Solmization

Solmization is a system of attributing a distinct syllable to each note in a musical scale. Various forms of solmization are in use and have been used throughout the world.

In Europe and North America, solfège is the convention used most often. The seven syllables normally used for this practice in English-speaking countries are: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti (with a chromatic scale of ascending di, ri, fi, si, li and descending te, le, se, me, ra). The syllables are derived from "The Hymn of St. John" written by Paulus Diaconus in the 8th century.

In India, the origin of solmization was to be found in Vedic texts like the Upanishads, which discuss a musical system of seven notes, realized ultimately in what is known as sargam. In Indian classical music, the notes in order are: sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, and ni.

Byzantine music also uses syllables derived from a hymn to name notes: starting with A, the notes are pa, vu', ga, di, ke, zo, ni.

In Japan, "Iroha", an ancient poem, is sometimes used as solfège (i, chi, yo, ra, ya, a, we).

In Scotland, Canntaireachd was used as a means of communicating bagpipe music vocally.

Other systems invented for teaching sight-singing are:
*Tonic sol-fa
*Kodály method with Curwen hand signs
*Shape note