Perfect Pitch, (better edited, (my apologies),

[Albert Bouchard]

Hi Mary:
Anyone can figure out relative pitch by using do re me fa so la ti do.  
The two pitches outside of those scale tones have distinctive vibes:  
flatted second like many Metallica songs ie. Enter Sandman, which also  
has the other tone outside the regular scale - the ever popular  
flatted fifth, the devil's tone, the tritone, ie. the intro to the  
song Black Sabbath. Everything else is variations on the major and  
minor scales. Certain chord progressions are distinctive - the most  
common of all is simply 1 5 (do so) 1 6 4 5 Heart and Soul - 1 7 6 7  
Reaper and you can learn to recognize these as well. Now you know  
everything you need to know about music theory.
Al
On Mar 29, 2009, at 11:45 AM, mary wrote:

> Hi JR,
> From all that I've heard from my last posting, I'm inclined to think  
> that
> relative pitch can be learned, with ear training and all that, and I  
> guess
> one can get to a point of having nearly perfect pitch, however, my  
> friend
> with perfect pitch is amazing.  There's a story in her family that  
> at the
> age of 2 she played "Happy Birthday" for her aunt.  Since I listen  
> to so
> much music I want to understand it better, and we're  probably on  
> the same
> level with our musical abilities.  Me, in a band, ha!  That's not  
> going to
> happen.  Thanks for your response.  I have been away from the  
> computer for a
> bit since the posting, so if I'm lax in responding to anyone, it's  
> not for
> lack of interest, I still have to go all the way back to Friday.   
> Time for
> the Way Back Machine, is the professor their?
>
> Mary
>
> Mary about
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List
> [mailto:BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET]On Behalf Of John Rennie
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 4:19 AM
> To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET
> Subject: Re: Perfect Pitch, (better edited, (my apologies),
>
>
> I've never met anyone with perfect pitch, in the sense that I could
> play a random note and they could tell me what note it was. Chords
> are different, because not all major chords sound the same, and I
> have friends who can tell what key music is in. It's something to do
> with the spacing between the notes in the scale I think.
>
> I must admit I can't tell what a chord is just by hearing it, and I
> can't tell what key music is in. I can tell major from minor chords
> and I can mostly recognise intervals, though not always. I guess I'd
> be unwise to try for a career in music :-) It's doesn't stop me
> enojing it though!
>
> JR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List [mailto:BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET 
> ] On
> Behalf Of mary
> Sent: 27 March 2009 17:50
> To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET
> Subject: Perfect Pitch, (better edited, (my apologies),
>
> 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.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Mary
>