Musical Groups With the Best Harmonies

Home Free has the greatest harmony ever of any group. They are pitch perfect and the harmony is tight. They need to be recognized for their super great talent. They use no instruments, they just happen to have the world's #1 beat boxer, Adam Rupp.

Their harmonies are insanely beautiful and gives me goose bumps every time I hear them, which happens on a daily basis.

I was in awe and love the first moment I heard them. In person they are the nicest group of men. A live show is mind blowing.

Not sure? Google them singing "Helplessly Hoping". No doubt about it.

I'm quite surprised they're even on the list. Usually they get completely overlooked, seeing them on #2 is pretty cool. Outside of acapella groups (which I don't really dig and as far as I'm concerned don't really count as they have to play in another league in terms of harmonies since otherwise they would be irrelevant) they definitely have the best harmonies of all time. Just look at Surf's Up. Starts out slow with only one voice, climaxing twice in a falsetto "columnated ruins domino", and in the end turning into a gigantic wall of harmonies, starting with three voices and a fourth soon kicking in making for the perfect harmonic experience.

The most beautiful harmonies ever recorded. Sadly, they're fairly unheard of among the younger generation. They are at their best on In My Room. - PetSounds

I agree totally with you on The Beach Boys, PetSounds. They are always in perfect harmony. My personal favourite example of this is Fun Fun Fun. But also adore In My Room... - Britgirl

No voice is less exposed than the other, and Brian Wilson deserves more recognition than he gets

John Phillips was a wicked warlock. Denny Doherty was a wicked warlock. Michelle Phillips was a wicked witch. Cass Elliot was too fat and too round when she was with the Mamas and the Papas and she was a wicked witch.

I HATE The Mamas and the Papas so much. Their harmonizing drives me crazy. I'm very happy that those mean jerks are all dead.

Excellent list, PetSounds. The contrapuntal sound of this band with the four voices--alto, soprano, tenor, baritone--just sends me right over the edge. The group said that when they sang really closely together, there would be an overtone like a 5th voice, which they called Harvey. John Phillips was a master at arranging their four voices to maximum effect. I could go on and on and on, but I'll stop now.

P.S. Fleet Foxes are awesome - Blue_Devereaux

The Sound of Silence is their best. Don't worry, it's not just white noise. On the contrary, it's one of the greatest songs ever recorded. - PetSounds

Although they were heavily influenced by the Beach Boys, their harmonies are quite different. A more raw, unpolished sound overall in the early stages, but it got smoother as they progressed. Listen to Nowhere Man. - PetSounds

They have so many talented singers coming from such different musical backgrounds. Their harmonies are nearly perfect and to have them anywhere other than the first spot on this list is unbelievable to me. They will go down in history as one of the greatest bands in history, and for a reason. Not one of their songs has bad harmonies, and every band member can sing impeccably. For those of you who don agree you can shove it because the Eagles are the greatest band of all time!

One listen to Seven Bridges Road is all you need to hear to understand that they were on the top of the heap for vocal harmonies.

Definitely one of the best harmony bands, esp. that first original line-up. They lost some of the magic though after Randy Meisner left.

They have changed the world of a capella forever. They sound better than most pop stars and they're only using their voices! They have talent that surpasses most singers. A very unique band that will change the future of music.

Their harmonies are amazing and their voices are angelic! They are awesome!

The best harmonies and arrangements!

Every member of PTX is not only insanely talented musically, they are five of the nicest sweetest people you will ever meet. They make time for their fans and let them in to their lives as people not just as celebrities.

Their harmonies and arrangements are flawless. Some other musicians rehearse until they get it right; Pentatonix rehearse until they can’t get it wrong.

The lead singer was heavily influenced by Queen and The Beach Boys but he does something different because he’s the only good singer in this band:

1) he creates and sings everything - lead and backing vox with harmonies. That’s really lots of work and singing but the result is absolutely beautiful;
2) then, if he wants to create a choir effect, he applies his signature practice of overdubbing his own voice multiple times in complex, overlapping harmonies.
Pure genius.
So his voice is the only one you hear but it’s a godly voice. Enjoy.

Songs with moderate overdubbing:
Carry the Blessed Home, Distant Memories, Turn the Page, Otherland

Songs with more complex harmonies and massive overdubbing, creating a huge choir effect:
The Throne, At The Edge Of Time - Metal_Treasure

Probably the best vocal ensemble in the history of popular music.

Just listen to No Excuses, Rooster, or I Stay Away to know why they are one of the best. - Coolman_Kaleb

Granted its Jerry minus Layne but the new song "Voices" is the proof in the pudding.

These guys should be much higher on this list (buck naked ladies?... come on). Jerry continues to write amazing harmonic duets to this day.

This band performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop, rock and metal songs.
Amazing vocal harmonies.
Songs:
Nothing else matters (Metallica), Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd), Sweet Child Of Mine (Guns N Roses), The Unforgiven I (Metallica), Kashmir (Led Zepp). - Metal_Treasure

The lead singer of this band also sings for Blind Guardian described above and he applies the same techniques here, too, but here the choir effect is not that big. However, vocals and harmonies are still extremely impressive. Again, no other singers - it's only his voice on all song sections. Music genre is a bit different.
Songs:
My Last Sunrise - especially the intro and outro, the outro is exemplary;
Heaven Denies - especially the outro at 4:20 (it's gregorian chanting and it's one of the most beautiful vocal performances in the world);
Rage of passage - short intro song. - Metal_Treasure

Their whole debut album is lined with harmonies, but the classic 'More Than a Feeling' uses them the best.

To Stills and Young, add Richie Furay who later founded Poco, plus Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina, and this group had 4 amazing and harmonious voices.

CSNY sprang forth from this awesome group, but with Neil Young and Stephen Stills as founding members, they had "that sound" first.

Rather obscure, I'll admit, but their harmonies are fantastic. - PetSounds

Lol why is this not number 1?! All you gotta do is listen to Bringin' On the Heartbreak, and you'll be in love. Joe and the guys have gorgeous voices.

4 members who could easily handle lead singer roles, although Chris Hillman did not do so until much later in his career.
David Crosby perfected the concept of "High Harmony" in pop-rock music, though in person he was a total jerk.

Ironically they actually aren’t really good at harmonizing.

Always underappreciated,but should be top10easy.

They're not a boy band, they're a true vocal harmony group.
Who's The Beatles? , never even heard of them
The Backstreet Boys can give you straight up chills with their signature polyphonic harmony, they blend like no other, seriously, don't call them a boy band, it's just insulting

The guys are amazing! They sing, dance and hamonizes like no one else!

Just an epic sound they produce when they sing together - Dade

Their physcidelic harmonies were in a league of their own, providing an eerie, yet powerful tone to any song.