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

mary maryann.sullivan1 at VERIZON.NET
Tue Mar 31 20:06:46 EDT 2009


Hi Al,
Thanks, It's going to take me a bit of time to digest all you've told me,
but I get the idea.  I've got basic intervals down, now I'm starting to
integrate the sharps and flats.  I imagine I'll make my way through all that
all right. I'm sure Indian music would be a lot more difficult, I am only
dealing with 12 tones.  A friend told me to check out ear training programs
on-line.  Learning some of the complex time changes like King Crimson or
Zappa use is going to be interesting.  A friend asked me why I'm bothering
to learn all this, I just want to know, another way to expand my mind.
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate the condensed theory course.

All the best to you,

Mary



-----Original Message-----
From: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List
[mailto:BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET]On Behalf Of Albert Bouchard
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 5:14 PM
To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET
Subject: Re: Perfect Pitch, (better edited, (my apologies),


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
>



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