Detlefsen Music

“Barbershop Theory” is a free series of online resources designed to teach you about many of the fundamentals of the barbershop style, as well as advanced topics

The barbershop style is known for its focus on ringing consonant chords, a wall of sound, and using a wide selection of music theory terms when working with the music. No other style of a cappella music teaches their singers about music theory as often and as in depth as in the barbershop style.

Even though barbershop encourages everyone, and not just educated singers, to join in the song, barbershoppers are – regardless of their professional background – some of the most well-educated singers out there. The fact that your average barbershop singer, who sings for leisure and fun, knows of topics and concepts such as “overtones”, “just intonation” and “resonance” really shows how dedicated and knowledgeable barbershoppers are, AND how big a role pedagogy plays when it comes to singing and teaching barbershop.

There are hundreds of talented barbershop coaches worldwide – each with their own perspective a way of educating – but what I find our style, hobby and passion needs is easy and accessable online tutorials, explaining these intricate and complex music theory terms.

Because even though barbershop is now a worldwide phenomenon, the vast majority of coaches, harmony colleges and educational opportunities still reside in the US. Being from Denmark, this is something I myself have found very frustrating, which is what led to the creation of the Youtube music theory series, “Barbershop Theory”.

Each video is designed to give you new tools and enhance and broaden your vocabulary when it comes to better understanding the barbershop style.