GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: Perfect pitch
If only people could tune their guitars ...:kabong:
If only people could tune their guitars ...:kabong:
Perfect pitch
- Thread starter Surferman
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PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Perfect pitch
How can one be born with perfect pitch when there is no such thing as "perfect pitch"? A440Hz? A432Hz? A443Hz? Any number of the other historically used references?
I think one can learn extremely precise relative pitch, and depending on ability, come to memorize one or more reference pitches. This effectively functions like Perfect Pitch, so maybe that's the definition.
How can one be born with perfect pitch when there is no such thing as "perfect pitch"? A440Hz? A432Hz? A443Hz? Any number of the other historically used references?
I think one can learn extremely precise relative pitch, and depending on ability, come to memorize one or more reference pitches. This effectively functions like Perfect Pitch, so maybe that's the definition.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Perfect pitch
Although I'm albsolutely happy for you, I can't see your purpose here. Your story sounds like you already had this ability that you just started to consciously explore. That's great indeed. Just embrace the fact that folks around has different levels of perception. If someone is sharper there is nothing superpower in it. It is just an ability that one can have or can't. Others have other sharper / duller abilities. I think it is quite pointless to me to start convincing others that they can see in the dark and walk on water too because I can.
About the method you described, during my first year in the jazz college I'm attending I did something very similar to what you described on the piano to improve the ears. Recognising the notes would make things easier on too many levels so I was totally into it. I have decent perception of intervals by instinct in my musical comfort zone that proven to be almost completely useless during jazz studies. I tried to open a new chapter and learn. Practiced it. Not for one hour but many hours on a regular level. Again. And again. Result? No effect. Without a reference note I am still completely lost. My relative pitch improved slightly and I can recognise chords and modes better than before but not all of them and not all the time, it doesn't work without calculations in the mind. I just can't 'feel' it.
I guess it has something to do with the perception of upper harmonics and some people are much more sensitive there than others. It is normal. Some folks see in the dark quite well and some are colour blind. Some can hear around 30KHz and identifies sounds there properly 10 out of 10 times (we tested an audiophile guy in the studio a couple of years ago, results were sci-fi made real). Some can calculate monstrous equations in the head with ease in seconds.
So what? We are different.
Although I'm albsolutely happy for you, I can't see your purpose here. Your story sounds like you already had this ability that you just started to consciously explore. That's great indeed. Just embrace the fact that folks around has different levels of perception. If someone is sharper there is nothing superpower in it. It is just an ability that one can have or can't. Others have other sharper / duller abilities. I think it is quite pointless to me to start convincing others that they can see in the dark and walk on water too because I can.
About the method you described, during my first year in the jazz college I'm attending I did something very similar to what you described on the piano to improve the ears. Recognising the notes would make things easier on too many levels so I was totally into it. I have decent perception of intervals by instinct in my musical comfort zone that proven to be almost completely useless during jazz studies. I tried to open a new chapter and learn. Practiced it. Not for one hour but many hours on a regular level. Again. And again. Result? No effect. Without a reference note I am still completely lost. My relative pitch improved slightly and I can recognise chords and modes better than before but not all of them and not all the time, it doesn't work without calculations in the mind. I just can't 'feel' it.
I guess it has something to do with the perception of upper harmonics and some people are much more sensitive there than others. It is normal. Some folks see in the dark quite well and some are colour blind. Some can hear around 30KHz and identifies sounds there properly 10 out of 10 times (we tested an audiophile guy in the studio a couple of years ago, results were sci-fi made real). Some can calculate monstrous equations in the head with ease in seconds.
So what? We are different.
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Filipe Marquez
New member
Re: Perfect pitch
I repress the will of learning perfect pitch and some of the more elaborated stuff. It may be great if you are not bothered by it, but i know some people that go neurotic with tuning and such, and that may be (as well as different intelligences) as much of a curse as it is a gift.
I repress the will of learning perfect pitch and some of the more elaborated stuff. It may be great if you are not bothered by it, but i know some people that go neurotic with tuning and such, and that may be (as well as different intelligences) as much of a curse as it is a gift.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Perfect pitch
This. If someone can't tell the difference between 440.0Hz and 440.1Hz, they don't have perfect pitch. You can have a really good ear, but unless you can identify the exact note of any sound, including microtunal notes that don't fall into the convenient system of equal temperament - it's not perfect pitch.
Not that there's anything wrong with having really good (but not perfect) pitch. Why get so defensive if you have a really good sense of pitch rather than *perfect* pitch? Is it a really important life-goal or something?
This. If someone can't tell the difference between 440.0Hz and 440.1Hz, they don't have perfect pitch. You can have a really good ear, but unless you can identify the exact note of any sound, including microtunal notes that don't fall into the convenient system of equal temperament - it's not perfect pitch.
Not that there's anything wrong with having really good (but not perfect) pitch. Why get so defensive if you have a really good sense of pitch rather than *perfect* pitch? Is it a really important life-goal or something?
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