Meet Gene.
Posted on 08/28/2007 9:44:35 AM PDT by Borges
Musicians and singers work for years to develop their sense of pitch but few can name a musical note without a reference tone. U.S. researchers on Monday said one gene may be the key to that coveted ability.
Only 1 in 10,000 people have perfect or absolute pitch, the uncanny ability to name the note of just about any sound without the help of a reference tone.
"One guy said, 'I can name the pitch of anything -- even farts,"' said Dr. Jane Gitschier of the University of California, San Francisco, whose study appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
She and colleagues analyzed the results of a three-year, Web-based survey and musical test that required participants to identify notes without the help of a reference tone. More than 2,200 people completed the 20-minute test.
"We noticed that pitch-naming ability was roughly an all-or-nothing phenomenon," she said.
That lead researchers to conclude that one gene, or perhaps a few, may be behind this talent.
Gitschier said those with perfect pitch were able to correctly identify both piano tones and pure computer-generated tones that were devoid of the distinctive sounds of any musical instrument.
She said people with perfect pitch were able to pick out the pure tones with ease. And they also tended to have had early musical training -- before the age of 7.
"We think it probably takes the two things," she said.
They also found that perfect pitch tends to deteriorate with age.
"As people get older, their perception goes sharp. If a note C is played, and they're 15, they will say it's a C. But if they're 50, they might say it's a C sharp."
"This can be very disconcerting for them," Gitschier said.
The most commonly misidentified note, based on the study, is a G sharp. That may be because G sharp is overshadowed by A, its neighbor on the scale, they said. A is often used by orchestras in the West as a tuning reference.
Gitschier said she and her colleagues were focusing on identifying the gene responsible for perfect pitch, which will involve gene mapping. Then they will try to figure out what is different in people with absolute pitch.
"We'll have to play it by ear, so to speak," she said.
Is this a baseball thread?
First steroids, not this?
Yes. The so-called "Perfect Pitch" sounds a bit manufactured.
Interval is another thing that can be developed by ear training. Rhythm another. Some have it, some have to work at it.
PING
Apparently the local Philharmonics lose attendance as people lose their ability to perceive pitch...
As a person with perfect pitch, I find the word “coveted” rather laughable. For me, perfect pitch is more of a curse. Chain saws, electronic beeps, trucks backing up, etc........those kind of non-musical pitches drive me up the wall.
Thank you for the ping to a very interesting thread!
Where do I sign up for the gene therapy? ;-)
Classical Music Ping List ping!
If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.
Thanks,
sitetest
"One guy said, 'I can name the pitch of anything -- even farts,"'
try playing an instrument tuned to A=442 next to one tuned to A=440.
had to do that in drum corps, very irritating.
I have imperfect pitch.
It used to annoy me because once I heard a song, any time I heard it on a player that was at the wrong speed, I’d know it was wrong. Back in the olden days, you had record players and tape players that could easily play something a little fast or slow, and I’d always know.
Now I don’t care anymore, but an MP3 player or CD player won’t play my songs at a higher or lower pitch.
My coworkers tried to name the pitch of the last one but they were too busy gasping for air and rubbing their eyes...
Any nominees for the perfect pitch? We all can name important home runs. But remembering that 99 mile an hour fastball just on the corner of the plate to clinch the Series, that’s harder . . .
Not me! I can’t carry a tune anywhere. Not only do I not ahve perfect pitch, I have NO pitch!!
However, my farts run the gamut from a deep rumbling bass to a high pitched soprano. Watch out for te former, as they are usually accompanied by noxious fumes. The latter are what my granddaddy used to call popcorn farts. Really dry and no smell.
Sandy Koufax, game 7 of the ‘65 world series......9th inning 2 outs,
Meet Gene.
If I could light my own farts I could fly to the moon or at least Uranus.
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