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So I have been practicing sight singing since last 5-6 months. I think I'm able to read the notes in the scales quite easily using the solfege method (each scale somewhat resembling the Do-Re-Mi interval sounds from other scales).

However I hit a roadblock when it comes to accidental notes mainly because they are not part of the scale and thus the usual solfege method doesn't work here.

How can I develop my ear for accidental notes?

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You seem to be using the movable doh method, where doh is the root note of each key. This is more commonly called tonic sol-fa, solfege being the French name for the system which is used universally in France and several other countries, solfeggio in Italy - fixed doh, where doh is always C.

Whichever is used, this example is in C! You are familiar with the diatonic notes of C D E F G A B, singing or calling them as d r m f s l t (doh, ray, me, fah, soh, lah, ti).

Now, the changed notes - those for which accidentals in key C would be needed - are d, r, f, s, l, and could be sharpened; and r, m, s, l, t, which could be flattened. By changing the sound of each word/name slightly, it's not too difficult to sing the non-diatonic notes. Those sharpened are: de, re, fe, se, le. Can't find how these are pronounced, but 'der, rer' will suffice. Hope someone out there can enlighten! EDIT: Seems to be a short sounding 'e', so in C, G# will be said 'said' without the d sound.Those to be flattened will be changed with an 'aw' sound found in claw. They are raw, maw, law, taw, usually written ra, ma, la, ta. Obviously la and lah can get mixed up until one is used to the system!

Using this tonic sol-fah in, say, D, the F note gets sung as 'ma'; the flattened leading note (C) gets sung as 'ta'. In the solfege system, that C will always be labelled 'doh', whatever the key.

Another related thing is to practise singing not just major scales, but chromatics as well. And familiarise yourself with intervals - be able to sing a P4, a b5, a m7, etc. You may find that working through intervals will be a different slant on your sight singing.

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    Terrific answer as always! But isn't "tonic sol–fa" slightly different from solfège? My understanding is that the former is as much a notation system as anything else. – Richard Dec 11 '18 at 17:56
  • @Richard - thanks! I need to research, but think tsf incorporates timing while solfege is simply fixed doh. Not sure yet. Doh! – Tim Dec 11 '18 at 18:24
  • Thanks a lot. I've heard about how to pronounce the accidentals (de, re, se etc.). The thing I struggle with is reproducing the sounds of accidentals because my ear is familiar only with intervals in natural/diatonic scale; Which you also mentioned in second part of your answer. I guess I have start practicing chromatic scales then. What do these mean - P4, b5 ? – V Sharma Dec 11 '18 at 19:42
  • Intervals - spaces between two notes - all have names. P4 is perfect fourth, as in C>F. b5 is a diminished fifth, as in C>Gb. – Tim Dec 11 '18 at 19:46

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