Do ré mi fa sol la si

Why in French was I was young my music teacher learned me DO RÉ MI FA SOL LA SI instead of
C D E F G A B

It's the same thing but why? lol

You know the song? Its based on these keys. And it is also used here in Norway. As: Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do

I'm not exactly sure either, I was never taught that system and we didn't ever have to learn about it. I'm guessing it's easier to hit a certain not vocally when you use that system.

CripKilla wrote:Why in French was I was young my music teacher learned me DO RÉ MI FA SOL LA SI instead of
C D E F G A B

It's the same thing but why? lol

Do Ré MI... Etc is called solfege. It is used mostly in Europe.

Some history about solfege

solfège (also called solfeggio, sol-fa, or solfa) is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solfège syllable (or "sol-fa syllable"). The seven syllables normally used for this practice in English-speaking countries are: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti (with a chromatic scale of ascending di, ri, fi, si, li and descending te, le, se, me, ra).

Traditionally, solfège is taught in a series of exercises of gradually increasing difficulty, each of which is also known as a "solfège". By extension, the word "solfège" may be used of an instrumental étude.

French "solfège" and Italian "solfeggio" ultimately derive from the names of two of the syllables used: so[l] and fa. The English equivalent of this expression, "sol-fa", is also used, especially as a verb[citation needed] ("to sol-fa" a passage is to sing it in solfège).

The word "solmization" derives from the Medieval Latin "solmisatiō", ultimately from the names of the syllables sol and mi. "Solmization" is often used synonymously with "solfège", but is technically a more generic term[1]; i.e., solfège is one type of solmization (albeit a nearly universal one in Europe and the Americas).

The use of a seven-note diatonic musical scale is ancient, though originally it was played in descending order.

The scale created by Guido of Arezzo went as follows: ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si. The notes were taken from the first verse of a Latin hymn[2] below (where the sounds fell on the scale), and later "ut" and "sol" were changed to flow with the other notes, while "si" was changed to "ti" to avoid confusion with "so[l]".

Ut queant laxis resonāre fibris
Mira gestorum famuli tuorum,
Solve polluti labii reatum,
Sancte Iohannes.

The hymn (The Hymn of St. John) was written by Paulus Diaconus in the 8th century. It translates[3] as:

So that these your servants can, with all their voice, to sing your wonderful feats, clean the blemish of our spotted lips. O Saint John!


The descending major (diatonic) scale:
high doh ('Do) High Doh' (The apostrophe indicates high Doh)
tee (Ti) Tee - "The Piercing Tone"
lah (La) Lah - "The Sad Tone"
soh (Sol) Soh - "The Bright Tone"
fah (Fa) Fah - "The Desolate Tone"
mee (Mi) Mee - "The Calm Tone"
ray (Re) Ray - "The Hopeful Tone"
doh (Do) Doh - "The Strong Tone"

The descending chromatic scale: Hi doh (Do) Doh' tee (Ti) Tee tay (Te) Tay lah (La) Lah lay (Le) Lay soh (Sol) Soh fee (Fi) Fee fah (Fa) Fah mee (Mi) Mee may (Me) May ray (Re) Ray rah (Ra) Rah doh (Do) Doh

In Latin speaking countries, these seven syllables have come to be used to name the notes of the scale, instead of the letters C, D, E, F, G, A and B. (For example, they would say, "Beethoven's ninth symphony is in Re minor".) In Germanic countries, the letters are used for this purpose, and the solfège syllables are encountered only for their use in sight-singing and ear training. (They would say, "Beethoven's ninth symphony is in D minor".)

I was lucky to grow up in Hungary where the Kodaly method is taught.


Few words about the Kodaly Method.

At the heart of the Kodály Method is Kodály’s belief that music literacy is the right of every human being. Kodály stressed that anyone who is capable of reading language is also capable of reading music. He urged that music education be accessible to everyone, not just to the musically gifted. He felt that no education could be complete without music, and that it was therefore the schools’ obligation to offer quality music instruction. Kodály stressed that music be taught daily as a part of the core curriculum and given equal importance as to language and mathematics.

Kodály believed that, to be effective, musical learning must begin with singing. He stressed that only through use of the voice could the musical ear be developed. Even instrumentalists, Kodály argued, must begin their musical training with singing in order to gain an understanding of music outside the mechanics of their instrument. Kodály recommended that instrumental instruction not begin until a student has achieved a certain level of musical literacy.

Kodály was of the opinion that, in order for a child to fully realize his or her musical potential, it is necessary that he or she begin musical training at an early age. Kodály emphasized that children must learn to read music at the same time as they learn to read language. Kodály felt that children between ages three and seven are most sensitive to music, and therefore good musical instruction is crucial at this time if the musical ear is to be fully developed. Kodály recommended that musical training begin no later than in Kindergarten and the primary grades.

He also borrowed a hand signing system for make it easier to learn. Who learned do-re-mi system might also learned this handsigning too.

Studies have shown that the Kodály Method improves intonation, rhythm skills, music literacy, and the ability to sing in increasingly complex parts. Outside of music, it has been shown to improve perceptual functioning, concept formation, motor skills, and performance in other academic areas such as reading and math.

Well hope you did not mind a little history lesson

Wow...this Kodaly Method looks really good! I never heard of it before, we don't get taught this stuff over here! I'm disappointed in the music education system here!

Thanks for sharing this Maggie once again you're so helpful! much love

Admin Andrew wrote:Wow...this Kodaly Method looks really good! I never heard of it before, we don't get taught this stuff over here! I'm disappointed in the music education system here!

Thanks for sharing this Maggie once again you're so helpful! much love

Im sorry that you are disappointed... too bad Kodaly Method is not known there...imagine one of the biggest fans for the Kodaly Method are the Japanese... they do start their kids to teach music at a very early age... and you can tell it is worth it.

It is natural that in Hungary they teach that method... it would be a shame if they would not... but also I think it helps a lot of students in Hungary to excell in their studies, which is pretty awesome. (Hope that stays like it even in the age of videogames)

I just enjoy educating like you so you are very very welcome.

If I'm not mistaken fifty+ years ago it was common practice to teach this method in the US, I think it's making a come back now. I used to know some of the hand signals associated.

I remember when I was a chorister, we used to learn new songs by their tonic solfa notation [or moveable doh solfege].
Apparently this method wouldn't be of much use to pianists because it makes more sense indicating a melody by the actual key pressed on the keyboard.

And, thanks Maggie your post. You really are a wealth of knowledge.

Phi wrote:I remember when I was a chorister, we used to learn new songs by their tonic solfa notation [or moveable doh solfege].
Apparently this method wouldn't be of much use to pianists because it makes more sense indicating a melody by the actual key pressed on the keyboard.

And, thanks Maggie your post. You really are a wealth of knowledge.

You are right this system is more useful for singers in general but when you are introduced to music theory in a young age it helps you to remember and learn it better. It helps eartraining and eartraining help your piano playing.

You are welcome, the world is full of accessable knowledge, my pleasure to present them here for the greater good

maggiekedves wrote:

Phi wrote:I remember when I was a chorister, we used to learn new songs by their tonic solfa notation [or moveable doh solfege].
Apparently this method wouldn't be of much use to pianists because it makes more sense indicating a melody by the actual key pressed on the keyboard.

And, thanks Maggie your post. You really are a wealth of knowledge.

You are right this system is more useful for singers in general but when you are introduced to music theory in a young age it helps you to remember and learn it better. It helps eartraining and eartraining help your piano playing.

You are welcome, the world is full of accessable knowledge, my pleasure to present them here for the greater good

Yea you REALLY do help people alot of this forum. I have a Rank available for people who can be recignized as people who help people out and know their stuff I called it "Piano Teacher" it's a special status. I'm thinking about you and Pianohama as two possible candidates for it since you guys love to post up so much information!

Admin Andrew wrote:

Yea you REALLY do help people alot of this forum. I have a Rank available for people who can be recignized as people who help people out and know their stuff I called it "Piano Teacher" it's a special status. I'm thinking about you and Pianohama as two possible candidates for it since you guys love to post up so much information!

It is an honour to be recognized Thank you, thank you

maggiekedves wrote:

Admin Andrew wrote:

Yea you REALLY do help people alot of this forum. I have a Rank available for people who can be recignized as people who help people out and know their stuff I called it "Piano Teacher" it's a special status. I'm thinking about you and Pianohama as two possible candidates for it since you guys love to post up so much information!

It is an honour to be recognized Thank you, thank you

No problem! you deserve it! You've started countless topics that gave SO much helpful info time after time after time, PLUS you gave me the link to that clock did you know i bought it? It should be here in a few weeks

Admin Andrew wrote:PLUS you gave me the link to that clock did you know i bought it? It should be here in a few weeks

Awesome I think it is an excellent gift too maybe you should stock up on them...

Before I found the link, I so much wanted something similar... that I started to think about designing my own version.
I would like a wall version, not a table one. Many of the wall clocks from the dollars story consists of 1 wood circle and the hands on it with different not too pretty pictures.. I was thinking if I would buy one ( it is approx 6-7 dollars) and I could design the circle of fiftth cover on the computer I would just need to print it out ( maybe at Kinko's for a dollar or so) and I would have a unique designed clock for 10 dollars.... thats not bad huh?

I just never had the devotion and time for it, and the clock you ordered worths around 22+ dollars

Here in Brazil we also learn this system. I have only figured out what C D E F G A B 2 weeks ago when I figured because of the number, then guessed the order.

Really, if you are in Brazil and don't look at the internet, you'll never guess what CDEFGAB are.

There's even a song that we learn to remember it, I don't remember the start, only the notes part:
Dó Ré Mi Fá Fá FÁ
Dó Ré Dó Ré Ré RÉ
Dó Sol Fá Mi Mi Mi
Dó Ré Mi Fá Fá Fá
That was one of the first songs I learned because the notes were clear, no music reading