No audition to visit
Sing with us Tuesday.
When Tuesdays, 7 to 9:30pm. We take a break after International and after our Christmas shows. We usually start back the first Tuesday of the new year.
Where Use the map pin: search Google Maps for "Sound of Tennessee" (we're in Bradley Square Mall) and it takes you to our back door, tucked behind a loading dock, with our logo small on the door. The front mall entrance works too, but the back is quicker. Open the map pin
Your first Tuesday, start to finish
Two and a half hours, with a break in the middle.
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Warm up
7:00
Walk in and tell someone you're new. We try to greet guests as they come in. We start with some light stretching and vocal warm-ups, and you can copy whatever the guys around you are doing.
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Tag time
A tag is the last few bars of a song, the big ringing finish. We teach it one part at a time, then put all four together. If you've never sung barbershop, it's the easiest way in.
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The music
We work the songs we're getting ready to perform. We usually stand mixed, not by part. If you're new, we'll help you find your voice part, and we break into sectionals, each part working with its section leader.
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Break
8:30
We say hello to guests and new members, cheer anyone who renewed their membership, then spend ten minutes on snacks and tags.
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Second half
Back to the music until it's where it needs to be.
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Close
9:30
We finish with the Society's theme song, Keep the Whole World Singing. Some guys start tagging right there, but mostly we head out to eat. Barbershoppers call that afterglow, and guests are invited.
Who's teaching
Brandon Guyton, our director
He sang baritone in Four Voices, the 2002 International champions, and in Crossroads, the 2009 champions. He used to be a Barbershop Harmony Society Singing judge, has coached a lot of quartets, and is still a primary coach for Full Effect.
Hear the four parts
Barbershop is mostly learned by ear, from a recording of your part. These are just the opening bars of the learning tracks for the audition song, The Star-Spangled Banner, each with one part up front. Members get the full tracks on the member site, and when you are ready to work on the audition song we will set you up with a guest login.
Tenor
Sits above the melody, light and high. Falsetto is normal here.
Lead
Sings the melody, the tune you'd hum along to.
Bass
The bottom of the chord. Everyone else stands on you.
This is what a Tuesday sounds like
More on our Facebook page: facebook.com/SoundofTN
How to join
Visiting comes first. Joining takes a few more Tuesdays and one song.
Come to three rehearsals
Regular Tuesday nights, at least three of them.
Learn your part of the anthem
The audition song is The Star-Spangled Banner. When you are ready to work on it, ask any of us, or your section leader, and we will set you up with a guest login to our member site so you can download your part.
Tell your section leader
Do it whenever you feel ready.
Sing it in a quartet
You sing the anthem with three other members. That's the audition.
The chorus has no dues of its own. Members pay Barbershop Harmony Society membership, which is $180 a year, $90 under 26, and $135 for 75 and over. The Society sets the rates and they can change, so check barbershop.org.
Questions guys ask before their first night
Got one that's not here? Email info@soundoftn.org, or text or call (423) 464-6747.
August 2026.
Do I need to read music?
No. A musical background helps, but matching pitch matters most, and most of the chorus aren't strong sight-readers. Barbershop mostly gets learned by ear, from a recording with your part turned up. You can hear the opening bars of each part above.
I've never sung in a choir. Is that a problem?
No. You don't need any choir experience. Your first hour includes tag time, where we teach a short piece one part at a time and then put all four parts together.
Do I have to audition?
Not to visit, and not on your first night. To join, you sing The Star-Spangled Banner in a quartet after at least three regular rehearsals. The steps are under How to join, above.
Which part would I sing?
Lead has the melody. Tenor sits above it, bass is the bottom, and bari fills in the chord. If you're not sure, we'll help you find your voice part. We usually stand mixed, not by part.
What does it cost?
Visiting is free, and the chorus has no dues of its own. If you join, you pay Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) membership: $180 a year, $90 if you are under 26, and $135 if you are 75 or over. BHS sets those rates and they can change, so check its membership options.
What should I wear? What should I bring?
Look at the videos: jeans, t-shirts, polos. Bring water if you like. We try to have bottles on hand.
How old are the guys?
Teenagers to gray beards. Watch any of the tag videos and you'll see the whole range. We welcome younger singers, as long as they can take part in rehearsal.
Is it only men?
We're a men's chorus, singing men's barbershop arrangements. Women who'd like to sing barbershop can find our sister chorus, Anthem of Tennessee, on Facebook.
Can I bring a friend?
Please do. Two new guys is easier than one.
Can I come to afterglow?
Yes, come along. Most weeks we go to Las Margaritas (1647 25th St NW, just off I-75 exit 25), a Mexican restaurant we call Las Mas, where we eat and sing tags in the lobby.
Tuesdays, 7pm
See you Tuesday.
Follow the map pin to the back door.
Walk in and tell someone you're new. We try to greet guests as they come in.
Want to give us a heads-up first? Text or call (423) 464-6747, or email info@soundoftn.org. You don't have to.
Yes, it's in a mall.