Sol

What it means

Sol is the fifth syllable of solmization. With movable do it designates the fifth degree of the key, which lies a perfect fifth above the tonic; with fixed do it is an absolute note name and corresponds to German G.

Musical use

The fifth degree is, after the tonic, the most important reference point of a key. On it stands the dominant, whose resolution into the tonic carries the cadence; in a combined sound it forms with the tonic the perfect fifth, the most stable interval after the octave; and the circle of fifths, by which the keys are ordered, rests on the repeated stacking of this distance.

Together with do and mi, sol forms the framework of the tonic triad — three notes that together unambiguously determine the key. In music education, sol and mi are often introduced as the first pair of intervals, because the falling minor third occurs worldwide in children's calls and counting rhymes and is hit without instruction.

In the abbreviated writing of the solmization syllables, as is customary in English-language teaching, the syllable appears shortened; from it and the fourth syllable the designation of the whole method is also derived.

In the hexachord system, Sol was the fifth syllable. In the relative system, Sol is the fifth degree and the tonic of the dominant, which is why Sol–Do represents the typical bass movement in the authentic close. In the fixed system, Sol designates the note G. The name of solfège and of solmization derives from the syllables Sol and Fa, or Sol and Mi. In French, the treble clef is also called clé de sol, because it fixes the position of G; likewise the bass clef is called clé de fa.

Performance practice

Begin ear-training exercises with sol and mi — the falling minor third is the surest starting point. Impress do–mi–sol on yourself as a framework, from which the other degrees can be found. And intonate the fifth pure; alongside the octave it is the most reliable test.