2. Scales in Tonic Sol fa

A Scale is a set of notes — usually seven — which constitute the basis of music. Does this number ring some similarity somewhere? I have a light blinking as to how the Carantic Music also has seven notes — the sapta–swara? The creation of the universe included music also. In the Bible we see seven having a prominence over other numbers. Several other cultures also have a numerological significance for seven.

Significance of the name “Tonic Sol-fa”

Having said of the seven notes, let’s see what is the significance of the name, Tonic Sol fa . Tonic otherwise known as doh is the starting note of a scale, or the root note. Sol is the fifth note of the scale and fa the fourth. They are the root notes for the two important chords. When you take up theory of music you will see more of the fifth and fourth note of the scale. Now we will take doh, sol and fa as prominent notes of a scale. Now you know how the name Tonic Sol fa and what it means.

Diving deep into Tonic Sol fa scales

Scale is the most important thing we have to learn while getting into this programme. There are two types of scales -Major & Minor. We will look at the Major scale now. In case you are not familiar, you can go back to the audio link given in the previous blog unit. Alternatively, you can seek the help of a person who plays a keyboard. One can also try alone also. Keyboard, be it piano, organ, accordion, or any such other instruments with a keyboard is helpful. The black and white keys of a keyboad which are symbolic of human life — good and bad times. The white ones are more. There is a pattern in which the black keys are placed between the white keys. There are two black keys and then a space and then three black keys. This sequence is repeated.

Structure of a Tonic Sol fa ‘Major’ scale

Now the white keys are named, A to G of English alphabet. The C scale is played using only the white keys — C, D, E, F, G, A & B. In music, C is more equal than others. The white key just before two black key is named C. The next key is D and the next is E. The white key just before the set of three black Keys is F. The subsequent keys are G, A and B. after this we come to the next set of seven notes. However the eighth note is treated as the final note on this set and all put together we have eight notes and it is called an octave.

These eight keys played will give us the scale. This is called a major scale.Just remember that this scale is called diatonic scale. In Tonic Sol fa, it is sung as doh, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. (some people use a different spelling for certain notes) All these notes are related. We will look into that later. At this point remember that these notes are known by the first letters of those words -

d, r, m, f, s, l, t, d’.

You will see One (¹) or (apostrophe) after the last d¹ . It says that it is the upper doh. You can move further upward by singing r¹ , m ¹ etc.

When we go below the d from where we started, it will be marked by number 1 written as subscript ( ₁ ) — d t ₁ l ₁ etc. [While using a computer, In Word, to get the subscript & select the applicable x that appears below the font selector].

Below is a chart giving each note in C scale. The tonic Sol-fa names, the musical names and the other details will remain the same in all other major scales also.

Summarizing

Keep on repeating d r m f s l t d¹ d¹ t l s f m r d.

Remember — m & t are notes without half notes before the next
note (before f and d¹ ). Take special care to remember these notes.
Hope this will help us to learn the scale. May God reward your efforts.

About minor scales, we shall look into it in another module.

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving
Ps. 69.30