Definition

Noun: * Absolute pitch: The innate or highly trained ability to identify or reproduce the exact pitch (frequency) of a musical note without any external reference. A person with this ability can name a note simply by hearing it or sing a specific note on demand.

Usage

This term is used primarily in musical contexts to describe a rare auditory skill. * Her perfect pitch allowed her to tune the violin by ear. * Very few musicians possess true perfect pitch. * He can identify any chord you play on the piano; he has perfect pitch.

Advanced Usage

• Possession: The ability is typically described as something one "has" or "possesses."
  • Does the singer have perfect pitch?
• Demonstration: It is often discussed in terms of being demonstrated or tested.
  • The child demonstrated perfect pitch by naming all the notes.

Variants and Related Words

• Absolute pitch: A more formal, technical synonym for "perfect pitch."
• Relative pitch: A more common musical skill involving the ability to identify intervals (distances) between notes, but not the notes themselves without a reference.

Synonyms

• Absolute pitch

Antonyms

• Tone deafness (inability to distinguish between different musical pitches)

Noun

1. the ability to identify the pitch of a tone