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The meaning of perfect pitch is unambiguous. When a note is played someone with perfect pitch can identify that pitch (Ab, F, C#, etc) without a reference. Also

The meaning of perfect pitch is unambiguous. When a note is played someone with perfect pitch can identify that pitch (Ab, F, C#, etc) without a reference. Also known as absolute pitch. If someone has relative pitch it means that they need to hear a reference pitch before they can identify the played pitch based on the interval between the two. Perfect pitch may seem like a party trick for a casual musician, but if you're a dedicated musician the skill is an asset that allows you to execute a whole lot quicker. Occasionally it can be a curse, because you're more sensitive to out-of-tune notes.

bennettnate5 2y ago
The definition of relative pitch is unfortunately ambiguous, however--I've heard it defined as being able to pick out one note or several note, but having to rely on that reference note from memory to determine the pitch of other notes. I have A flat and E flat burned into my mind from playing Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf rag so many times as a teenager, so if I think hard I can figure out what any note is based on that reference. I can't quickly identify a note without doing that in my mind though, so I don't claim to have perfect pitch.
- ithkuil 2y ago
  You have a slow perfect pitch
dghf 2y ago
> The meaning of perfect pitch is unambiguous. When a note is played someone with perfect pitch can identify that pitch (Ab, F, C#, etc) without a reference. Also known as absolute pitch. How does that work with variations in concert pitch? As I understand it, although the most common standard is to tune the A above middle C to 440 Hz, it's not universal. Are the differences too small to matter? Or does music played on instruments tuned to a different standard sound "off"? Or are the other standards sufficiently rare that most musicians will never encounter them?
- dhruvrajvanshi 2y ago
  Perfect pitch means that you can identify 440 Hz. Whether you call it A or slightly flat A is a matter of convention. It's like saying water melts at 0 degrees Celcius vs 33 Fahrenheit. As long as you're talking about the same temperature, it doesn't matter.

bennettnate5 2y ago

The definition of relative pitch is unfortunately ambiguous, however--I've heard it defined as being able to pick out one note or several note, but having to rely on that reference note from memory to determine the pitch of other notes. I have A flat and E flat burned into my mind from playing Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf rag so many times as a teenager, so if I think hard I can figure out what any note is based on that reference. I can't quickly identify a note without doing that in my mind though, so I don't claim to have perfect pitch.

ithkuil 2y ago
You have a slow perfect pitch

dghf 2y ago

> The meaning of perfect pitch is unambiguous. When a note is played someone with perfect pitch can identify that pitch (Ab, F, C#, etc) without a reference. Also known as absolute pitch. How does that work with variations in concert pitch? As I understand it, although the most common standard is to tune the A above middle C to 440 Hz, it's not universal. Are the differences too small to matter? Or does music played on instruments tuned to a different standard sound "off"? Or are the other standards sufficiently rare that most musicians will never encounter them?

dhruvrajvanshi 2y ago
Perfect pitch means that you can identify 440 Hz. Whether you call it A or slightly flat A is a matter of convention. It's like saying water melts at 0 degrees Celcius vs 33 Fahrenheit. As long as you're talking about the same temperature, it doesn't matter.