I do not have perfect pitch. Nor can I play the trombone in tune.
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Steve,
Have you tried the Tunerval app I suggested in my earlier post? It tests your ability to recognize relative pitches by playing the root and then the interval and asking if you think the interval is sharp flat or in-tune. (not sure if its ET or just, it doesn’t say so I assume ET.)
Its fun and its a great way to tune up your ears for a few minutes a day.
I am not very good, at least Im no where nearly as good as I would have thought I was.
If I am just working on one key and one interval, say a fifth, I am good to like 15-20 cents. But mix in different keys and different intervals, like thirds, fifths, m7ths with any roots between A4 to A5 and Im lucky if I can tell a major third is 35-40 cents sharp or flat.
That would be amazingly difficult to play an unlined neck with no reference! Hats off to anyone who can!
The classical community says hello!!
I haven't, and I dont have any iOS devices. But if I check my intonation with a tuner whilst playing it is consistently within +/-3 cents, often better, anywhere on the fingerboard. Given that this is beyond what most people can resolve I am more than happy.
In another online test here Intonation Ear Trainer - Pick Subtle Differences in Pitch I got to 2.30 cents before running into difficulty.
I put it down to the ear training I recieved as a kid all those years ago. Hence my comment about learning to sing and hear what 'in tune' sounds like.
An electric bass guitar is a guitar, not an instrument that "hugs" the body. There is little to no difference in feel between a flat/sharp and in tune.
Then you can play complex music on a trombone as technique is plays second fiddle to your perfect pitch?
I'm afraid I don't have a clue what this means. What does the 'bone have to do with anything?
Your ears guide your hands. My point is that the ears will kick in after you have played the (out of tune) note. Then a sliding vibrato will bring the note in tune.
Do you mostly play in first position?
I don't slide in and out of pitch. Glissando and vibrato are musical devices, not varieties of corrective surgery. I hit it on the nail every time, +/- 2 cents, unless I wish to do otherwise. All over the board in all positions. Why is this so difficult to accept or believe?
How do know your ears are any good?
How do you know your octave is an octave and your fifth is a fifth?
Ive said this in a few other threads, but when I got the app Tunerval for my iPhone I discovered Im lucky to be within 30 cents on most intervals.
Im sure most people are probably better than me, but Im also sure most people probably aren’t as good as they think they are.
So, to the OP, download Tunerval and practice thirds, fifths and octaves for a start and get those in your head.
30 cents? You gotta take some ear training classes. I developed relative pitch by listening. If you play fretless along with recordings, and you're at the same volume as the recording, you'll hear the variance in pitch. It's really obvious. All that's needed to develop a good ear is a piano, or other instrument with frets that's in tune. No phone apps... no shortcuts. Play and listen. Actually, frets aren't even needed. How did violin players develop good pitch without tuners, phone apps and other modern appointments? They developed their ears by gaining experience. Can you tune to a tuning fork? That's good practice.
Don’t know if someone suggested it already as I didn’t read every page, but try a drone. I used one for upright. It’s just a note that holds for a long sustain and you can practice matching the pitch on your board.
Some people simply refuse to believe that many people the world over have actually learned how to play an unlined fretless instrument with any level of skill. I learned quite fast it's not worth the time to discuss because they will never believe you.
So it is your contention that classical musicians can feel the notes through their bodies and physically correct the string stop position at a speed that is inaudible to listeners?
If I got a fretless BG, i would definitely go unlined for aesthetic reasons. One thing us DB guys do is take little circular stickers from the office supply store and put them on the side of the neck (in lower positions) and on the fingerboard (up high). You can put a bunch of them on to basically mark every position to start, and then take them off as you get comfortable. If you benefit from visual markers in certain positions or for certain tunes, you can take them off and on as needed. I like red stickers on an ebony board because they are not visible from more than a few feet away.
Hahahaha, I can tune to a tuning fork just fine. I can tune a piano to a tuning fork.
I think you are misunderstanding me.
Try playing a C2 on the piano or have someone else play a C on a guitar or anything, just a quarter note, it can’t be ringing when you play. Now you play the m7 and look at your tuner; let me know what it says.
Now have them play A and try to hit the fifth; G then try for the M3rd. Etc. etc. Check your tuner each time and let me know your averages.
As you said, it’s obvious when you’re playing along to a recording and you’re off. But its not obvious when you are playing a duet with only one other instrument. You might need to play a perfect octave solo before they come in with their part, and you’d better be on the money.
Thats what Im talking about here.
Seriously, give the app a try. Its no short cut, its an eye opener. You might be surprised how far off you actually are or maybe how dead on you are.
That's exactly what ear training class taught me in music school only I didn't use a tuner. After 25 years of playing fretless actively, I'm pretty sure my intonation is just fine. I know my intervals and when something isn't in tune (meaning the interval is off). You just need to hear it a lot and play it a lot to internalize it.
Im not doubting you, in fact, I admire your ear. But please give the app a try for 15 minutes and let me know what you think and let the rest of us know if you think it might be helpful to someone with less than 25 years of experience and formal ear training class.
Again, it’s certainly not a shortcut of any kind. Its just a way to test oneself and identify things to work on, like flashcards for internalizing intervals.
I've always admired classical string players but always knew there was a reason I preferred Jazz!
No. The neck changes shape and when moving higher up your arm and body come into contact with the upright bass.
An electric bass guitar neck is a lonely plank of wood.
