How to Arrange A Cappella Music
A capella music has a smooth sound that other genres just can't replicate. Its flowing melodies, tight harmonies and moving textures make it a distinctive form of music. One of the great attributes of this music is its flexibility. With the right attitude and a little music theory, you can adapt almost any piece of music to be sung a capella.
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Instructions
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Break down the piece of music into its main melodies and harmonies. This is easiest to do with Western tonal music, which traditionally features straightforward chord progression topped with elegant melodies.
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Write out the lowest note of each of the song's chords. These are the roots of the chords. Give these notes to the member of your group with the lowest voice.
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Transcribe the song's melody as is. Give it to the group's singers whose range most closely matches the melody's. Most of the time, this'll be the tenors and the sopranos, but some songs have lower melodic ranges.
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Listen closely to the piece of music for important counter melodies and accompaniment parts. For example, Beatles songs usually have background vocals and catchy guitar hooks that you'd need to include for the arrangement to sound like the original.
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Write scat lyrics for the singers whose parts don't have words. Do your best to match the scat syllables and sounds with those of the lyrics.
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Use simple musical effects like call-and-response to beef up your arrangement's texture.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't be afraid to have your singers sing percussion and synthesizer parts. They may not be able to replicate the instruments' sounds, but they can at least vocalize the rhythm and provide textural support for the group.
