Help with harmonizing guitar parts

[Matt Wildman]

I’m writing a solo and it has a dual guitar harmony in it. It’s in the key of F#minor and the harmony that I came up sounds good, but it sounds a lot like a Black Veil brides song and I don’t want that. I want something different. I need some more knowledge about what notes harmonize well in that key. And in other keys for that matter. I’ve always loved how Brilliant the harmonies are in A7Xs music. Thanks

 

[idssdi]

You can use thirds, fourths and fifths sometimes even sixths and sevenths depending on what you’re going for. Basically notes that go together well in chords will work as a harmony in your solo too.

 

[Flynn Edwards]

It’s a bit difficult without knowing much theory. Pretty much what Ids means is that a third is the third note of the scale of the note. Sounds a bit confusing. Let’s say the note you want to harmonise is a C. If it’s in major and you want a third you’d count C, D, E. (E being the new note for the harmony.) If you want a 7th it would be C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

When I started out writing my solos and lead parts i really didnt think about the notes. Theres usually a melody the song or solo resolves around i find the duet should just simplfy that melody. So theres a REALLY catchy part in the solo.. maybe move that part up an octave and then add the duet to that. I find syn does this a LOT. Example that I can think of would be not ready to die. The duet in the bridge is literally the same one as the intro but up an octave it two.

 

[Matt Wildman]

Yeah I need to get better with my music theory . Thanks guys I’ll look at what I recorded tonight and try and play around with something different. If I remember right I think I used a 4th. I’ll try a 5th or something idk

 

[Dan Shipway]

Id try a harmoniser pedal if possible, this is obviously not a substitute but it will help you figure out some stuff by ear by hearing what it will sound like.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I wouldn’t even bother with honestly with the harmony until you got the melody you want. Once you like what you have it’s honestly easy to create the harmony. Just go where you want (3rd etc) and copy your pattern. Good way to start. I have many duets in my songs that are like this.
I have a couple songs where I start in one speaker.. then add the other ( right left then both sides).
Basically the left is ascending melody and right descends. Then both sided is a repeat of the first melody. And it’s a pretty easy melody.
I wouldn’t think too much into the theory side until you got an idea. You can always polish it with the theory. I’d focus first on the sound you want. And whether its catchy enough to add the harmony.. I think harmonies ideally are suppose to be catchy to an extent. Maybe let us hear what you got maybe we can give you an idea or example.

 

[Sayonil Mitra]

try making a different melody with similar note patters/picking patterns but trying different notes (i mean not all thirds/fifths/fourths). or try to divide the primary solo in parts, write a different harmonizing portion for each part then join those portions to create the harmonizing solo

 

[Rute Rodrigues]

Personally, I love to use 4ths and 6ths. Sometimes 3ths, but 3ths does not always sound good. 5ths and 8ths are also good ideas, but personally I don’t like it. But in your solo it can sound good The example I can give u is Bat Country. Go listed to that part of the solo, that is very cool and that’s often what I like to do. Hope It helped!! Good luck

 

[idssdi]

Thirds ALWAYS sound good you just can’t do the whole 5 or 7 fret up trick you can do with fourths and fifths. You actually have to pay attention to whether the chord underneath is a major or minor chord.

 

[Matt Wildman]

Yeah this is all lots of help! The technicality if it all still confuses me a bit but that’s cause I suck at music theory lol