Perfect pitch vs. relative pitch: which is better for violinists?

In this post, you'll learn what perfect pitch and relative pitch are, the differences between them, and which one (if any) you need to excel on the violin.

Perfect pitch

Perfect pitch is the ability to hear a note and immediately know the note name without any reference. If you have perfect pitch, I would be able to walk up to you, sing or play a single note, and you would be able to tell me the note name. Perfect pitch has long been thought of something that you're born with, but recent studies have shown that perfect pitch can be developed through the proper training before a child turns 7.

Relative pitch

Relative pitch is the ability to hear notes in relation to each other, through intervals. For example, if I told you the name of the first note I played, and then added another note, you would be able to tell me the name of the second note by recognizing the interval (or the distance) between the two.

Do you need to have perfect pitch to be a musician?

In short, no. I don't have perfect pitch! In fact, perfect pitch can sometimes be slightly detrimental to your playing. When you have perfect pitch, you already have a set of frequencies in your head, so if you have to play something that doesn't match up, it can be really challenging. For example, if your perfect pitch is tuned at 440, but the orchestra you play in tunes at 441, it can be very hard to play in tune with them because of your preconceived notions of what pitch should be.

Do you need to have relative pitch to be a musician?

Yes. Think about it this way-if you can't hear how a note is supposed to sound relative to those around it, how will you be able to play in tune? The good news is that unlike perfect pitch, you can develop relative pitch at any age, and in fact, you are doing so every time you practice or listen to music.

How do I develop relative pitch?

In order to develop relative pitch, you need to master your intervals. One way to do this is through my course Music Theory for Violinists. In this course, I walk you through each and every interval, show you how they sound, and give you several aural and written exercises to help you gain mastery over them.

Do you have perfect pitch? How would you rate your relative pitch? Leave a comment and let me know!