sol-fa

American  

[sohl-fah, sohl-fah] / ˌsoʊlˈfɑ, ˈsoʊlˌfɑ /

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.

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verb (used without object)

sol-faed, sol-faing

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

verb (used with object)

sol-faed, sol-faing

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

sol-fa British  

/ ˈsɒlˈfɑː /

noun

1. short for tonic sol-fa

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• sol-faist noun

Etymology

Origin of sol-fa

1560–70; sol ¹ + fa; see gamut

Example Sentences

By the phonetic system any spoken language can now be learned quickly and easily, just as by the sol-fa system the teaching of music was made easy and simple.

From Society for Pure English, Tract 02 On English Homophones by Bridges, Robert Seymour

Now, perhaps we had better sol-fa the tune. 

From Two on a Tower by Hardy, Thomas

They sing to la and sol-fa syllables scales gradually rising.

From The Boy's Voice A Book of Practical Information on The Training of Boys' Voices For Church Choirs, &c. by Curwen, John Spencer

The oldest of these is an edition of Marot and Beza's Psalms, dated 1567, and having music set to many of the Psalms in staff and sol-fa notation.

From Chronicles of Strathearn by Macdougall, W. B.

The tune of My Country, 'Tis of Thee, as printed in tonic sol-fa notation below will make these points clear.

From Music Notation and Terminology by Gehrkens, Karl Wilson