The 7-note system as used in a traditional tunebook (the Christian Harmony). seven-shape systems The 7-note system as used in a modern Independent Fundamental Baptist church hymnal from the South. This means that just four shapenotes can adequately reflect the 'feeling' of the whole scale.įour-shape vs. The seventh and eighth notes, being separated by a semitone, are indicated mi-fa. The fourth to sixth notes are also a tone apart and are also fa, sol, la. The first three notes of any major scale – fa, sol, la – are each a tone apart. The first note of a minor key is always La, followed by Mi, Fa, etc.

The first note of a major key always has the triangular Fa note, followed (ascending) by Sol, La, etc. The syllables and notes of a shape note system are relative rather than absolute they depend on the key of the piece. Next, they sing the same notes to the words of the music. When a song is first sung by a shape note group, they normally sing the syllables (reading them from the shapes) to solidify their command over the notes. This association can be used to help in reading the music. For instance, in the four-shape tradition used in the Sacred Harp and elsewhere, the notes of a C major scale are notated and sung as follows:Ī skilled singer experienced in a shape note tradition has developed a fluent triple mental association, which links a note of the scale, a shape, and a syllable. The idea behind shape notes is that the parts of a vocal work can be learned more quickly and easily if the music is printed in shapes that match up with the solfège syllables with which the notes of the musical scale are sung. Shape notes have also been called character notes and patent notes, respectfully, and buckwheat notes and dunce notes, pejoratively. Shape notes of various kinds have been used for over two centuries in a variety of music traditions, mostly sacred music but also secular, originating in New England, practiced primarily in the Southern United States for many years, and now experiencing a renaissance in other locations as well. Shapes were added to the noteheads in written music to help singers find pitches within major and minor scales without the use of more complex information found in key signatures on the staff. The notation, introduced in late 18th century England, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools. Shape notes are a musical notation designed to facilitate congregational and social singing. Problems playing this file? See media help.

Shape notes sheet music old manuscript