Double Bass Perfect Pitch?

[Anonymatt]

It must be rough if your perfect pitch is set at A=440 and the band is tuning to something else.

I listened to those perfect pitch cds they always used to sell. The guy on there explains that it's not something that would drive you nuts. You know it's like "this is red, but it's not that red, but it still goes okay with this blue..."

I don't know why musicians make a big deal about this. I'm always having to listen to guys who really don't have it together telling me about how they're trying to work on their perfect pitch. Like if you could possibly have the discipline to nurture this ability as an adult, then learning all the musical stuff about music would be cake?? In the time it would take to create solid, practically useful absolute pitch, you could make a lot of jazz issues or whatever go away. You know, 15 minutes a day on a piano would be a lot more helpful than hanging out with some crayons and really concentrating on the wicked pissing contest you're going to have with some relative pitch loser.... okay, rant over, huh?

 

[FourIsEnough]

I think some people are mistaking perfect pitch with relative pitch or having good pitch or hearing when something is out of tune.

As for perfect pitch, I think one can learn to discern the sounds of certain chords, especially on guitar where open chords have a different timbre than closed voicings. I'm sure some of you have heard a song with bass in hands and just went to that key because something told you "where to go."

I've worked on developing perfect pitch and better recognizing tone colors but not to the point where it was infallible. But hearing intervals is just as good. Having perfect pitch does not guarantee great musicianship. But I am jealous of those who were born with it.

 

[THE SAW]

If you don't have it, do not despair.

The beauty of RELATIVE pitch is that is CAN be learned, it CAN be practiced, and you will benefit immensely from it. Now, the only downside is you gotta keep up with it like practicing your ax.

My opinion is that active absolute pitch CANNOT be learned. Not in the true sense, but if you are working diligently on your ear you will find that characteristics of perfect pitch will creep in-note recognition and recall will improve, but you will not be able to tell which note in the 11 note chord I just played is missing, if you catch my drift.

Best of luck-it is a wonderful gift, to be envied, cherished for sure but it is not the end all.....