sol-fa

[ sohl-fah, sohl-fah ]

noun

1. Music. the set of syllables, do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti, sung to the respective tones of the scale. All but do and ti are attributed to Guido d'Arezzo.
2. the system of singing tones to these syllables.

verb (used without object)

, sol-faed, sol-fa·ing.

1. to use the sol-fa syllables in singing, or to sing these syllables.

verb (used with object)

, sol-faed, sol-fa·ing.

1. to sing to the sol-fa syllables, as a tune.

sol-fa

/ ˈsɒlˈfɑː /

noun

1. short for tonic sol-fa

verb

1. to use tonic sol-fa syllables in singing (a tune)

Other Words From

• sol-faist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sol-fa¹

1560–70; sol ¹ + fa; gamut

Word History and Origins

Origin of sol-fa¹

C16: see gamut

Example Sentences

Many teachers in the old days composed Sol-Fa exercises and vocalises for their own use.

From Project Gutenberg

Suffice it to say that only four keys were known, and that each note was called by its full Sol-Fa name.

From Project Gutenberg

Then they all learned songs together from tonic sol-fa, singing in a circle round the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

"I had learned the Tonic Sol-fa notation by heart before I was twenty," he added.

From Project Gutenberg

Free use is made of the tonic sol-fa as well as the standard notation in many musical examples.

From Project Gutenberg