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11.5: Using Moveable Do Solfège for Modes

  • Page ID
    258544
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    Singing Modal Melodies

    As we do for major and minor melodies, when we sing a modal melody it is beneficial to first determine the tonal center. We will use that tonal center as do and use altered syllables where appropriate.

    Let's take a deeper look at the table associating these modal scales with their closest major or minor connections and add another column with the solfège syllables if using moveable do.

    Name of Scale, Starting on D

    Most Closely Related Scale

    Pitches of the Modal Scale

    Altered Scale Degrees

    Moveable Do Solfège Syllables

    D Ionian Scale Major D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D No alterations do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do
    D Dorian Scale Natural minor D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D Raised sixth scale degree do-re-me-fa-sol-la-te-do
    D Phrygian Scale Natural minor D-E flat-F-G-A-B flat-C-D Lowered second scale degree do-ra-me-fa-sol-le-te-do
    D Lydian Scale Major D-E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D Raised fourth scale degree do-re-mi-fi-sol-la-ti-do
    D Mixolydian Scale Major D-E-F#-G-A-B-C-D Lowered seventh scale degree do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-te-do
    D Aeolian Scale Natural minor D-E-F-G-A-B flat-C-D No alterations do-re-me-fa-sol-le-te-do
    D Locrian Scale Natural minor D-E flat-F-G-A flat-B flat-C-D Lowered second, lowered fifth do-ra-me-fa-se-le-te-do

    This page titled 11.5: Using Moveable Do Solfège for Modes is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lauren C. Sharkey.

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