fasola

Fasola is a system of solmization, a method of assigning syllables to musical notes. Historically, it used only four syllables: fa, sol, la, and mi, derived from the original Guidonian syllables. This system was particularly prevalent in England and America during the 17th and 18th centuries.1

Fasola is closely associated with shape-note singing, a tradition of social singing using music books printed with distinct shapes for note heads. These shapes indicate the scale degree and solmization syllable, making sight-reading easier. While the seven-syllable doremi system eventually became more widespread, the four-syllable fasola system, often represented by a triangle for fa, an oval for sol, a rectangle for la, and a diamond for mi, has persisted in certain traditions, notably in American sacred music.2