Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:31:10 -0700
From: robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] perfect pitch
HARP PLAYERS
Don't be troubled by talk of Perfect pitch, and think that you were born
musically disadvantaged. Instead, choose to cultivate your Relative pitch
over time and enjoy the heck out of your music.
Perfect pitch and Relative pitch are not mutually exclusive. Relative
pitch
does not necessarily lead to Perfect pitch. Each has its
musical contributions. Many more of us benefit from Relative pitch in our
musical journey. (What is the chord change? How far is that next note?)
QUESTION
If you exhibit Perfect pitch today, but were born in another time and
place, would you have Perfect pitch? If "yes," then it is acquired as
a cultural norm. In this sense it is "relative" to the period of music in
which you acquired it, and not a cosmic absolute.
Perfect pitch, then, is the fine and precise identification of a pitch in
isolation, without a reference tone.
Relative pitch is the ability to identify a note as an interval FROM a
recently heard reference tone.
READING
Interesting site here: http://www.perfectpitch.com/perfectrelative.htm
And a better one here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_pitch
(read about pitch wars, and pitch inflation)
Perfect pitch (absolute pitch) most often references A=440hz today in
America. But concert pitch has ranged from 409-450 hz. in Europe from
1700's.
Robert Hale
Learn Harmonica by Webcam
Low Rates, High Success
http://www.youtube.com/DUKEofWAIL <http://www.youtube.com/user/DUKEofWAIL>
http://www.dukeofwail.com