Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

kingsnake

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Do all rock stars possess perfect pitch? Is it necessary to becoming a good guitar player/pro musician? Can it be learned as an adult?

:blindfold
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

That is a laughable concept. And no, it can't be taught - it's something you are born with. You can train yourself in relative pitch.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

why is it laughable to assume people getting paid to be musicians can recognize pitches when they hear them?
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

Because like he said, perfect pitch is something you are born with.

To answer your question, no, MOST rock stars DO NOT posses perfect pitch, or even 'perfect' relative pitch. It's the session guys who are generally better at this. Nikki Sixx has made more money then all of them with his songwriting though so...depends on where you go with it. It is not necessary but it helps. I know some guys where I am truly envious of their trained ear, makes them much more versatile and just quicker at picking things up.

I've sat down with one guy I know who has perfect pitch...it's quite amazing actually. Want to know the most ironic part? His favourite band is Nickelback.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

I guess i should clarify.

While i definitely know when i'm out of tune, can sing a D note on command, and i can pick up songs from recordings by fumbling around on the guitar, it bums me out i have to think about it in a relative sense. I have just memorized the sound of certain notes.

Am i a degenerate guitarist for this?
 
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Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

Hardly.

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Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

I have played with guitarists, pianists, and singers who possessed perfect pitch. They did not consider it a benefit. Any off-pitches annoyed the hell out of them, which means they were pretty much pissed off all the time. One pianist I worked with for years not only had perfect pitch, but she was also annoyed when chord progressions were not resolved. I used to drop the last chord of a progression just to watch her rush across the room to play the last chord on the piano to relieve her mental anguish.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

I have played with guitarists, pianists, and singers who possessed perfect pitch. They did not consider it a benefit. Any off-pitches annoyed the hell out of them, which means they were pretty much pissed off all the time. One pianist I worked with for years not only had perfect pitch, but she was also annoyed when chord progressions were not resolved. I used to drop the last chord of a progression just to watch her rush across the room to play the last chord on the piano to relieve her mental anguish.

That sounds terrifying, and more obsessive compulsive than anything. Not everything has to resolve or resolve perfectly, or resolve in the same manner it does in traditional harmony. I wonder what she would think of Jazz compositions?
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

I guess i should clarify.

While i definitely know when i'm out of tune, can sing a D note on command, and i can pick up songs from recordings by fumbling around on the guitar, it bums me out i have to think about it in a relative sense. I have just memorized the sound of certain notes.

Am i a degenerate guitarist for this?
Not at all. Most great musicians don't have anything close to perfect pitch, and some don't even have great relative pitch either. Anybody who claims they have taught themselves perfect pitch is lying, they have only taught themselves good relative pitch.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

Lol... You should see me hunt around on the fretboard for the notes to put a chord together by ear. Tin ear? Aluminum foil.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

I have played with guitarists, pianists, and singers who possessed perfect pitch. They did not consider it a benefit. Any off-pitches annoyed the hell out of them, which means they were pretty much pissed off all the time. One pianist I worked with for years not only had perfect pitch, but she was also annoyed when chord progressions were not resolved. I used to drop the last chord of a progression just to watch her rush across the room to play the last chord on the piano to relieve her mental anguish.

So true...I have heard similar on many occasions. And with the guy I mentioned above, we speculated one of the reasons he enjoyed Nickelback records so much was because everything is VERY well intonated.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

Well.... this was in Jazz Band 102 in college.....

Strange. I suppose its all contextual though. In my mind it immediately conjures up an image of somebody that only enjoys very formulaic approaches rather than anything even remotely artistic.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

Speaking of jazz, i read that Charlie Parker and John Coltrane did NOT have perfect pitch (this is also mentioned in the above video).


Miles Davis claims to have learned perfect pitch in his 20s, but some of his band mates denied that he had PP.
 
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Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

If I setup a guitar at a new tuning without any hard references (tuner, cd, or other guitar) I can come close just by playing a specific song in my head.
Like Shortest Staw for instance at Eb, or South Of Heaven,,,,,something slow and easy lol.
Close is no cigar though.
I always check it with something solid when it's time to fine-tune the springs in back.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

Go see Neil Young live, his ear is so bad he can't even tell when his guitar is out of tune. Or he simply doesn't care.
 
Re: Do ALL rock stars possess PERFECT pitch?

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