Types of Solfege
There are different types of solfege, depending on how to handle note names, scale-degree names, and chromatic variations.
Movable-do/Fixed-do
Musicians need both an absolute (fixed-do) and a relative (movable-do) system for referring to pitches, so it is recommended to practice both ways if it is possible. However, a beginner may have to choose which one to learn first when starting to practice solfege. If your goal is to learn absolute pitch or improve your playing of an instrument, you might want to start with a fixed do. If your goal is to learn relative pitch, analyze music, or learn compositional theory, then you may want to start with a mobile do. Either way, mastery of both is desirable in order to become a good musician.
Movable-do
In the movable-do, scale-degree 1 is named "do" and each syllable corresponds to a scale degree.
Movable-do
In fixed-do, note "C" is always named "Do" and each syllable corresponds to the name of a note regardress of the key.
Non-Chromatic/Chromatic Syllables
The chromatic syllables allow you to be more rigorously aware of the differences in pitch, but you can start with the non-chromatic syllables if you find them difficult.
Non-chromatic Syllables (Movable-do)
Accidentals do not affect the Non-chromatic syllables. Scale-degree 1 and sharp 1 are both named "Do".
Non-chromatic Syllables (Fixed-do)
Key signatures and accidentals do not affect the Non-chromatic syllables. "C" and "C#" are both named "Do".
Chromatic Syllables (Movable-do)
Scale-degree 1 is named "Do" and sharp 1 is named "Di". Other syllables are shown below.
Chromatic Syllables (Fixed-do)
"C" is named "do" and "C#" is named "di" regardress of the key.
Chromatic Syllables (Summary Table)
The syllables of the chromatic scale are shown in the following table.
| Note name (Or scale degree in movable-do) | Syllable |
|---|---|
| C𝄫 (or double lowered 1) | daw |
| C♭ (or lowered 1) | de |
| C (or 1) | do |
| C# (or raised 1) | di |
| C𝄪 (or double raised 1) | dai |
| D𝄫 (or double lowered 2) | raw |
| D♭ (or lowered 2) | ra |
| D (or 2) | re |
| D# (or raised 2) | ri |
| D𝄪 (or double raised 2) | rai |
| E𝄫 (or double lowered 3) | maw |
| E♭ (or lowered 3) | me |
| E (or 3) | mi |
| E# (or raised 3) | mai |
| E𝄪 (or double raised 3) | - |
| F𝄫 (or double lowered 4) | faw |
| F♭ (or lowered 4) | fe |
| F (or 4) | fa |
| F# (or raised 4) | fi |
| F𝄪 (or double raised 4) | fai |
| G𝄫 (or double lowered 5) | saw |
| G♭ (or lowered 5) | se |
| G (or 5) | sol |
| G# (or raised 5) | si |
| G𝄪 (or double raised 5) | sai |
| A𝄫 (or double lowered6) | law |
| A♭ (or lowered 6) | le |
| A (or 6) | la |
| A# (or raised 6) | li |
| A𝄪 (or double raised 6) | lai |
| B𝄫 (or double lowered 7) | taw |
| B♭ (or lowered 7) | te |
| B (or 7) | ti |
| B# (or raised 7) | tai |
| B𝄪 (or double raised 7) | - |