Tónfræði: music theory in Icelandic
Tónfræði means "music theory". Twelve levels, from the keyboard up to triads. The notes are drawn on screen and sound when you tap them.
The note that is called H
The first thing that catches an English speaker out: Iceland uses the Germanic naming system, so the seven natural notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and H. What English calls B is H here. Icelandic B is that note lowered by a semitone, which English writes as B flat. The same system is used in Germany, Austria, the Nordic countries and much of central Europe, so it is worth knowing even if you learned the letters elsewhere.
| Icelandic | English |
|---|---|
| H | B |
| B | B flat |
| Cís, Fís, Gís | C sharp, F sharp, G sharp (the ending is -ís) |
| Des, Es, As | D flat, E flat, A flat (the ending is -es or -s) |
| Dúr, moll | Major, minor |
| Þríund, fimmund, áttund | Third, fifth, octave |
| Hrein, stór, lítil | Perfect, major, minor (of an interval) |
The twelve levels
The order follows the way theory is taught in Icelandic schools: the keyboard and its landmarks, whole tones and semitones, sharps and flats, note reading in treble and bass clef, note values, time signatures, key signatures in major and minor, intervals, triads, and finally texture. Each level is six questions and five correct opens the next one. The reference card for the level stays open while you answer.
Drawn, and heard
Everything is rendered as vector graphics in the browser, so there are no images to load and the notation follows the light or dark theme you are using. The pitches are synthesised in the browser too: tapping a key sounds it, and a Listen button plays the interval or triad being asked about. The answer sounds as it is revealed, so the name and the pitch arrive together. A speaker button turns all of it off.
Why is the note called H in Icelandic and not B?
Because Iceland uses the Germanic naming system, where the seven natural notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and H. What English calls B is H here, and Icelandic B is that same note lowered by a semitone, which English writes as B flat. Germany, Austria, the Nordic countries and much of central Europe name the notes the same way, so it is worth knowing even if you learned the letters elsewhere.
The accidentals follow their own pattern too: a sharp takes the ending -ís, so C sharp is Cís and F sharp is Fís, while a flat usually takes -es or -s, giving Des, Es and As. Tónfræði on Kokomo teaches all of it in twelve levels, from the keyboard and its landmarks up through clefs, note values, time signatures, key signatures, intervals and triads. The notation is drawn as vector graphics and the pitches are synthesised in the browser, so tapping a key sounds it and the answer sounds as it is revealed.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the note called H in Icelandic instead of B?
- Iceland follows the Germanic naming system, where the seven natural notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and H. What English calls B is H here, and Icelandic B is that note lowered by a semitone, which English writes as B flat. The system is shared with Germany, Austria, the Nordic countries and much of central Europe.
- What are sharps and flats called in Icelandic?
- A sharp adds the ending -ís: C sharp is Cís, F sharp is Fís. A flat usually adds -es or -s: D flat is Des, E flat is Es, A flat is As. B flat is the exception and is simply called B, because the natural note is H.
- What are the Icelandic names for intervals?
- They are counted the same way but named differently: prím, tvíund, þríund, ferund, fimmund, sexund, sjöund and áttund for unison through octave. Perfect intervals are hrein, and the others are stór (major) or lítil (minor).