So with the help of Dash Riprock, vocals are finished for Jackson Browne’s “The Load-Out” and “Stay” (played together as many radio stations have). However, when putting everything together, I realize that I’m going to need some advice on the harmony placement for some voices.

The Load-Out is straightforward with no harmonies (just the lead singer), but Stay has an interesting issue.

There are 4 distinct voices which come in this song:

1) Main Singer

2) Male backup

3) Female singer

4) Guitarist [male singing Falsetto]

The main singer will be HARM1 (as should be), but I’m trying to figure out how to place the other 3. The issue with combining is trying to “match” the voices up with an equal counterpart for two of them.

One option is to match the male backup with the male guitarist part (as they are both male and sing in different sections), but the issue here is that the backup is in range, and the guitarist sings in Falsetto… which could make it very difficult/awkward for that HARM singer (ignoring the fact you can sing whatever octave in RB and still work).

Second option would be to match up the female singer with the male falsetto. They would not overlap, and someone planning on singing the female part would have an easier time hitting the higher alto notes and the falsetto. Only problem is that technically I’m combining a male and female singer into one HARM.

Third option would be to drop the male backup, and just put the female and guitarist on their own HARM. However, the backup is relatively audible, and I would prefer not to do this.

Options 1 and 2 seem the best, but not sure what one. I like the second better, but I’m not big on the male and female merge. Plus, even though it’s a woman singing, it’s closer to the “high” tenor range than an alto I feel, so maybe it would go better with the similar range male backup?

I would love some insight on ideas. Thank you.