Perfect pitch? (better edited, sorry),

[Steve Swann]

I had a friend who couldn't read a note of muic, had no musical training, not even a guitar lesson.  And yet I watched him the first time he heard some Yes tune and he just sat and "picked out" the riff experimentally on his guitar.  It took him all of 10 minutes experimentation to work out the intro.  I think that was when I decided I was never going to be a musician, just a fan.  :)

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: mary <maryann.sullivan1 at VERIZON.NET>
Date: Friday, Mar 27, 2009 1:42 pm
Subject: Perfect pitch? (better edited, sorry),
To: Reply-    BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET

			Hi friends,
I get very frustrated when I listen to music with someone and they can tell the chords automatically.  I have a relatively good sense of pitch, and a little grounding in theory, I can pick an A note out of the air on key.  Do you think perfect pitch is innate, or can be learned.
I have 2 blind friends, and 1 is totally convinced that if I don't have it, I never will.  Another, says it can be learned.  Of course, I'm inclined to believe the latter.  If I'm told that I can't do something, my Irish blood comes through and I'll do whatever I can to prove otherwise.
I'd be very interested in what all you fine musicians, and other listeners like me, have to say on this.

Many thanks,

Mary