Movable do
In movable do, do is always the home note of the major key you're in. The syllables name a note's function in the key, not its letter name. In C major do = C; in E♭ major do = E♭. So do–mi–sol sounds the same "shape" in every key, and you learn to hear relationships rather than absolute pitches.
Click any syllable to hear it. Half steps fall between mi–fa and ti–do; every other neighbour is a whole step.
La-based minor
Minor keys use the same syllables as their relative major, starting on la. A minor shares C major's do (C), so A minor's tonic is la. The natural minor scale is la–ti–do–re–mi–fa–sol–la. The half steps stay where they always are (ti–do and mi–fa), which is why la-based minor makes key changes between relative keys effortless.
- Harmonic minor raises sol to si: la ti do re mi fa si la.
- Melodic minor (ascending) raises fa to fi and sol to si: la ti do re mi fi si la.
Chromatic syllables
Raised notes change the vowel to i ("ee"); lowered notes change it to e ("ay"), except re, which becomes ra.
| Raised | di | ri | — | fi | si | li | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diatonic | do | re | mi | fa | sol | la | ti |
| Lowered | — | ra | me | — | se | le | te |
Triads in solfège
- Major tonic (I): do – mi – sol
- Minor tonic (i in minor, vi in major): la – do – mi
- Subdominant (IV): fa – la – do · Dominant (V): sol – ti – re
Practice tips
- Before singing, audiate: hear the note in your head first.
- Anchor to the root. From do, mi is two steps up (do–re–mi); sol is the top of the chord.
- Sing on the syllable with a steady, comfortable volume; hold it for about two seconds.
- Any octave is accepted, so pick the one that's comfortable for your voice.