The most prominent musical element of “Alright” are the vocal harmonies, arranged by producer Sounwave. They are sung throughout the entire song and lay the foundation for the other instrumentation. A musical harmony, like the definition of the word, represents unity. The notes can be heard individually but they come together to form one pleasant sound. The vocal harmonies in “Alright” are jazz chords which are typically chords that extend beyond the 3-note triad, expanding beyond one octave (Laukens). The harmonies in the song go back and forth between extended chords 9 and 11 (Manabe). The extension gives the harmonies a full texture, much stronger than when notes are played individually or together only across one octave. This symbolizes the impact that people can have when they join together to create one voice.

The close harmonies also create a sense of calmness because of the smooth texture of the unified sound. They keep a structure to the song and Kendrick’s lyrics, which touch on very troubling and painful topics not only about the Black community but also about his mental health. Even when other instrumentation drops out and you can only hear Kendrick’s voice, the harmonies remain, suggesting that despite whatever hardships the community faces if they stick together they will be “alright.”