From Mariah to Michael, Hendrix to Yo-Yo Ma, and yes (Charlie) Puth too, they’ve GOT it! Perfect Pitch that is. So too Ella Fitzgerald. Her band would tune their instruments to her warming up her voice! Bing Crosby reportedly snored whilst asleep on a train, in perfect pitch unison to it’s whistle! Classical pianist Glenn Gould read music before he could read words, developing perfect pitch by the time he was three! If singing with perfect pitch is something you long to achieve, do read on.
So – What IS Perfect Pitch?
Perfect Pitch, or the technical term absolute pitch, is having the skill to identify a musical note correctly upon hearing or to sing it, without having heard it. It is not to be confused with the commonly heard term ‘pitch perfect’. Pitch Perfect, or singing in tune, is something which many talented singers can initially struggle with. First thought to be an inherited ability, further research suggests perfect pitch is a skill that can, albeit with a lot of hard work and practice, be acquired.
It is rare more so in the Western world with 1 in 10,000 having the ability of singing with perfect pitch. However it is a little more prevalent in some Asian countries. Particularly those speaking a ‘tonal’ language such as Mandarin and Vietnamese. Tonal languages require a different tone on many a given word to convey its varied, and thus intended, meaning.
Tone Deaf
Interestingly and as an aside, having the condition amusia or being ‘tone deaf’, which affects about 4% of the population, leaves you unable to learn the skill of pitch recognition…
Relative Pitch
Related to the Perfect/Absolute Pitch is Relative Pitch. Relative Pitch is the ability to identify musical notes but only in reference to one another. An example is using solfège. That is: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do to determine how much higher or lower a note is in relation to another. This is a method of ear training and most commonly used among musicians as in “playing by ear”. Developing relative pitch is more easily attainable, with less effort, and definitely a crucial requirement for a serious musician.
Which to Pitch?
It might prove advantageous to focus on mastering both the Perfect and Relative Pitches. Focus on the singing with perfect pitch to a small degree and the Relative to a greater degree. And in so doing, fusing them both to complement your unique capabilities. With considered time, effort and training, perfection may just be achieved.
Singing With Perfect Pitch
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect and it is possible to develop your pitch. With regular, constant practise, singing with perfect pitch is achievable. Here we list some helpful steps in the process.
- Choose a musical note from your vocal range that you are confident with. Play it on a well tuned piano or guitar or digital tuner – and even a recording of it if that’s most convenient.
- Try to “auralize” or imagine/hear the note in your head. Take your time, then sing the note matching it to the note/pitch you ‘heard’.
- Correct the pitch if you need to, listen to your voice as you continue and don’t be discouraged!
- If you notice a ‘flatness’ to the tone, sing higher to match the note. If you notice a ‘sharpness’ to the tone, sing lower. Most times a slight adjustment is all that is needed to hit the note right.
- Record (mindfully) that feeling of singing with perfect pitch! It will help you to learn how to recreate it at your next training session and beyond.
Good luck!