"So if I had cultivated perfect pitch, I'd have the mental discomfort of seeing one written note, knowing for sure how it should sound, and having to sing something different, or of remembering a tune as being fixed in particular key and finding it difficult to move it into a new key. Ideally, you need to be able to switch off your perfect-pitch sensors at will, but I don't know if that's easily done?"


It was never a problem for me to sing a song in a different key than I'd learned it. I might not even necessarily remember what key I sang it in before. But.....I"d know what key I"m singing it in now!   It's not that kind of perfect memory.

And as for switching off my perfect-pitch sensors? Can't be done!

For me what my perfect pitch meant was equating the sound with the note.....all the time without ever having to think about it! And I couldn't understand why others didn't also do that. Didn't matter if it was singing or instrumental.

I'm wondering if there are others out there with perfect pitch, and whether you also have found it virtually impossible to play guitar with a capo.   If I'm playing a tune with a G-D-C progression starting in the open "G" position.....and hearing an A (because it's capoed up two frets), I have to go to the "E" position next.....cause E is the next sound in my head. And of course, that would be wrong (as it would play an F#).   So the only way I can do it is learn to transpose in my head. (i.e think E...then go down a tone in my head to play the D).

Confusing?   It sure has been for me over the years.

I'd love to hear the experiences of others who have true perfect or 'absolute' pitch. Now that I've 'lost' it with age, maybe I can understand it better.

And it's also great hearing from you people who don't but 'observe' those who do. (As McLuhan says "if you want to know about water, you don't ask as fish").

-Larry