In the fixed do system, what is the treatment of Do?

In the fixed do system, what is the treatment of Do?

• A. Do is always C
• B. Do changes with each key
• C. Do is the tonic of the scale depending on context
• D. Do is defined by Movable do

Answer: (A)

In fixed do, the syllables map to fixed pitches regardless of the key. Do always names the note C, so Re is D, Mi is E, and so on. The tonic of the current key has no effect on what pitch Do represents; even if the key center is D or F, Do remains C. This is why the idea that Do changes with each key or that Do is the tonic of the scale depending on context describes movable do, not fixed do. So Do being always C is the correct understanding of fixed do.

In fixed do, the syllables map to fixed pitches regardless of the key. Do always names the note C, so Re is D, Mi is E, and so on. The tonic of the current key has no effect on what pitch Do represents; even if the key center is D or F, Do remains C. This is why the idea that Do changes with each key or that Do is the tonic of the scale depending on context describes movable do, not fixed do. So Do being always C is the correct understanding of fixed do.