Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music | Tonic Sol-Fa

(Ger. Tonika-do). A method of teaching vocal music, invented by Sarah Ann Glover of Norwich, England, about 1812. It is based on the MOVABLE DO system and uses the syllables Doh, Ray, Me, Fah, Soh, and Lah, adapted from the GUIDONIAN ALPHABET (with Te added for the leading tone).

This system, widely accepted in English-speaking countries, has the unfortunate consequence of divorcing the absolute sound from its adopted name. In all Latin countries and Russia, the FIXED DO method is used. In that system, Do is immovable and always designates the sound of PITCH class C.