What is tonic sol-fa?

Tonic sol-fa is a movable-do system where the tonic of the key is always 'doh' (d), and the scale runs d r m f s l t. It's the standard reading notation for choirs across Africa, the UK, and parts of Asia. Because it's relative to the key, the same solfa fits any key, you just change what Do equals.

Can it convert both directions?

Yes. Type note names to convert staff notation into solfa, or type solfa syllables to see the staff, both render side by side, with audio.

Can I transpose to a different key?

Yes. Nudge the key up or down by semitone, or pick one from the list. In solfa the syllables stay the same (that's the point of movable-do); the staff and the pitch move to the new key.

Tools

Solfa converter & transposer

Type a melody as solfa or as note names and see it as tonic sol-fa and staff side by side, hear it, and transpose to a key your choir can actually sing.

Key

Melody in solfa (d r m f s l t · ' up · , down · - holds · 0 rest)

Output

Tonic sol-fa

Converted melody

solfa

Key of C
4/4 · ♩ = 100

Part: Melody15 notes · 4 measures

Staff

Open in DomiSol

Staff and solfa, the same melody two ways

Tonic sol-fa is a movable-do system: the key's tonic is always doh (d), and the scale reads d r m f s l t. It's how millions of choristers across Africa, the diaspora, and beyond read music, yet most converters assume staff notation only. This one shows both at once and plays the result, so you can check it by ear before you hand it out.

When you're ready for full editing, SATB arranging, lyrics, and sharing, click Open in DomiSol to carry your melody straight into the editor. Working from a chord chart instead? Try the chord transposer.

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