April 2, 2009 

Original Barbershop Tag: You Beside My Side

A few days ago, I wrote a barbershop tag for my girlfriend Chelsea.

My multitrack of the tag (sung a half step lower than written):

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Download

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My goal was to write a “bloom” type tag where all voices start on a single unison note, and travel in smooth contrary motion to the final chord. Some great examples of this kind of tag are Cry and Sleepy Time. I took this idea so it’s logical extreme by using almost entirely chromatic contrary motion. In fact, of the melodic intervals in the tag, 19 are half steps, 9 are whole steps and 2 are perfect fourths.

The sheet music: beside_my_side.pdf

The Lilypond file used to generate the .pdf file: beside_my_side.ly

Update:

I made a little video that teaches you all the parts by ear:

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233 Responses to “Original Barbershop Tag: You Beside My Side”

  1. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  2. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  3. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  4. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  5. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  6. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  7. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids - and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  8. Sbock3 April 12, 2009 at 9:20 am #

    [..YouTube..] haha i love watching these learning vids – and the fact that it’s an original is very impressive! nice tag man, I’ll give it a shot with my quartet ;)

    Reply
  9. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  10. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  11. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  12. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  13. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  14. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  15. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :)  Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  16. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  17. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  18. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  19. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  20. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  21. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  22. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  23. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  24. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  25. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  26. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  27. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  28. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  29. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  30. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  31. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  32. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  33. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  34. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  35. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  36. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  37. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  38. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  39. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  40. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  41. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  42. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  43. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  44. captbaritone April 12, 2009 at 11:17 am #

    [..YouTube..] Firstly: Thank you! I am flattered. Secondly: If you could make a quick recording I would be eternally grateful :) Also, I would love to hear what made it hard to easy to sing.Have fun!

    Reply
  45. Chelsea April 15, 2009 at 10:27 pm #

    You are so sweet. I love these tags and multitracks!

    You are also so smart! How cool to have the ability to teach 4 different parts of music.
    =
    I love you.

    Reply
  46. chris June 22, 2009 at 6:02 pm #

    VIH guys would love to learn this!

    Reply
  47. acapeles1 October 10, 2009 at 4:40 pm #

    [..YouTube..] a nice sounding tag. You are aware that you didn’t get the base line in the third measure. Sounds like no major chord I’ve ever heard.

    Reply
  48. captbaritone October 12, 2009 at 12:39 pm #

    [..YouTube..] You mean I didn’t sing it like I wrote it? Or I sang it differently in the teaching part of the video and the performance part of the video?

    Reply
  49. acapeles1 October 12, 2009 at 12:45 pm #

    [..YouTube..] You didn’t sing the tag with the pitches that were printed on the musical notation you included when you did the final ttbb take.

    Reply
  50. acapeles1 October 12, 2009 at 12:49 pm #

    [..YouTube..] In the third measure the first counts are major C chords in 3rd inversion. If you listen to it, It is not a mojor sounding chord. I sang it (albeit in a lower key) as you wrote it.

    Reply
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