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Absolute pitch

A H Takeuchi1, S H Hulse

  • 1Department of Psychology, Johns Hopkins University.

Psychological Bulletin
|March 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Absolute pitch (AP) is the rare ability to identify or produce musical tones without a reference. Evidence suggests AP can be acquired early in development, becoming difficult to learn after age six.

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Area of Science:

  • Music Psychology
  • Auditory Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Absolute pitch (AP) is the ability to identify or produce specific musical pitches without external reference.
  • AP exists in varying degrees, influencing pitch identification accuracy, production, and timbre/register perception.
  • AP memory relies on verbal pitch names, not superior pitch memory overall.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the characteristics and potential etiology of absolute pitch.
  • To explore the varying degrees of AP and its underlying mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on absolute pitch.
  • Analysis of AP possessors' pitch memory and identification capabilities.
  • Examination of developmental theories regarding AP acquisition.

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Main Results:

  • AP possessors exhibit variability in accuracy, production, and perception across different timbres and registers.
  • Pitch memory in AP possessors is mediated by verbal pitch names.
  • The early-learning theory is supported, suggesting a critical developmental window for AP acquisition up to age six.

Conclusions:

  • Absolute pitch is a complex trait with varying manifestations.
  • Verbal mediation plays a key role in AP memory.
  • Early childhood is a critical period for acquiring absolute pitch, with acquisition becoming significantly harder after age six due to developmental shifts in auditory processing.