Solfège: do re mi fa sol la ti, with sound
Hear each syllable, sing along with the scale in two keys, and learn the difference between movable and fixed do.
Solfège names the notes of a scale with syllables: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. In movable do, do is the first note of whatever key you are in, so the syllables name each note's role (sol is always the 5th degree). In fixed do, do always means C. Singing in solfège is one of the oldest ways to train relative pitch.
Sing along: do re mi in C and in G
C do D re E mi F fa G sol A la B ti C do
Notice that the scale in G sounds the same, only lower: the syllables follow the sound, not the letter names. That is movable do.
Sing it, then name it: which syllable?
Each question sets a key with do-mi-sol-do, then plays one note. Name it in solfège.
Score: / 5 (your score updates as you answer)
The solfège syllables and scale degrees
| Syllable | Degree | In C | In G | Hear it (C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do | 1 (tonic) | C | G | |
| Re | 2 (supertonic) | D | A | |
| Mi | 3 (mediant) | E | B | |
| Fa | 4 (subdominant) | F | C | |
| Sol | 5 (dominant) | G | D | |
| La | 6 (submediant) | A | E | |
| Ti | 7 (leading tone) | B | F♯ |
Movable do or fixed do?
Movable do (used in the Kodály method and most English-language ear training) ties each syllable to a scale degree, so the pull of ti up to do or fa down to mi feels the same in every key. Fixed do ties each syllable to a letter (do = C, re = D), the way note names are taught in France, Italy and Spain. For training relative pitch, movable do is the more useful system; this site uses it.
Chromatic solfège: sharps and flats
| Raised (going up) | From | Lowered (going down) | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Di | Do raised | Te | Ti lowered |
| Ri | Re raised | Le | La lowered |
| Fi | Fa raised | Se | Sol lowered |
| Si | Sol raised | Me | Mi lowered |
| Li | La raised | Ra | Re lowered |
Minor keys: la-based or do-based?
Two conventions exist. In la-based minor the minor scale starts on la (la ti do re mi fa sol), keeping the syllables of the relative major. In do-based minor it starts on do with lowered syllables (do re me fa sol le te). Both are taught; pick the one your teacher or choir uses.
Where do the syllables come from?
In the 11th century Guido of Arezzo took the first syllables of the lines of the hymn Ut queant laxis, each starting a step higher: ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. Ut later became do, and si (ti in English tonic sol-fa) was added for the seventh note.
Frequently asked questions
What are the solfège syllables?
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, and do again an octave higher. Each one names a degree of the major scale: do is the 1st, sol the 5th, ti the 7th.
What is the difference between movable do and fixed do?
In movable do, do is the tonic of whatever key you are in (do = G in G major), so each syllable always has the same function. In fixed do, used in France, Italy, Spain and much of Latin America, do always means C.
Is it ti or si?
Both exist. English-language tonic sol-fa changed si to ti in the 19th century so that every syllable starts with a different letter; fixed-do countries still use si.
Where does do re mi come from?
From Guido of Arezzo (11th century), who used the first syllables of the lines of the hymn Ut queant laxis: ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. Ut later became do and the seventh syllable was added.
What are the solfège syllables for sharps and flats?
In movable do, raised notes change their vowel to i (di, ri, fi, si, li) and lowered notes to e or a (te, le, se, me, ra).