Why you DON'T want Perfect Pitch
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the phenomenon of perfect pitch, the rare ability to identify musical notes without a reference. It discusses the challenges faced by those with perfect pitch, such as the tendency to focus on note names over relationships and the potential loss of this ability with age. The script also delves into the different levels of pitch perception, from untrained to absolute pitch, and touches on the benefits of relative pitch for musicians. It concludes with the idea that while perfect pitch is impressive, it may come with drawbacks, suggesting that relative pitch could be more advantageous in the long run.
Takeaways
- 🎼 Absolute pitch, also known as perfect pitch, is the ability to identify or reproduce a musical note without a reference tone.
- 🔍 People with perfect pitch may struggle with recognizing the relative relationships between notes, focusing more on the specific note names.
- 🎵 A 2002 study showed that musicians with perfect pitch had difficulty recognizing transposed melodies compared to those without perfect pitch.
- 👶 The development of absolute pitch is often linked to early childhood musical training and exposure to tonal languages.
- 🚫 It is generally believed that perfect pitch cannot be acquired by adults; it is a skill developed in early childhood.
- 🎷 Quasi-absolute pitch is a form of pitch recognition based on memory and familiarity with specific instrument timbres.
- 🎶 Heightened tonal memory allows individuals to reproduce songs they've heard frequently, not necessarily due to perfect pitch.
- 🔄 Relative pitch is the ability to identify the relationships between musical elements such as notes, scales, and chords.
- 🌈 The script uses color perception as an analogy to explain the different levels of pitch perception, from untrained to absolute pitch.
- 📉 Studies suggest that individuals with perfect pitch may lose this ability as they age, with their pitch perception shifting.
- 🎥 The video is sponsored by Curiosity Stream and Nebula, promoting a documentary on Frank Sinatra and offering a bundle subscription deal.
Q & A
What is perfect pitch and how does it relate to identifying notes?
-Perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch, is the ability to identify or reproduce a musical note without the use of a reference tone. It's like perceiving the 'color' of a note without having to compare it to anything else.
Why might people with perfect pitch struggle with identifying which of two notes is higher?
-People with perfect pitch might struggle because they focus more on the specific 'name' of the note (its pitch chroma) rather than the relative relationship between the notes.
What is the difference between melodies being transposed to different keys?
-When melodies are transposed to different keys, the intervals between the notes remain the same, but the actual notes change. This can be confusing for those with perfect pitch because they may perceive the melodies as different due to the change in starting notes.
What was the finding of the 2002 study involving musicians with and without perfect pitch?
-The 2002 study found that musicians with perfect pitch were less able to recognize the transpositional identity of a melody when it was played back in a different key compared to musicians without perfect pitch.
What are some potential downsides to having perfect pitch as a musician?
-Some downsides include the possibility of losing perfect pitch as one ages, and the potential difficulty in perceiving the transpositional identity of melodies, as well as the unique challenges of adapting to different tuning systems or cultures.
What is quasi-absolute pitch and how does it differ from absolute pitch?
-Quasi-absolute pitch is a form of pitch recognition that relies on memory rather than immediate perception. It's like remembering that an apple is red and then associating that memory with the color perception, as opposed to absolute pitch, which is immediate and requires no thought process.
How does the ability to develop absolute pitch relate to language and musical training?
-People who speak tonal languages or who start their musical training at an early age are more likely to develop absolute pitch. This is because the encoding of pitch occurs very early on in auditory perception.
What is the difference between relative pitch and absolute pitch?
-Relative pitch is the ability to identify the relationships between notes, scales, chords, and melodies, whereas absolute pitch is the ability to identify the specific note without any reference. Relative pitch is more about the context and relationships, while absolute pitch is about the specific identity of the note.
What is the 'leviton effect' and how does it relate to pitch perception?
-The 'leviton effect' refers to a heightened tonal memory, where individuals can reproduce a song in the correct key because they have heard it so often. It's a form of quasi-absolute pitch that relies on memory rather than immediate perception.
How does the perception of pitch relate to the perception of color?
-The perception of pitch is often compared to the perception of color as a way to explain the different levels of pitch recognition. Just as some people can see the world in color while others are colorblind, some can perceive pitch with absolute clarity (absolute pitch), while others may only perceive relationships (relative pitch) or have no specific pitch perception (untrained pitch).
What are some potential issues with losing perfect pitch as one ages?
-Losing perfect pitch can be disorienting and frustrating for musicians, as it can feel like a fundamental shift in their perception of music. It's like waking up one day and seeing the world in a hue-shifted color palette, where everything appears wrong but everyone else insists it's normal.
Outlines
🎵 Understanding Perfect Pitch and Its Challenges
This paragraph introduces the concept of perfect pitch, the ability to identify musical notes without a reference. It discusses a test involving two notes and the challenge of identifying which is higher. The script highlights that people with perfect pitch might struggle with recognizing the relationship between notes due to their focus on pitch chroma. It also touches on a study where musicians with perfect pitch had difficulty recognizing transposed melodies, suggesting that perfect pitch is not always advantageous. The paragraph ends by introducing the idea that there might be downsides to having perfect pitch and sets the stage for further exploration of this concept.
👂 The Spectrum of Pitch Perception and its Categories
This paragraph delves into the different levels of pitch perception, ranging from untrained to absolute pitch. It uses the analogy of color perception to explain these categories, with absolute pitch being akin to seeing the world in color. The script discusses how early musical training and tonal language exposure can influence the development of absolute pitch. It also introduces quasi-absolute pitch and heightened tonal memory, which are forms of pitch recognition based on memory rather than immediate perception. The paragraph concludes by contrasting these with relative pitch, which is the most useful for musicians and involves understanding the relationships between notes.
📉 The Decline of Perfect Pitch with Age
This paragraph addresses the unfortunate reality that individuals with perfect pitch may lose this ability as they age. It cites studies showing that many people with perfect pitch over the age of 45 experienced a shift in their pitch perception. The script includes personal accounts from musicians like Gary Burton who have lost their perfect pitch, describing the experience as confusing and disorienting. The loss is likened to a color shift in the world's appearance, where the individual's perception no longer aligns with the reality of musical notes. The paragraph concludes with the suggestion that perfect pitch may not be as desirable as it seems, given the potential for its eventual loss.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Perfect Pitch
💡Relative Pitch
💡Pitch Chroma
💡Quasi-Absolute Pitch
💡Tonal Language
💡Categorical Perception
💡12-Tone Equal Temperament
💡Transposition
💡Leviton Effect
💡Nebula
💡Curiosity Stream
Highlights
Introduction to a test of perfect pitch and its challenges, especially for those with the ability.
The paradox that people with perfect pitch might struggle more with identifying the higher note between two played notes.
A 2002 study showing musicians with perfect pitch have difficulty recognizing transposed melodies.
The concept of perfect pitch as a 'disease' and its rarity, affecting less than 1% of the population.
Explanation of pitch perception as a gradient with four categories: untrained, relative pitch, quasi-absolute pitch, and absolute pitch.
The idea of pitch chroma or 'pitch color' as a way to conceptualize different levels of pitch perception.
The influence of tonal languages and early musical training on the development of absolute pitch.
The belief that perfect pitch cannot be learned as an adult and is developed in early childhood.
Quasi-perfect pitch or 'heightened tonal memory' and its reliance on familiar timbres and anchor points.
The practical use of relative pitch in identifying musical relationships without naming specific notes.
Categorical perception of pitch and its dependence on language, drawing parallels with color perception.
The limitation of studies on perfect pitch to the 12-tone equal temperament system.
The potential downsides of having perfect pitch, including the possibility of losing it as one ages.
Evidence and anecdotes suggesting that perfect pitch may deteriorate over time, affecting musical identity.
The emotional impact of losing perfect pitch on musicians and how it can feel like a distortion of reality.
A discussion on the value of relative pitch over perfect pitch for musicians and music lovers.
Promotion of the Nebula streaming service and its content, including extended versions of videos.
Curiosity Stream promotion and its documentary offerings, including content on Frank Sinatra's alleged perfect pitch.
Invitation to subscribe and support the channel, with a tease of future collaborations between the host and Charles Cornell.
Transcripts
so i'm going to show you a very
interesting test of perfect pitch
your ability to identify a note without
a reference i'm going to play you two
notes
and i'll ask you a question ready okay
here's note 1 and here is note 2.
so my question for you is this
which of these two notes was higher than
the other
this question sounds simple but
statistically speaking if you have
perfect pitch
you are less likely to get this question
correct than
people like me who don't have perfect
pitch because you're perceiving the
pitch
chroma the name of the note more readily
than the relationship between the notes
it's very interesting here's another one
i'm going to play you two melodies
this is melody one
and melody two
even though the melodies start on
different notes the distances between
the notes is the same
and so we think of them as being the
same melody just transposed to different
keys
but that isn't as immediately obvious to
people with
perfect pitch there's a 2002 study where
musicians with perfect pitch
and without perfect pitch were shown
sheet music of a melody
and then played that melody back in a
different key
they were then asked if the sheet music
was the same
melody as what they were hearing is this
the same melody and if it isn't the same
melody where does the melody change
musicians with perfect pitch fared worse
at perceiving the transpositional
identity of the same
melody than musicians without perfect
pitch
very interesting now don't get me wrong
there are many things that people with
perfect pitch can do that i can't
and i am definitely jealous of what
folks like june lee and jacob collier
can do with their superhuman feats of
ear training but there are some reasons
why you might not want to have
perfect pitch and your life as a
musician or music lover is better
without it
let's get into them this video is
brought to you by curiosity stream and
my streaming service nebula
perfect pitch or technically absolute
pitch is a
disease we're here with charlie charlie
has a really crazy talent he has a
disease that's called perfect pitch and
basically he can hear notes and he knows
what they are
just by listening to him it's hard to
know just how many people are afflicted
by the malady some studies suggest that
it's just one in ten thousand
but the noted epidemiologist jimmy
fallon pegs that number a little bit
higher
do you know what that is perfect pitch
like less than one percent of us have
this talent
and my youtube algorithm breaking poll
pegs that number at
three percent which is a lot higher than
one in ten thousand so
what exactly is going on here
pitch perception exists kind of on a
gradient from
i have no idea what's going on too
you can kind of think of four categories
here untrained
relative pitch quasi-absolute pitch and
absolute pitch
and the way that we're going to talk
about this is in terms of color
perception because that's often how
people with absolute pitch
think of it as pitch chroma pitch color
untrained pitch is when you just don't
categorize pitch when you're listening
to music
it's like seeing the world in black and
white you might have a very deep
relationship to the
objects in the scene the apple tastes
just as fine to you
but you aren't perceiving the pitch
absolute pitch is like seeing the world
in color you don't have to think about
whether or not the apple is red
it's just red the plant is green
the note is f sharp with true absolute
pitch there is no thought process
and no reference the current scientific
thinking suggests that the encoding
occurs
very early on in auditory perception
people who speak
tonal languages like mandarin where the
pitch contour is very important in
communicating information
are more likely to develop absolute
pitch than people who don't natively
speak tonal languages
as well as people who start their
musical training very early on in life
a full 74 of native mandarin speakers
who had their musical training start
before
age five had developed absolute pitch in
one study
way more than that one in ten thousand
numbers cited earlier now i know
this is controversial but it's generally
understood that you
cannot learn perfect pitch as an adult
it is something that
is learned in early childhood and
there's really nothing that you can do
about it
but you can learn something which is
almost as good and that is called
quasi-perfect pitch quasi-absolute pitch
is kind of like
looking at this grayscale image and
seeing the apple and then remembering
oh yeah apples are red and then same
color
it's not as immediate it's based on a
memory but you can use that memory to
your advantage there's a couple of ways
that this works
the first way is what's called true
pitch or instrument specific
absolute pitch it's when you are so
familiar with the timbre of a specific
note on a specific instrument because
you've played it
over and over again it's why many
guitarists just
know what the sound of the open e string
of a guitar is
it's that's the open e string woodwind
players especially in my experience
clarinet players often have this because
they're such a unique tone color to
every note on the instrument
and they become very familiar with those
unique tone colors as they relate to
pitch
this all adds up to the thought process
of hey that's an apple
and apples are red there's also
something called heightened
tonal memory which affects both
musicians and non-musicians
sometimes it's called the leviton effect
where you've heard a song
so often before that you can always
reproduce that song
in the correct key honestly you know
what i go to
i go to a couple things i go to green
dolphin street
for one so i always know where eve i
know i always know where e flat is
i go to the so what baseline so i always
know where
it's a good one yeah that's a real and i
go to an f
blues interesting okay some people might
think i have perfect pitch if i'm quick
enough
at picking out those anchor points using
relative pitch to figure out whatever
the note you just played was
um but that's not what's happening it's
actually just
i'm just bouncing it off of a memory uh
that i have as like an
anchor and then using relative pitch to
to figure it out
like for me unfortunately uh the song
that the leviton effect is most lodged
in my brain
is the last chorus to
don't stop believing by journey
that's that's an e by the way that truck
because
the last chorus of don't stop believing
goes don't stop
which is an a and g sharp and then
that's down to an e
i'm not even gonna check but i don't
have perfect pitch i just
have that tonal memory so deep in my
brain because of cover gigs relative
pitch is the final category and it's
probably the most useful for musicians
it's what we're trained in it's the
ability to identify
notes and scales and chords and melodies
and intervals and the relationships
between them
so if you played this for a trained
musician
they'd probably be able to tell you oh
yes that's a two minor seven
a five seven flat nine and a one major
seven
they wouldn't necessarily be able to
tell you the names of the notes but they
could tell you the relationships between
them
so that if you gave a reference like you
said the first chord began
on the note g they could calculate out
the rest of the notes in the rest of the
chords the implications of this are kind
of weird when you apply the color
analogy here
it's like seeing this image in grayscale
and then being told that the plant is
green
therefore the apple must be red it's
like you're
perceiving the wavelengths of the green
and then calculating out the redness
of the apple having relative pitch is
kind of like being colorblind and then
working out what colors are based on
context color
analogy breaks down a little bit here
but it's still
kind of useful in understanding how
other people
might experience pitch
you know when you assign words like red
to some kind of color
experience you're assigning a category
to that experience it's called
categorical perception and that
categorical perception
is very much dependent on the language
with which you speak so for example
in russian there are multiple words for
what
in english we might just call like blue
like there are multiple words for this
what's interesting is that
studies of perfect pitch and absolute
pitch have really just dealt with one
kind of
category and that is 12 tone equal
temperament
people who are trained in 12 tone equal
temperament are more likely to assign
their perception to the notes of the
piano
i'd be really fascinated to see if that
translates to
different kinds of tuning systems and
different cultures that
didn't have 12 tone equal temperament as
the default but
there haven't been any studies on that
so we shall see
so to recap we have four ways of
experiencing pitch we have
absolute pitch we have quasi-absolute
pitch
we have relative pitch and then we have
the untrained ear
so with all that in mind why possibly
would a musician
not want to have absolute pitch why
wouldn't we want to see the world in
color that seems strange
well i have some unfortunate news for
the people with perfect pitch watching
this video
and it comes from the great concert
pianist abby simon
if you have absolute pitch perfect pitch
if you live long enough you will lose it
rick beatto did a video recently on
people who lose their perfect pitch and
it seems to be that this is something
that happens
universally across the board after a
certain age like if you have it
you only have a short window to enjoy it
and use it before it goes away
so your perfect pitch has visited it no
it's it's it's gone down the tube a
study from 2012 found that 16 out of 20
people tested with absolute pitch over
the age of 45
had their absolute pitch shifted by a
semi-tone or more this was corroborated
by another study in 2016
which also found that this perfect pitch
shift had nothing to do with the
mechanical hearing loss that normally
comes with aging and the society for
music theory listserv researcher david
huron asked the question if there were
any examples of people over the age of
60
who didn't experience this pitch shift
none were given the great jazz
vibraphonist gary burton
has talked frequently about his loss of
perfect pitch
like on this interview from adam tan's
youtube channel well it was
interesting uh it was confusing i lost
the perfect pitch
in 2011 it was something i had gotten
used to and
kind of depended on as a you know a
sense of
always kind of knowing where everything
is suddenly discovered that
you know that piece of information was
no longer
available to me in her master's thesis
understanding and dealing with the loss
of absolute pitch
as one ages mary el bianco catalogues
correspondents with older musicians who
have lost their absolute pitch the
experience was annoying
often getting in the way of my enjoyment
of music i am sad to have lost something
that felt very special to me what was
occurring was
truly jolting to my sense of musicality
and my sense of self another account
reads around the time i got my first
pair of reading glasses my sense of
absolute pitch
started to waver i got c's and b's mixed
up and to be honest
this was a surprisingly alarming
development a whole dimension of my
existence
seemed to fade away the thing to me
that's most frightening about this is
not just that the perfect pitch
goes away like you're now seeing the
world in black and white when you used
to see it in color because it sounds
like that's not really what's happening
to people with perfect pitch as they age
instead
it's like everybody's still seeing the
world in color
but it's all wrong it's like all of a
sudden you wake up
and the world looks like this all weird
and hue shifted
but the apple still is red in reality
and the entire world acts as if it's red
and you remember it being red at one
point but you just
can't see it that way it's like musical
reality is trying to gaslight you
into thinking that your own ears are
wrong
you have to perform the feat of
pretending that the apple is red
day in and day out in your musical life
but to you
no matter how hard you try it isn't
[Music]
so with lots of anecdotal evidence and
some limited research to suggest that if
you have perfect pitch you will
eventually lose it and feel like a
stroke patient who has to fight to force
his limbs to work again
oh god i i'm not sure if i really want
perfect pitch
i i'm happy having relative pitch and
just existing in my own
uh black and white world thank you very
much
[Music]
i talked a lot about pitch perception
with fellow youtuber and memester
charles cornell in a recent conversation
on perfect pitch
there's a channel um hilarious super
talented voice actor pro zd did you ever
see the video that he put out that was i
can recite every line from peter pan
yep i'll run him through oh
take that did you notice what was going
on there that was
very very interesting from a musical
perspective you can watch more of our
conversation over on the extended
version of this video which is available
exclusively
on nebula nebula is a creator-owned
streaming service where you can watch
many of youtube's favorite creators and
also watch bonus content like the
extended version of this video with
charles cornell
it features many of your favorite
youtube educators and creators including
lindsay ellis
legal eagle charles cornell 12 tone
thomas frank
wendover productions and many many more
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