Soh: In solfège, “Soh” (or “Sol”) represents the fifth degree of the diatonic scale. It anchors the dominant chord, crucial in establishing musical tension and resolution.

Context and Significance

Soh plays a vital role in music theory, especially in Western classical and contemporary music. It is integral to the dominant chord, typically creating a sense of tension that resolves back to the tonic, or “Do,” in a musical piece. This interval is key in forming cadences and modulations, often found in vocal and instrumental music across genres.

Historical Background

The use of Soh can be traced back to the development of solfège in medieval music education systems. It is believed to have originated from the “Guidonian Hand,” a method developed by Guido of Arezzo in the 11th century to teach sight-singing. This system laid the groundwork for modern music theory, with Soh being a central component.

Examples

In Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the motif prominently features the Soh note, driving the piece’s dramatic tension. Similarly, in many jazz standards, Soh is pivotal in dominant seventh chords, often used in turnarounds and progressions to bring music back to the tonic.

Related Terms

Dominant Chord: A chord built on the fifth scale degree, often featuring Soh.

Tonic: The first scale degree, providing the resolution for Soh.

Solfège: A system for teaching pitch and sight-singing using syllables like Soh.

Cadence: A sequence of chords that concludes a phrase, often involving Soh.

« Back to Glossary Index