[pianotech] Perfect pitch - chord recognition, slipping OT

[phil at emvkeys.ca]

Funny things these tests - there have been a few of them - I've tried a 
pitch memory test and a couple of relative pitch tests. Failed them all 
miserably.

And yet, in my other life as a keyboard sideman, I sit in as a guest 
with many different club acts, no charts, no rehearsals, and I'm 
consistently able pick out full chord voicings with good accuracy in 
near-real time. I consider myself an average, albeit somewhat lazy, 
gigging player. But I've seen this ability in many of the players I work 
with. I don't actually think of the name of the chord I'm playing. It's 
more like I subconsciously identify the basic chord, it's current 
inversion, the dominant low note, and the dominant "accent" notes (7th, 
9th, minor, flat 5th, sus4 or whatever) and my hands go right to 
position in near-real time, with very little conscious "listening".

I'd be interested in hearing some comments as to why I may have failed 
the "relative pitch" test and yet I can function quite well in a busy 
club environment of many notes happening, all at the same time, 
constantly changing. And all that after several beers!

Phil



Allan wrote:
>
> This is the link to a scientific test about Absolute Pitch conducted 
> by teachers from University of Brasilia and University of Toronto:
>
>  
>
> http://perfectpitch.freehostia.com/info_eng.html
>
>  
>
>  
>
> I did not do the test because it is aimed at those who have it. My son 
> has it, did the test and did not have a perfect score. The test is 
> very difficult.
>
>  
>
> Nothing absolute about perfect pitch?
>
>  
>
> Allan Sutton
>
> www.pianotechniquemontreal.com
>
>  
>
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-- 

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