Definition

1. Noun:
   • The ability to identify the pitch of a tone: "Absolute pitch" refers to the rare auditory skill of being able to identify or reproduce a musical note without any external reference tone. It is also commonly known as "perfect pitch."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She has absolute pitch and can name any note played on the piano.
  • Musicians with absolute pitch find it easier to tune instruments by ear.
  • The study aimed to determine if absolute pitch can be learned or if it is innate.

Advanced Usage

• "To possess absolute pitch": to have the ability of absolute pitch.
  • Very few people possess true absolute pitch.
• "A test for absolute pitch": an assessment to determine if someone has this ability.
  • The music professor administered a test for absolute pitch to the new students.

Variants and Related Words

• Perfect pitch (noun phrase): This is a common synonym for "absolute pitch."
  • Perfect pitch is often considered a valuable asset for composers and conductors.
• Relative pitch (noun phrase): The ability to identify intervals between notes, which is different from and more common than absolute pitch.
  • Most trained musicians develop good relative pitch, even without absolute pitch.

Synonyms

• Perfect pitch: The most frequent synonym for absolute pitch.

Related Phrases

• Ear training: The process of developing skills like pitch recognition, which may include exercises for those with or without absolute pitch.
  • Daily ear training can help improve your musical perception.
• Pitch recognition: The general ability to identify pitches, which is the core skill of absolute pitch.
  • The software is designed to enhance pitch recognition.

Notes on Meaning

• "Absolute pitch" specifically denotes an immediate, automatic identification of a note's fundamental frequency (e.g., A, C#). It is contrasted with "relative pitch," which involves identifying the relationship between notes (e.g., recognizing that one note is a perfect fifth above another).
• This term is used almost exclusively in musical and psychological contexts related to auditory perception and music theory.

Noun

1. the ability to identify the pitch of a tone