The short answer
Fixed do is useful for naming absolute pitches, while movable do is useful for hearing and practicing a note’s role within a key. Use one system consistently for each exercise, then compare them deliberately.
AI-assisted draft, checked for musical examples, format limits and current Clef capabilities. These are instructional workflows, not hands-on reviews of conversion services.
Two ways to name the same piano keys
Solfege gives spoken or sung labels to notes. On piano, it can connect what you see on the staff, what you press on the keyboard, and what you hear. The important first choice is whether you are using fixed do or movable do. They are valid systems, but they answer different questions.
In fixed do, each solfege syllable identifies one letter-name pitch class. The basic mapping is do = C, re = D, mi = E, fa = F, sol = G, la = A, si = B. Some teaching traditions use ti instead of si for B; this article uses “si” in fixed-do examples and “ti” where movable-do conventions use it. Under fixed do, C is always do, whether the music is in C major, G major, or another key.
In movable do, do is the tonic: the note that feels like the musical home of the current key. In C major, C is do. In G major, G is do. The same piano key can therefore receive a different syllable when the key changes. This makes movable do especially useful for recognizing scale degree and hearing cadences.
Letter names remain stable: C D E F G A B. Solfege changes only in movable do. Do not treat solfege as a replacement for letter names; use both labels to understand the relationship between keyboard pitch and key function.
Worked example: C major versus G major
Play each scale slowly with the right hand, one octave upward. Say the letter name first, then the appropriate solfege label. Notice that both scales use seven letter positions, but G major contains F♯ rather than F♮.
| Scale note | C major: letter name | Fixed do | Movable do in C major | G major: letter name | Movable do in G major |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | do | do | G | do |
| 2 | D | re | re | A | re |
| 3 | E | mi | mi | B | mi |
| 4 | F | fa | fa | C | fa |
| 5 | G | sol | sol | D | sol |
| 6 | A | la | la | E | la |
| 7 | B | si | ti | F♯ | ti |
| 8 | C | do | do | G | do |
In the G-major column, fixed do would name G as sol, A as la, B as si, C as do, D as re, E as mi, and F♯ as a chromatically altered form of fa. The exact altered-syllable spelling depends on the fixed-do convention being taught. That is why it is best to learn chromatic fixed-do labels from one chosen teacher or method rather than mixing systems.
Worked hearing-and-playing pattern: In G major, play G–B–D–G. In movable do this is do–mi–sol–do, the tonic triad. In fixed do it is sol–si–re–sol. Both descriptions point to the same keys; movable do highlights the chord’s function, while fixed do names the pitches.
Printable piano note-name worksheet
Use the following worksheet directly in a browser. Print the page with your browser’s print command if you want a paper copy. Cover the answer line with a sheet of paper before checking yourself. For each row, play the notes, say the letter names, then supply the requested solfege.
| Task | Your answer | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| In fixed do, name C–D–E–F–G. | ________________ | do–re–mi–fa–sol |
| In movable do, in C major, name A–G–F–E. | ________________ | la–sol–fa–mi |
| In movable do, in G major, name G–A–B–C–D. | ________________ | do–re–mi–fa–sol |
| In G major, which letter note is movable-do ti? | ________________ | F♯ |
| In fixed do, what is the solfege name for G? | ________________ | sol |
| In movable do, in G major, what letter note is sol? | ________________ | D |
Five-step drill
- Find the tonic on the piano and play it twice.
- Say the key aloud: “C major” or “G major.”
- Play the scale up and down without stopping.
- Repeat with movable do, making the tonic do.
- Repeat with fixed do, keeping C as do regardless of key.
For a short live-input routine, Clef can be used for piano drills with MIDI input. It is not a song or file-import tool, audio transcription system, PDF OCR service, or MusicXML parser. If you need to enter notation manually, use a compatible notation editor and verify each accidental and octave before practicing from the result.
Common problems and corrections
| Problem | Likely cause | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| You call G “sol” in one G-major exercise and “do” in the next. | Fixed and movable do were mixed. | Write “fixed” or “movable” at the top of the page before starting. |
| You play F natural in G major. | The key signature or scale spelling was overlooked. | Practice G–A–B–C–D–E–F♯–G, then isolate E–F♯–G. |
| You use ti in a fixed-do worksheet that expects si. | Different syllable traditions were combined. | Follow the worksheet’s stated convention; the pitch is B either way. |
| Accidentals have confusing syllables. | Chromatic naming conventions differ. | Keep the letter spelling first, then follow one teacher’s alteration system consistently. |
| You know syllables but cannot find keys quickly. | The exercise was only sung or only played. | Pair every spoken answer with a physical piano key and its letter name. |
Limits, next practice, and a precise AI assistant prompt
These worksheets teach basic major-key relationships, not every chromatic or modal solfege practice. Fixed-do chromatic alterations vary by convention, and movable-do systems may use different minor-key approaches. A worksheet also cannot evaluate your rhythm, hand position, or whether you are hearing a tonic clearly. Check uncertain notation with a qualified teacher or a compatible notation editor.
For additional keyboard-oriented review, the Piano Note Flashcards and Piano Chord Finder may support a separate practice session. Keep the goal narrow: identify the note, key, and solfege system before adding chords or more repertoire.
Copyable AI assistant prompt:
Act as a piano theory tutor. Create a 12-question worksheet on fixed do and movable do for C major and G major only. Use letter names C D E F G A B and spell G major with F♯. State that fixed do uses do=C, re=D, mi=E, fa=F, sol=G, la=A, si=B, while movable do assigns do to the tonic. Include six play-and-name questions, four compare-the-system questions, and two short-answer questions. Put all answers after the questions, explain each answer in one sentence, and do not introduce other keys, minor keys, audio transcription, file conversion, or unverified chromatic-syllable conventions.
Sources and checking notes
Examples are original practice material. File-format references are linked where relevant; conversion results still need musical checking.
Put it into practice
Connect the notes to the keys.
Clef offers short piano drills, including MIDI input for supported pitch exercises. It is a practice companion, not a song course or a sheet-music library.
Email me the free Piano Note Flashcards Practice Guide
A printable note-reading worksheet to use beside your instrument.