It is often said that Jay Chou has absolute pitch. What exactly is "absolute pitch"?
- infofatiproduction
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 20
Absolute Pitch, also known as perfect pitch, is a relatively rare musical ability. People with absolute pitch are able to accurately identify or reproduce the pitch of a sound without relying on any external reference sound. For example, they can hear a note and immediately tell whether it is a "C", "E" or "G", or even be able to sing a specific note without the aid of a musical instrument. This ability is considered an innate talent and may also be further developed through early training.
Characteristics of Absolute Pitch
1. Pitch Identification
People with absolute pitch can accurately identify the pitch of sounds in the environment, such as the notes of musical instruments, the pitch of human voices, and even the frequency of everyday sounds (such as telephone ringing or car horns).
2. No reference sound required
Compared to "relative pitch" which requires a reference sound as a benchmark, people with absolute pitch do not need a reference sound at all. When they hear a note, their brain automatically matches it with the specific note name.
3. Pitch Reproduction Ability
Absolute pitch is not just about identifying notes, but also about being able to accurately sing a certain pitch without a reference tone. For example, when someone asks to sing the note "A", a person with absolute pitch can immediately sing the correct frequency.
4. Very sensitive to pitch
People with absolute pitch are very sensitive to small changes in pitch and can even detect very slight deviations in music or sound. For example, if a piano is slightly out of tune, they may immediately sense it.
The formation of absolute pitch: talent or training?
1. Innate ability
Research shows that absolute pitch may be related to genetic factors. Some people are born with this ability, especially those who show a keen sense of pitch at an early age.
2. Early training
Absolute pitch is closely related to early music training. Scholars believe that the age of 3 to 6 is the key period for acquiring absolute pitch. If you are exposed to music education during this period, especially learning keyboard instruments, the chances of training will be greatly increased.
3. Language and cultural influences
The formation of absolute pitch is also related to language characteristics. For example, studies have shown that people who speak tonal languages (such as Chinese, Vietnamese, or Thai) have a higher rate of absolute pitch, probably because the sensitivity of these languages to tones helps develop pitch recognition ability.
The unique charm of absolute pitch
Absolute pitch is a rare and amazing musical ability that allows people to perceive pitch with great precision and plays an important role in music learning and performance. However, even if you don't have absolute pitch, you can still become an excellent musician by cultivating relative pitch through acquired efforts. For people who love music, absolute pitch is not the only condition for success. What really matters is the passion for music and the spirit of constant exploration.
HONG KONG LIVE BAND PERFORMANCE HK PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION
FATI LIVE BAND
Email:
Enquiry Hotline: +852 6502 9650
