[pianotech] Perfect Pitch (revisited)

[Lou Novak]

Did the Bureau of Standards and Engraving decide pitch to be 440cps?

Doesn't everything in the universe have a natural "perfect pitch" unique to itself?

I understood the definition of perfect pitch was to be able to throw a banjo 
in to a dumpster from 15 feet, without hitting the sides of the dumpster! ; -) ....

(No offense intended toward banjo players - you could substitute a vuvuzela if you like).

-Lou
D.M.C.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Robert Wilson<mailto:pianotechnicianuk at yahoo.com> 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 4:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Perfect Pitch (revisited)


        Only your ETD has perfect pitch! 


        Bob.


        --- On Tue, 6/7/10, Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net<mailto:toddpianoworks at att.net>> wrote:


          From: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net<mailto:toddpianoworks at att.net>>
          Subject: [pianotech] Perfect Pitch (revisited)
          To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
          Date: Tuesday, 6 July, 2010, 1:06


                Hi all,

                I went to tune for a client a while ago, and she begins by bragging what perfect pitch she has.  I had asked her when the last time her piano was tuned.  She couldn't remember, but then went on to say that it wasn't that far off as she has perfect pitch.  I whipped out my ETD and measured.  Sure enough, more than -25 cents!  I just smiled and told her it would need a pitch raise prior to tuning.  She was a little shocked.

                Anyway, I just said all that to reiterate the fact that there is no such thing as perfect pitch.  Relative pitch, yes.  Pitch memory, yes.  But perfect pitch, no.

                I know of people who can name a key you are playing in by not looking to see.  However, to be perfect, they would need to also tell you how many cents sharp or flat the piano is and/or name the exact frequency of the given tones.  Someone may be able to do the latter, I am not sure.  BUT, they would need to be 100% right, 100% of the time to be perfect.  If there are people out there who can do that, maybe a more correct term would be absolute, instead of perfect.

                Okay, I am done.....for now :-)


                TODD PIANO WORKS 
                Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
                (979) 248-9578
                http://www.toddpianoworks.com<http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> 
       

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