I was trying to tune a mountain dulcimer that seems to have a lot of harmonics. It occurred to me that I can't always say if a note is higher or lower than another, much less whether it matches. OTOH, I have no trouble once I can get a beat between two strings. Because I know exactly what it sounds like, I can set a signal generator to 1kHz within a couple cycles or less, but IMO, that's just a learning process. I always thought perfect pitch was something a person was born with, and I certainly don't have it based on my inability to tune strings. Just what is it, and are there varying degrees?
Hmmm .... good question.
I have heard of people that are so sensitive to incorrect pitch that they cannot listen to a lot of music because, to them, it seems out of tune. More of a curse than a blessing but this is an extreme case.
I'm the same as you with tuning. As long as I can hear the 'beating' then I can tune quite easily. Often, with guitar tuning, I find it easier to use distortion to accentuate this effect.
Martin.
I have heard of people that are so sensitive to incorrect pitch that they cannot listen to a lot of music because, to them, it seems out of tune. More of a curse than a blessing but this is an extreme case.
I'm the same as you with tuning. As long as I can hear the 'beating' then I can tune quite easily. Often, with guitar tuning, I find it easier to use distortion to accentuate this effect.
Martin.
Absolute pitch, widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or sing a musical note without the benefit of a known reference.
For those who want to learn...I hear this works from other musicians:
http://www.discount.perfectpitch.com/
(No affiliations!)
For those who want to learn...I hear this works from other musicians:
http://www.discount.perfectpitch.com/
(No affiliations!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_pitch
Tuning by beat frequency is something virtually anybody can do, if I remember my physics class.
It just shows the reference standard and the variable are close (or a whole multiple), not what the absolute value is.
Tuning by beat frequency is something virtually anybody can do, if I remember my physics class.
It just shows the reference standard and the variable are close (or a whole multiple), not what the absolute value is.
" ... I was trying to tune a mountain dulcimer that seems to have a lot of harmonics. ..."
" ... Absolute pitch, widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or sing a musical note without the benefit of a known reference. ..."
If you have it, you know, if not then try this: Hum a note that you feel might be an "A" below "middle C" (aka A4) ... then turn on your signal generator and set the controlls for 440 Htz or turn one of those cute little electric guitar tuners and compare. This "A 440" sound is one of the primary frequencies of the Earth, being the rate at which lightning strikes around the world, in sum total, continuously. Almost all humans are able to find this note ... and this trait is available to all of us except those with tone deafness ... it just takes a little effort and practise to discover and become sensitive to it.
" ... Absolute pitch, widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or sing a musical note without the benefit of a known reference. ..."
If you have it, you know, if not then try this: Hum a note that you feel might be an "A" below "middle C" (aka A4) ... then turn on your signal generator and set the controlls for 440 Htz or turn one of those cute little electric guitar tuners and compare. This "A 440" sound is one of the primary frequencies of the Earth, being the rate at which lightning strikes around the world, in sum total, continuously. Almost all humans are able to find this note ... and this trait is available to all of us except those with tone deafness ... it just takes a little effort and practise to discover and become sensitive to it.
" ... Can you give a reliable cite for that? ..."
Well, you could start by reading about the discoveries of Tesla ... He apparently discovered this planet wide phenomena while working at Pike's Peak /Colorado Springs, observing the summertime rolling thunderstorms heading east into Kansas. Then noticed the steady 440 to 442 Htz hum in his power receivers ... One could also find out more by building something like this and harvesting the minute power of the 440 Htz noise: http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/14923/14923.html ... but that's a topic of another flavor.
(This is also a good reason for building wall warts that use 440 Htz as a switching freq ... )
Well, you could start by reading about the discoveries of Tesla ... He apparently discovered this planet wide phenomena while working at Pike's Peak /Colorado Springs, observing the summertime rolling thunderstorms heading east into Kansas. Then noticed the steady 440 to 442 Htz hum in his power receivers ... One could also find out more by building something like this and harvesting the minute power of the 440 Htz noise: http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/14923/14923.html ... but that's a topic of another flavor.
(This is also a good reason for building wall warts that use 440 Htz as a switching freq ...
)
I think many people have perfect pitch, without knowing it, or haveing the other half of the coin, nameley playing an instrument....
I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world with this talent.
Can you hear music in your head like you can recall smells?
I can.
But for a pitch excercise, try to remember a Shadows tune, say something like Apache... I bet you that first note you hear in your mind, is as spot on as if you tried to recall the smell of vinigar...
Studying an instrument gives the other half, as you get a second reference for the notes...
It is a standard part of musical exams too... I studied a little bit of classical guitar through Trinity Colege of Music, London.
I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world with this talent.
Can you hear music in your head like you can recall smells?
I can.
But for a pitch excercise, try to remember a Shadows tune, say something like Apache... I bet you that first note you hear in your mind, is as spot on as if you tried to recall the smell of vinigar...
Studying an instrument gives the other half, as you get a second reference for the notes...
It is a standard part of musical exams too... I studied a little bit of classical guitar through Trinity Colege of Music, London.
Nordic: " .. I think many people have perfect pitch, without knowing it, or having the other half of the coin, nameley playing an instrument. ..."
Yes. ... Most musicians that can play reaonably well do have the ability to tune their instruments. As a French Horn player in my high school band, I developed that ability myself = to be able to tune for local conditions without the aid of a pitch pipe or tuning fork, etc. But I would never claim to be "perfect".
I do believe that "perfect pitch" can be learned or developed with practice, although the exact accuracy of the results may vary.
Yes. ... Most musicians that can play reaonably well do have the ability to tune their instruments. As a French Horn player in my high school band, I developed that ability myself = to be able to tune for local conditions without the aid of a pitch pipe or tuning fork, etc. But I would never claim to be "perfect".
I do believe that "perfect pitch" can be learned or developed with practice, although the exact accuracy of the results may vary.
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