Two naming systems: letters and solfège

The previous chapter introduced the seven letter names — A La through G Sol . That system is standard in English-language resources, and it’s what this site uses by default.

But it isn’t the only system.

In Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and across most of Latin America, musicians use a different set of names entirely — the solfège syllables:

Do · Re · Mi · Fa · Sol · La · Si

These aren’t replacements for the letters. They’re the same notes, named differently. Every C Do is a Do. Every D Re is a Re. The two systems are perfectly equivalent:

Western	Solfège
C Do	Do
D Re	Re
E Mi	Mi
F Fa	Fa
G Sol	Sol
A La	La
B Si	Si

Why this matters for bouzouki learners

The Greek bouzouki tradition is taught in solfège. A Greek conservatory textbook will say “η κλίμακα Ρε ελάσσονα” — “the Re minor scale” — where an English source would say “D minor scale.” When you eventually look up rebetiko sheet music or a Greek tutorial video, you will see solfège names everywhere, often without translation.

Use the toggle

At the top of this page is a small control: A B C / Do Re Mi. Tap it. Every note name on the entire site — every formula, every diagram, every example — will switch instantly to whichever system you prefer.

This isn’t a gimmick. It exists because most beginners learning bouzouki end up reading sources in both systems, and switching mentally on the fly is exhausting. With one click, you can match whatever resource you’re studying right now.

Which should you use?

For your own playing and notes, use whichever system feels more natural to you. The two are mathematically equivalent, and fluent musicians switch between them effortlessly.

For learning from Greek resources: solfège will reduce friction. For learning from English-language guitar or theory resources: letters will. There is no correct answer.

Recap

• The seven notes have two equally valid name systems: letters (A B C D E F G) and solfège (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si).
• Greek tradition uses fixed-do solfège, where Do is always C Do , Re is always D Re , and so on.
• The toggle at the top of this site lets you switch the entire site to whichever you prefer.