Belles of Berkeley Chorus
Sweet Adelines International, Inc.
Martinsburg, WV

Do You Like to Sing?
Come Visit a Rehearsal!
Guests Always Welcome!

Vocal Production Education at Every Rehearsal

Breathing to Sing
Posture for Singing
Phonation
Articulation
Resonation

Find out what an "Inside Smile" can do for your voice!

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In Search of Women Who Love to Sing and Entertain!

We have four singing ranges - there is a part for everyone!

  • Lead:
  • The lead part usually sings the melody.  The barbershop lead line ranges from the G below Middle C to the
C above  Middle C.  The range is similar to the range of a first alto in classical choral groups.  Experienced lead
singers in barbershop say that Lead is not a “part” it is an “attitude!”   The lead singer drives the melody line
(usually) and, with it, the flavor of the song.  She  can produce the emotions equated with a beautiful love ballad
or set your toes a-tapping with a lively uptune. Ask any lead singer and she will tell you that the
"lead part is the most important part!"

  • Bass:
  • The bass singer is the one who drives the tempo of an uptune or readies the chorus for a key change as she often handles the root and fifth of the chord.  Basses have a range from the E flat below Middle C to the G above
         middle C.Many women  think they can’t sing because their voices are too low to even handle the hymns in church.
Those are the women we are looking for!   The bass singer has to have a bit of “ham” in her as she
often takes on the boom-boom notes. Ask any bass singer and she will tell you that
"the bass part is the most important part!"

  • Baritone:
  • The baritone in barbershop is the part that requires the most musical expertise. It is the harmony part that has about the same range as the lead but the similarity ends there. The baritone has to sing the fill-in notes
that complete the chord. Sung by itself, the baritone musical line is not very pretty (except to another baritone).
  However, leave the baritone part out of a song, and you have an empty, incomplete chord.
So, the baritone knows (full well) that her
"baritone part is the most important part!"

  • Tenor:
  • The tenor is the “icing on the cake” in barbershop.  Singing lightly and brightly, the tenor gives life to the
barbershop chord.  No, she is not the same as a high soprano unless she can achieve this light sound and
does not overpower the lead part. With a range from the G above Middle C to sometimes a high A Flat,
some tenors refer to themselves as “the angelic part.”  When sung properly, the tenor makes the
chord ring to the fullest.  When that happens, the tenor knows her
"tenor part is the most important part!"

We are ALL important!
Come Sing With the Belles!

Great Music, Fun, New Friends,
Educational and Leadership Opportunities,
Performances and Competitions