The Woodshed Lead

The woodshed lead needs a certain set of skills beyond what he may have learned in chorus rehearsal or for quartet performance. The purpose of woodshedding is to ring chords rather than to sing songs. Thus, the woodshed lead who wishes to find himself most in demand will sing more slowly than he might opt to sing in a performance environment. He will be aware of where harmony-part swipes may or should occur, especially at phrase-endings or where the harmony of the song is changing. He will realize that chords falling on "weak beats" in a measure of music (beats #2 and #4 in 4/4 "foxtrot" meter, beat #3 in 3/4 "waltz" meter) are equally as important to tune/lock/ring as are chords falling on stronger beats. He will be constantly alert to melody-notes he should "hold" for as long as it takes for one or more harmony-voices to locate a good note. He should ensure that songs are pitched wherever the singing is most comfortable for the participants, especially if someone is off his natural voice-part (e.g., a bass 'shedding the bari part). The woodshed lead gains credibility and authority when he refrains from singing until the first four-part chord of the song to be woodshedded is locked and rung, with everyone sure of his starting note. This keeps one or more 'shedders from being lost for several notes or measures before finally getting a harmonic bearing. The woodshed lead needs to listen, too.

The savvy woodshed lead will choose melodies to which written or familiar barbershop arrangements do not commonly exist. This lessens the risk of replicating existing repertoire and enhances the experience and value of truer woodshedding. Especially when one or more harmonizers is new to this art, the woodshed lead will ideally sing a melody through, solo, at least once, before the harmonizers join in. This helps everybody's ears.

Feel free to contact AHSOW, Inc. at any time with inquiries about woodshedding.

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