[ not so ] perfect pitch

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

[ not so ] perfect pitch

I have this little problem.
At times when I'm fully occupied with my little brass-arranging hobby, I often now the exact pitch of the tones that are in my head.

But as soon as I get back to flamenco, it's getting very unstable due to the fact that I'm using a capo at different positions all day. So when I try to hear the pitch, I'm often one or two notes off.

Anyone else has that problem [ and a solution ] ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 13 2008 12:02:39

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

yeah its happened to me

hey i was just thinking, its funny i forghot you do this...i was going to call a friend to do some kind of samples arrangement for that piece

but brass would be perfect , wanna do a solo ? some kind of trumpet or sax etc..

i have the samples all you have to do is arrange the midi if you want...

it would be cool and it might inspire me with a new prespective

let me know

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 13 2008 13:47:52

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

I'll pm you

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 13 2008 13:53:56

enurbf03

Posts: 26
Joined: Sep. 3 2008
From: petticoat junction

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

This isnt really related to "perfect pitch" or not so perfect pitch.
Its about relative pitch, and the ability to transpose in your head. Pick up the guitar, put on the capo, and give yourself a reference note before you start to weave ideas in your head.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 14 2008 18:22:10

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

Let me put it another way.
When I'm listening to some music, I'm always trying to figure out what range an instrument is playing in, without a reference tone. When I check it, I'm right 9 out of ten times.

This ability is getting hazy when I play guitar all week with capo in different positions. Somehow my ears deceive me then.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 14 2008 22:29:23

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

hmmm..... what's this brass arranging thing you do?
when i played with sibelius a lot, my ear was really good. then when i started to pick up guitar again, it got a little worse. is this similar to your situation?

maybe it might be because your guitar is slightly getting detuned when you play. for instance, you might be playing then notice the guitar is out of tune. then you tune the rest of the guitar to the low e or whatever when that string itself is out of tune. then your ears get used to it and adjust. just a theory.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 14 2008 22:53:00

enurbf03

Posts: 26
Joined: Sep. 3 2008
From: petticoat junction

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

maybe it might be because your guitar is slightly getting detuned when you play. for instance, you might be playing then notice the guitar is out of tune. then you tune the rest of the guitar to the low e or whatever when that string itself is out of tune. then your ears get used to it and adjust. just a theory.

This is an excellent, thoughtful point. That could very well be what's happening.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 14 2008 23:31:55

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

No, that's not the point.

Let's give it another try.
I have the open strings in my head. When I think of them, I hear the exact pitch in my head. Same goes for the open chords. Especially the G and D chord.

When I play with capo on the second fret a lot, I hear the open strings as F#-C#-A-E-B-F# sometimes, the open G as an A chord etc. So the open string sound in my head has shifted 2 frets.

I hope I'm clear now.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 14 2008 23:47:06

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

i'm not totally sure what you are talking about. we're talking about perfect pitch right? so an E should sound like an E to you, an F# should still be an F#, etc. regardless of what you play. so if you play a G chord with capo 2nd fret, you should HEAR an A and recognize it even though you are PLAYING a G chord shape. nothing pitch wise should change. so i'm not sure what you mean. sorry if i'm misunderstanding.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2008 1:01:27

enurbf03

Posts: 26
Joined: Sep. 3 2008
From: petticoat junction

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to at_leo_87)

Ok, maybe this is what you're getting at. You could be talking about the physical chord grips not matching what's in your head.
This is related to "transposition", but in a physical/fretboard related sorta way.
You're thinking and hearing an "A" (concert pitch), then you mistakenly go to grab an A form chord when you''ve capo'd up? If that's not what you mean, then you've completely lost me. LOL

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2008 1:23:19

enurbf03

Posts: 26
Joined: Sep. 3 2008
From: petticoat junction

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

so an E should sound like an E to you, an F# should still be an F#, etc. regardless of what you play.

This is correct.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2008 1:25:28

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

Yes now we're getting somewhere.

It's not perfect pitch but more like associating a certain chord with a pitch in your head.
It's very comfortable when you're writing a score, but isn't very reliable when you play the chord shapes all over the neck [ due to capo shifting ].

Maybe I shouldn't use a capo anymore.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2008 1:57:06

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: [ not so ] perfect pitch (in reply to koella)

ah... so perhaps that is what is throwing your game off. or maybe it's all that wine you drink. j/k

i've seen your videos on youtube. you play very well. so i wouldn't change whatever it is you're doing, capo or not.

maybe you should just work on some direct ear training.
here are some good resources:
http://www.musictheory.net/index.html
http://www.good-ear.com/index.html
http://www.cyberfret.com/ear-training/index.php

it's good to do ear training daily anyways, but most people get lazy, myself included.

so that's my suggestion for overcoming this problem. and maybe just be more aware of the capo and mentally adjust pitch - label accordingly.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2008 4:41:43