Solfège: do, re, mi explained
Solfège gives every note of the scale a singable name. Change the key below: in movable do the syllables stay put on the scale degrees while the note names change.
Movable do: “do” is always the tonic, so Do–Mi is always a major 3rd and Ti always leads to Do, in every key.
Why musicians sing solfège
In movable do, each syllable carries a job. Ti is always a semitone below Do and wants to rise to it; Fa sits a semitone above Mi and tends to fall. Once you know how each syllable feels, you can sing a melody in any key at sight and write down melodies you hear, because you are hearing functions rather than absolute pitches.
Curwen hand signs
Kodály-based classes pair each syllable with a hand sign, rising in height with the pitch.
| Syllable | Degree | Hand sign | Tendency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do | 1 | Fist | Home, stable |
| Re | 2 | Flat hand, angled up | Moves to do or mi |
| Mi | 3 | Flat hand, palm down | Stable, part of the tonic chord |
| Fa | 4 | Thumb pointing down | Falls to mi |
| Sol | 5 | Open hand, palm in | Stable, strong |
| La | 6 | Relaxed hand, drooping | Falls to sol |
| Ti | 7 | Index finger pointing up | Rises to do |
Chromatic syllables
Raised notes take an “i” vowel, lowered notes an “e” (or “a” for re). Going up the chromatic scale from do: Do, Di/Ra, Re, Ri/Me, Mi, Fa, Fi/Se, Sol, Si/Le, La, Li/Te, Ti.
Put solfège to work in melodic dictation or when naming scales by ear.
Questions
What is solfège?
Solfège (or solfeggio) is a system of singing each note of the scale to a syllable: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. It grew from syllables Guido of Arezzo took from a Latin hymn in the 11th century. Singers use it to learn to hear and sing intervals and melodies.
What is the difference between movable do and fixed do?
In movable do, “do” is always the tonic of the current key, so the syllables describe each note’s role in the scale. It is common in the UK, US and in Kodály teaching. In fixed do, “do” is always C, whatever the key; it is standard in France, Italy, Spain and much of Latin America.
Is it “ti” or “si”?
Both are used. English-speaking movable-do systems often use “ti” (from Sarah Glover and John Curwen in the 19th century) so that each syllable starts with a different letter. Fixed-do countries generally use “si”.
How are sharps and flats sung in solfège?
Chromatic syllables change the vowel: raised notes use “i” (di, ri, fi, si, li) and lowered notes use “e” or “a” (ra, me, se, le, te). For example, a raised 4th is “fi” and a lowered 7th is “te”.
Do minor keys start on do or la?
There are two conventions. “La-based minor” keeps the relative major’s do, so minor keys start on la. “Do-based minor” makes the minor tonic do and alters the 3rd, 6th and 7th (me, le, te). Check which your teacher or exam uses.