Lesson 2
The seven notes
The notes have Greek names:
Νη Πα Βου Γα Δι Κε Ζω — Ni Pa Vou Ga Di Ke Zo.
After Ζω the series returns to Νη, one octave higher. The names are not fixed pitches: the singer chooses a base that suits the voice.
A rough Western mnemonic is Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si. Use it only as a memory aid; absolute pitch varies, and Byzantine intervals are not the same as the piano's.
The steps in the common diatonic scale
The distance between notes is counted in moria (72 to the octave):
- Νη → Πα: 12
- Πα → Βου: 10
- Βου → Γα: 8
- Γα → Δι: 12
- Δι → Κε: 12
- Κε → Ζω: 10
- Ζω → Νη (octave): 8
The ladder below starts on Πα ≈ D4 (293.66 Hz). Each note is tuned with the formula frequency = base × 2^(moria ÷ 72), where moria is the distance from Πα.
Listen to each note, then the whole scale up and down. Sing along on a comfortable vowel.