Fascinating!

I was born with what has been called perfect or absolute pitch. And I could never understood why other people (once they learned the name of a note) couldn't always identify it when played.

I don't know, if I had taken part in that study, whether I would have or wouldn't have figured out the creeping pitch shift. If not, it would probably be because as well as 'perfect pitch', I also had a bit (but not much....because I didn't need it) of 'relative pitch'. And in that study, the two probably compete against each other.

Obviously if a person with perfect pitch was playing an instrument that was tuned a semitone higher (eg. Ab instead of A) than what they were told.....they would start 'naming' the note what they were told it was.

I found that to be the case.......but if I were then played an Ab a couple weeks later, I'd have correctly identified it as an Ab and not an A.

One thing about 'perfect pitch' is that it is often lost in old age....it's like something in the brain changes. I'm 65....and about 7 years ago I ended up shocked and embarrassed because somebody was playing a song we were singing in a choir in the 'wrong key'.   

But they weren't.

Perfect pitch I have found has some advantages, but it's also an incredible handicap.   For example, I don't think in terms of intervals, but more in terms of absolute notes when I sing harmony.   And when I play French horn (an F instrument....so a "C" notation is a concert F), I have to transpose in my head.....I read "C", and think F.....and play the fingering for a concert F.

And I can't play guitar with a capo (although now I can if it's capo'd up only a semitone.....as I can 'pretend' that the Ab is actually a G).   

And...As I begin losing my perfect pitch as I age, I have to develop some relative pitch.....and it's difficult.

Didn't mean to ramble on so long......but this thread got me going.   Perfect pitch is a fascinating concept......and I'm very interested in learning more about it.   

But one thing I know is that people who don't have it cannot understand those who do (and probably vice versa).

-Larry Saidman.