Meltdown takes its vocal style from the barbershop tradition, though many of the songs in our repertoire are not 'typical barbershop'. We sing songs from right across the field of popular music, from old-fashioned love songs, to up-beat swing numbers, taking in songs from the shows, the odd bit of gospel, and modern pop standards along the way.

We sing a cappella (literally meaning 'in chapel style'), which is vocal music unaccompanied by instruments. There are various a cappella styles, including:

• Barbershop
• Classical
• Contemporary
• Doo Wop
• Gospel & Religious
• Vocal Jazz
• World

Meltdown sings a style that is firmly rooted in the barbershop tradition, with four voice parts (lead, bass, baritone and tenor), The lead usually sings the melody, with the other three parts  harmonizing. The tenor harmonizes above the melody. The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes and the baritone provides in-between notes, either above or below the lead, completing the chords that give barbershop its distinctive, four-part sound.

The style is identified by very close matching of the four voices, and the use of chords which 'lock and ring', creating an overtone (or 'fifth voice') when executed well. That's the effect that sometimes gives people goosebumps when they hear close harmony!