Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” Because they’re easy to read, shape notes will always be a good choice for struggling readers, and it makes a great introduction to solfege too. However, the limited shape note repertoire means that shape note singers may want to learn to read standard notation as well. Read more to learn how to transition from shaped notes to standard notation.
This post uses music terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
The Process of Switching from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” First, you need to know what key you’re singing in when reading movable Do solfege in standard notation. Why? Because a song’s key determines how the notes and solfege syllables will be put together.
Conversely, with shape notes you don’t need to know the key to sing the syllables:
- This is the big advantage of shape notes, because the shaped noteheads tell you what solfege syllables to sing.
- This means you can skip the step of figuring out a song’s key.
- For a description of shape notes, read: Shape Note Sight Singing Success.
With standard notation, once you’ve figured out the key, you can work on matching the notes with the syllables.
- In the early stages of switching to standard notation, you can work out the syllables before trying to read a melody.
- However, eventually you’ll need to be able to match the notes with the syllables on sight.
- In addition, you need to be able to do this in all twelve majors keys.
How to Switch from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation: Sharp Keys
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” You can use some tricks to figure out the keys.
Before you do that, you’ll need to memorize these two keys:
- C major has no sharps or flats
- F major has one flat: Bb
You need to memorize these keys because the following tips won’t help for C and F major.
You’ll understand the following tricks better if you can see the keys organized visually:
- To see the major keys chart, click here.
The rule for identifying the sharp keys:
- The rule: go to the rightmost sharp in the key signature. Then, go to the next higher note. It’ll have the same name as the key.
- For example, look at the chart located at the above link. In the key of D, the rightmost sharp will be C#.
- Go up to the next higher note: D. This note is the tonic.
- The name of the key comes from the tonic note.
- In movable Do, the tonic note always gets the solfege syllable Do.
- For mnemonics to help you figure out the note names on the staff, click here.
How to Switch from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation: Flat Keys
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” You need to follow this rule for identifying the flat keys:
- The rule: go to the second flat from the right. This note will be the tonic.
- For example, in the key of Eb, the second flat from the right will be the tonic: Eb. This note gets the solfege syllable Do.
Final Thoughts on “How Do I Switch from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation”
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” By singing the solfege syllables as you read the music.
After you’ve identified the song’s key, you’ll need to figure out where the solfege syllables go in the notation:
- The first note of the scale, the tonic, will always be the syllable Do.
- From there you can figure out the other syllables by following the notes of the scale.
- To see how the notes work with the solfege, click here.
Try memorizing the solfege syllables for the scale in question:
- In fact, I recommend you familiarize yourself with the syllables for all the keys.
- That way the key signature will cue you to how the notes of the scale should line up with the solfege syllables.
With regular practice you too can learn to read standard notation.
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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