solfa

Singing by syllables

Solfa is a system for teaching music using syllables—do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti—to represent the notes of a scale.

As a verb, to solfa is to sing using these syllables rather than lyrics: The choir director had us solfa the passage before adding words.

Also spelled sol-fa.

syllables

do

Perform an action

reConcerning, in correspondence
miThird scale degree
laScale's sixth syllable

ti · doh · ray · lah · te · tonic · mediant · subdominant · dominant · chromatic

method

Guido

Italian masculine given name

sight-singingVocalizing unfamiliar written music
sight-readingPerforming unrehearsed notation
musicianshipSkill in performing music

pedagogy · conservatory · lesson · practice · exercises · vocalization · dictation · transposition

notation

staff

Organization's workers collectively

clefStaff pitch indicator
pitchFrequency of sound
intervalDuration between two points

scale · key · signature · sharp · flat · natural · note · octave · degree · accidental

singing

vocalize

Produce sounds aloud

intoneRecite in singsong
chantRepetitive rhythmic phrase
chorusSingers performing together

choir · voice · soprano · alto · tenor · bass · unison · harmony · warm-up · phrasing

Opposites

notation type

Fingering-based musical notation

musical learning method

solfaplaying by ear

Performing without written music

improvisation · rote learning · number system · lead sheets

Phrases

Sol InvictusRoman unconquered sun god
Costa del SolSouthern Spanish coastal resort
pine solTree-scented floor cleaner

Family

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G