perfect pitch

[liszmaninopin]

Is perfect pitch something one is born with, or is it aquired through constantly listening to music?  

[rachfan]

I don't believe that the discrete pitches are present in a gene in the person at birth, such that he or she is "born with perfect pitch".  In my own case, growing up and always having the piano tuned at A440, I found from early on that each pitch became fixed in my brain, such that if anyone played a note with my back turned to the piano, I could automatically and corectly identify it every time without fail.  So I think from that experience that it might be more accurate to say that one is born with the capability of acquiring perfect pitch.  The majority of people never acquire it, which makes no difference to them in their playing or listening.  They are instead served equally well by a solid sense of relative pitch.  

[frederic]

Everyone is born with perfect pitch. That's why babies can identify the mother's voice. But when the baby is growing up and is not fed with music at a very early age, this "sixth sense" is therefore not needed so it is lost. But if the child does start music at a very early stage, then this continues to develop. That's why nearly everyone who has perfect pitch started music when they were 5 or 6 years old. But late-starters still can develop perfect pitch but its very hard. The closest some late-starters can get is relative pitch. Which is when they first need hear a note, say C, then that person would then be able to identify the other notes.

[Franz_Liszt]

  I have relative pitch, but I am starting to develop my perfect pitch. Although it will be very difficult, I am willing to put hard hours. This guy that I know can stretch a 14th, from C to E to C to G the next B  is is farthest left hand stretch with all 5 fingers being utilized.  

[ericnolte]

Hi,

  Go to the Teaching section of the Piano Board, and have a look at my post on perfect and relative pitch.  I think you'll find something of interest there.

Best,
Eric Nolte

[Brandon_Poe]

Well. From personal experiance, i know the "from birth" is a lie. I'm sure all babies are born with it crap is true.

But the best being able aquire is relative pitch is real crap.

So many have told me that it's impossible.

But here's a little snipit of me for ya: I've been pitch training for only a year, and can sing and idenity B, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A. (hey, the e natural and f# will come as soon as i can find some good songs in e and F#).

Of coarse, I still dont see the whooping advantage this has over great relative pitch. But hey. Whatever.

(hehe i can stretch a 15th C to F)

But enough of me. There's been far to much already

[allchopin]

Here is a (kind of cheap) way of determining a pitch just by hearing it:
first, determine the lowest possible pitch you can hum to yourself. just keeping lowering your singing pitch until you reach your limit. then use that as reference when someone asks you what note something is. you just kinda make a low gurgle sound and say "E flat" and theyre like "weird"

[Brandon_Poe]

Ha. Nice. I've done that. It's a great place to start. Your totally right. You really can't go wrong with that one.

Try this! ( though i'm sure it's been posted)

For each note, find a song that you really like that begins in that key, with that note sounding first. ( i.e. C#= Come suite death, D=Toccata and Fugue 538 ect).

Anyone can hum a tune. Try humming the first little bit of your chosen favorite song, and adjust as needed.

That's just one of the things I've done thats been priceless for me. Of coarse, when learning anything that requirs a fair bit of concentration and hard work, you shouldnt just stick to one method.

I have about 4 other ways of helping my pitch.

My Theory is=the more complex a thing you must learn is, the more complex the learning of it must be. ( MULTI-METHOD!!)

Ha. Enough of me

[Brandon_Poe]

Well. I just borrowed a friends copy of Burges Perfect pitch training coarse.

I've only 1 thing to say so far (only 11 minits into the first tape)

Davey needs to talk 50% less. The man doesnt know how to get to the fricken point.