What is absolute pitch?
Absolute pitch, or perfect pitch, is the ability to name or reproduce a tone without reference to an external standard. The naming/labeling of notes need not be verbal. AP can also be demonstrated by other codes such as auditory imagery or sensorimotor responses, for example, reproducing a tone on an instrument. Therefore a musician from an aural tradition, with no musical notation, can still exhibit AP if allowed to reproduce a sounded note. Possessors of absolute pitch exhibit the ability in varying degrees. Generally, absolute pitch implies some or all of the following abilities: • Identify by name individual pitches (e.g. A, B, C#) played on various instruments • Name the key of a given piece of tonal music just by listening (without reference to an external tone) • Identify and name all the tones of a given chord or other tonal mass • Sing a given pitch without an external reference • Name the pitches of common everyday noises such as car horns Individuals may possess both absolut
