Q&A for How to Get Perfect Pitch

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Can perfect pitch be acquired?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

It can be. Read through the article to learn techniques for developing perfect pitch.

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Do I have perfect pitch?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

If you can identify a pitch by simply hearing it, then yes, you have perfect pitch.

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Question

Is everyone born with perfect pitch?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

No, very few people are born with perfect pitch. However, perfect and relative pitch can be acquired.

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Question

How long does it take to get perfect pitch?

Community Answer

This depends on many factors, but the key is to practice. You may find that different methods of practice work better for you than for others. Think of how you normally retain knowledge, and use that as your avenue to success.

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Could a trained musician born with perfect pitch recognize in what key an engine is running in?

Community Answer

Yes, but I am not exactly sure if this is valid for gasoline, diesel etc. engines as their sounds are pretty low. But this is certainly possible for electric engines, as they often have a much higher sound. A good example for this is the Siemens ES64U2 locomotive which plays an E Phrygian on departure.

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What makes A and C notes simple compared to other notes? Also, can you give examples of which notes are "major" and which are "minor"?

NaYingFan

Community Answer

A and C are basic notes just like blue and red are basic colors. You voice naturally tunes to that pitch. All notes could be major and minor, but an easy way to tell is to listen to if the chord sounds happy or sad. Happy is major and sad is minor.

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Why do you think you can develop perfect pitch after you have passed the age of brain plasticity? I as a professional composer know that it is impossible. It is possible to have temporary pitch retention.

Anthzy 101

Community Answer

Yes! After the age of around 5–depending on the person—perfect pitch is nearly impossible to develop. The tips laid out in the article with help with pitch retention, and retention over a long period of time. And theoretically if one were to develop “beautiful” relative pitch, then with pitch retention it would be equivalent to perfect pitch.

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Does perfect pitch include hearing every note in a random chord?

Sehara Goonasinghe

Community Answer

Not necessarily every note - the root note will probably be the most noticeable. For example, the chord Eb major could be played on a piano without showing the keys. The person listening (someone with perfect pitch who knows the note/chord names) could probably recognise the chord overall, and identify the main note and tonality (major/minor) rather than each note played together within the chord.

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