Series for Developing Perfect Pitch

Series for Developing Perfect Pitch

Q: I’ve recently bought the Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing and Ear Training One Note Complete. As I was reading the FAQ section at the back you mention how perfect pitch can be developed but didn’t totally recommend Mr. Burge’s approach. I am 18 and have been playing guitar since 11. I am currently working hard on learning to sight read on the guitar and I am also studying theory and harmony, one of my goals is to study at Berklee. I am also interested in orchestral arranging and certain classical music, thus I am also very interested in developing perfect pitch (as well as good relative pitch). What do you recommend for developing perfect pitch? Do you have any plans to write your own perfect pitch series?

A: Mr. Burge’s course leaves out the fact that you can memorize the sound of any pitch by using more than color. For instance if you were coloring blind does this mean you can’t get perfect pitch. For some folks there affinities lay with texture or shape etc… You could use these parameters to help you memorize sound too. So really the basis of Perfect Pitch is to keep hearing notes over and over again on one instrument and try and identify and remember the characteristics of each sound. Over time you stop with the characteristics and just remember the sound. Remember that anyone can develop perfect pitch and in some ways it’s easier to achieve than great relative pitch. Remember you only develop it on one instrument at a time so you would then have to start again using a different instrument.

Sooner or later I’ll get around to a Perfect Pitch method but for now I would recommend you develop your relative pitch because these skills will be highly variable with a career in music.

It is also recommended that you read Bruce Arnold’s Blog at his artist site. It contains more discussion of the musical topics found in these FAQs as well as other subjects of interest. You will also find the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located here which shows you the historic significance of the music education products found on the Muse Eek Publishing Company Website.