DO, RE, MI or C, D, E

Question

Good day How are the musical notes represented in countries where English is spoken?

From the information I have gathered, it seems that countries where English is the mother tongue C, D, E is used and where English is spoken (but not as the mother tongue) DO, RE, MI is used.

Is that so?

Thank you

Delmobile · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure about countries where English is not the mother tongue, but where it is, then yes, definitely C, D, etc. I've seen materials printed in other countries that suggest the second part of your statement may be true, but I'm not sure.

Sevilla · Answer

Thank you Delmobile

Mr Wordy · Answer

In the UK, the "do, re, mi" terminology is very widely known (perhaps in part because of the well known song from The Sound of Music). It may once have been used to teach the notes to children, but as far as I'm aware it is no longer used for any serious purpose. In modern musical notation, the notes are named A through G.

Philip · Answer

Do, re, mi, etc. are the syllables for any key signature. C, D, E are the first three notes of the key of C major. G, A, B are the first three notes of the key of G major, but they are still called Do, re, mi, etc.

I'll try to be brief.

The latin words Ut queant laxis, Resonare fibris, Mira gestorum, Famuli tuorum, Solve polluti, Labbi reatum by Paolo Diacono (720-799 C.E.) has a tune that progress up the scale by one tone for each of the lines. Guido d'Arezzo (990-1050 C.E.) created the system of naming the syllables by using the first syllable of the above hymn (dedicated to St. John the Baptist). Later, si or ti was added to give the seven tones. Ut became a more singable do, and sol lost the l, so all the syllables ended in a singable vowel.

The hymn translates: "so that your servants may sing at the top of one's voice the wonders of your acts, absolve the fault from their stained lips."

Delmobile · Answer

Yes but...if a piece is labeled "concerto in do maggiore" then that means it's in C major, right?

Philip · Answer

DelmobileYes but...if a piece is labeled "concerto in do maggiore" then that means it's in C major, right?

That's probably correct, but I'm not sure what happens in Italy, where this might be the case.

Tanit · Answer

Philip
DelmobileYes but...if a piece is labeled "concerto in do maggiore" then that means it's in C major, right?

That's probably correct, but I'm not sure what happens in Italy, where this might be the case.

Can I confirm it is correct? "Concerto in do maggiore" means "concert in C major".

In Italy we still use Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol (with the "l"!), La, Si.

Khoff · Answer

Wow -- the things I learn from English Forums!!  Thanks, Philip!

Sevilla · Answer

Thank you all it has been very of great use.

DO, RE, MI or C, D, E

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions