Unlocking the Sound: Do-Re-Mi or A-B-C?
What’s the difference between ABC and Do Re Me systems in music?
This is a great question that music teachers are frequently asked by students and their parents! ABC and Do Re Mi systems are two foundational methods used to teach and understand music. The ABC system uses the first seven letters of the alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) to represent the notes of the musical scale, making it a straightforward approach, especially for beginners. On the other hand, the Do Re Mi system, also known as solfège, assigns specific syllables to each note (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti) to help with sight-reading and ear training. Both systems play crucial roles in how we learn, play, and analyze music, each offering its unique way to connect with the musical world.
So ABC and Do Re Mi systems are both ways of naming musical notes, but they come from different traditions and are used in different contexts. Here's how they compare:
The ABC System is common in: English-speaking countries, especially in written music theory, sheet music, and instrumental lessons.
The Do Re Mi (Solfege) System is common in vocal training, ear training, Kodály method, and countries using fixed “Do” or movable “Do” systems. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latin American countries often use fixed do, where "Do" always means C. Japan – also familiar with solfège, especially in education. The solfège system is often used in singing to help with sight-reading and ear training as this system is more about pitch relationships than note names. Some regions use “Si” for the 7th note, while others use “Ti” (like in “Do-Re-Mi” from The Sound of Music).
ABC Notation (The Letter) System is mostly used in English-speaking countries and some northern European countries. It uses letters for notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. But here’s the twist: In Germany, Scandinavia, and some Eastern European countries, B actually means B-flat, and H is used for B natural.
Did you know that there is also such a thing as a Hybrid System? In Russia and other Slavic countries, letter names (like C, D, E...) are often used for professional music theory, but solfège (Do, Re, Mi...) is used for singing. Another Fun Fact about the systems is that In India, they use Sargam, a totally different system: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni – and it's based on a different scale structure from Western music.
Solfège helps students understand pitch relationships, develop ear training and sight-singing skills and sing in tune more easily. The syllables come from a medieval hymn called “Ut queant laxis”. The original version used "Ut" instead of "Do," but "Do" was adopted later because it's easier to sing. We have frequently been asked which system is older, and here is the answer:
The Do Re Mi system is older than the ABC notation system. It dates back to the 11th century and was developed by Guido of Arezzo, an Italian monk. Originally, it used the syllables Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La (later Ut was replaced by Do, and Ti was added for the 7th note). It was a tool for teaching sight-singing in medieval Gregorian chant.
We all remember the "Do-Re-Mi" song from the beloved musical “The Sound of Music” as a fun and clever way to teach pitch and sight-singing. The lyrics cleverly assign meanings or associations to each syllable ("Do, a deer, a female deer...") to help make the pitches easier to remember. It is also known as a solmization system. It is kind of like a musical GPS – In Movable Do, solfège helps musicians “map out” any key using the same syllables. It’s a tool for training the ear and understanding harmony on a deeper level. Another interesting fact is that there is a hand sign for each syllable – Invented by John Curwen, the Kodály hand signs pair each solfège syllable with a visual and kinesthetic gesture, helping students internalize pitch relationships.
ABC notation is a much newer system. It was invented in the early 1980s by Chris Walshaw, a British computer scientist and folk musician. He created it as a simple, text-based music notation system that made it easy to share traditional folk tunes via email and online forums—a big deal at a time when music software was limited and sending images or complex files was cumbersome. The goal was to have a format that was easy to type using just a keyboard, could be read by humans as well as processed by software, could represent melodies (and later, harmonies, chords, and more). It took off especially among folk musicians, because they could write and share tunes quickly in online communities. Over time, it grew more sophisticated and is now supported by many tools and apps that can turn ABC into sheet music, MIDI files, or even play it back. ABC notation is a fascinating, compact, and quirky way to write music using only plain text—perfect for folk music, sea shanties, or sharing tunes over email.
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