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.
B or H? You will meet both
Iceland long used the Germanic naming system, where the seven natural notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and H. In that system what English calls B was H, and Icelandic B meant B flat. That is on its way out. Icelandic teaching has moved to the international row A, B, C, D, E, F and G, and the flattened note is called Bes. Older scores, older editions and some teachers still use H, so it is worth recognising both. Kokomo follows what is taught now.
| Icelandic | English |
|---|---|
| B (older books: H) | B |
| Bes (older books: 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.
Is the note called B or H in Icelandic?
Both, depending on how old the book is. Iceland long used the Germanic naming system, where the natural notes run C, D, E, F, G, A and H, so what English calls B was written H and Icelandic B meant B flat. Icelandic teaching has since moved to the international row A, B, C, D, E, F and G, with the flattened note called Bes. Older scores and older editions still use H, so both turn up.
The accidentals follow their own pattern: 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
- Is the note called B or H in Icelandic?
- Icelandic teaching now uses the international row A, B, C, D, E, F and G, so the note is B and the flattened note is called Bes. Iceland long followed the Germanic system, where that note was written H and Icelandic B meant B flat, and older scores and editions still use it. Both names turn up, so it helps to recognise each.
- 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, and B flat is Bes. In older Icelandic books B flat is written B, because the natural note was called H there.
- 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).