun, and one's own ear should always be the north star!

Two approaches. Very different results.

Two of the most fundamental harmony formats are “following” and “padding.” The first is a harmony that follows the melody and mirrors the shape of the lead line. The second is a vocal pad where the harmonies outline the underlying chords. They feel very different. They can serve very different purposes. And knowing which one to reach for — or whether to use both or either at all — is a big part of the job.

What following the melody does

A harmony that follows the shape of the lead melody keeps the energy of the original phrasing intact. It makes the lead feel bigger and more present without replacing it. The specific interval and subsequent chord will dictate the emotion itself, but as a rule of thumb, following harmonies are a great tool to accent important moments of the song and raise the energy (almost every pop chorus ends up being stacked with harmonies).

I was always taught that high harmonies lift. Low harmonies drag. Ultimately its about what else is going on in the song, and the register of the lead line.

What a vocal pad does

A pad recreates the underlying chords. Its a great way to create warmth, width and a cinematic feeling. But pads fill up space — harmonically and sonically. They can really muddy up a production if there's already a lot going on. The first question I ask before building a vocal pad is, what else is happening in the music? Is there already something occupying that harmonic and sonic space? Lush pads in a sparse arrangement can be stunning. The same pad in a busy track can clash and create “mud”.

Tip: Use Melodyne to visualize your harmonies

Melodyne is an amazing tool for arranging harmonies. Duplicate the lead vocal track and manipulate the notes to sketch out ideas — it's a great way to visualize where the harmony notes live before or after you sing them.

Trust your ear. Serve the song.
Yung Spielburg