Does Perfect Pitch Ear Training Work?

[skintaster]

Hi. I was wondering if any forum members had ever bought that "perfect pitch" ear training course that seems to have run an ad in every guitar magazine since the 80's?

http://www.discount-offer.perfectpitch.com/

I'm curious if there's any real advantage that this course teaches, or if it's kinda useless. I have a nephew who expressed interest in this course, but I've never heard any reviews of this course from anyone that had actually tried it. My "ear" is pretty average, but after almost 30 years of playing guitar, I can usually figure out things by ear... Still, if this course actually has some amazing benefit, I'd but it for the nephew, and try it out myself. Thanks!

[DonP]

I'm curious too. I still go through those old mags and see the ads.

[Spivonious]

Perfect pitch cannot be taught. Relative pitch can be, and is simple with some ear training.

Perfect pitch = hearing the note in your head without any frame of reference.
Relative pitch = hearing a note from a device such as a tuning fork and working out the note in your head from that reference point.

I'd look into getting your son into some local ear-training classes (check out the local colleges and/or music conservatories).

[Endrik]

Perfect pitch CAN be taught it's just that not everyone is going to get it.
I know people who are with trained perfect pitch.
I don't have absolute perfect pitch but there are a couple of notes which I can sing or recognize without any reference at any time, any place. It's because I trained it. I wanted at least to be able to sing C out of nowhere so I can relate all the other notes to it.
Each note has a distinctive character. If you work a lot on how to recognize those characteristics then you may archive perfect pitch. But it's never going to be as good as it's on those who were born with it.

[tonemonster]

I asked this question here a long time ago. years ago. Perfect pitch CAN be taught, but I have heard first hand from people who learned it, that it is NOT a good thing to learn. the folks I talked to said its not fun as your constantly picking out imperfections in anytyhing you hear, even just music for fun. I dont know this personally, I just know what I have been told so take it from there. I cant confirm or deny it.

[Spivonious]

TM - the same argument could be made for learning theory. You end up analyzing music instead of listening to it. However, it opens up a new level of music to enjoy. What was random noise before gets structure.

[tonemonster]

I hear ya (no pun intended ) all I know is 2 people I know personally that learned it and they hate it now that they know it.

[tonemonster]

Here is the thread I did.

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7730&highlight=perfect+pitch

[Spivonious]

Okay, hearing whether something is in tune or not is NOT perfect pitch. Perfect pitch is saying "sing a D#" and having you be able to do it with no reference pitch.

I'm amazed at the people who get on American Idol because they can't sing in tune. But other people in the same room just can't hear it and think they're great. My B string is never in tune. I've learned to just put up with it, since an even tempered instrument is never really in tune.

If you asked me to sing a D# and played me a note to start (e.g. an A), then I could sing you a D#. That's thanks to 4 semesters of ear training/theory classes at college. If you played a chord I could tell you the notes (up to about 4 notes at a time). Is it useful for guitar playing? Yeah I guess so. It lets you hear the solo or song in your head first and translate that to your fingers.

[Cygnus X1]

Every single guitar I have ever owned or played never sounded right unless the B string was slightly flat.

I don't have perfect pitch, but I can tune a guitar with no reference
with +/- 1/2 cent.
The opening riff for Hell's Bells (A) is permanently etched into my brain.
I tune it all from there.

[Endrik]

Perfect pitch is recognizing the notes by their characteristics.
Pitch accuracy is another thing. It's very important for string players. Specially for keeping vibrato in tune and whatnot. But when it's on another level, it can be painful. Yngwie is a good example, he has a perfect pitch but it's also on a high ridiculously accurate level. Most stuff he hears is out of tune.
Yet there are people with perfect pitch but their vibratos suck.

[RacerX]

The opening riff for Hell's Bells (A) is permanently etched into my brain.

You're old.

[Chad]

A guy at work was telling me he had perfect pitch. I picked up a phone, put it on speakerphone, and asked him what pitch the dial tone was. He struggled a bit because he said there were two notes, but it was easily identifiable as an A. Is that correct? Anyway, it amazes me how folks can do that.

[Cygnus X1]

You're old.

Very old!
:ROTF:
But age has a benefit, like the one mentioned.

[javert]

A guy at work was telling me he had perfect pitch. I picked up a phone, put it on speakerphone, and asked him what pitch the dial tone was. He struggled a bit because he said there were two notes, but it was easily identifiable as an A. Is that correct? Anyway, it amazes me how folks can do that.

DTMF (dial tone system) is indeed two tones.