A very cool thing happened as I was changing my strings this weekend.....

[gainiac]

I was changing my strings on my #1 bringing them all up to tension before busting out the tuner. Since the tuner was in another room I figured screw it.

As I was bringing them up to tension I found myself thinking "I know what E sounds like"......etc....

Anyhow I managed to get E to within 10 cents and did the usual (by ear...no freting) relative tuning with the rest. I'd like to develop this skill more finely with other pitches, but it's nice to know the ability is there.

Just sharing!

[Birddog]

I've always been able to pick up music by ear on guitar and piano, but always just assumed it was from years of screwing around and knowing what progressions to look for. Not too long ago my daughter (an aspiring music educator) asked me "what key is that in?" and I said "D" without even thinking about it...this gave me pause...did I really know it was in D? I picked up my guitar, and it was in D. Not bragging, just amazed.

I guess the ability came from somewhere, possibly just from years of listening and playing, but now I want to hone it too...

Interesting post.

[gennation]

I've been tuning to Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love in my head since about 1985. There is no way I can imagine that tune NOT in E. It gets me pretty darn close every time.

I'm sure there's other tunes I could sing in Key in my head, but that one has been bullet proof so there's been no reason to use any other.

[Clifford-D]

I was changing my strings on my #1 bringing them all up to tension before busting out the tuner. Since the tuner was in another room I figured screw it.

As I was bringing them up to tension I found myself thinking "I know what E sounds like"......etc....

Anyhow I managed to get E to within 10 cents and did the usual (by ear...no freting) relative tuning with the rest. I'd like to develop this skill more finely with other pitches, but it's nice to know the ability is there.

Just sharing!
Do you have a tune in your head most the time.

When that "tape" is rolling in your head, it tends to be tuned to the
original source.

I use that to tune with.

For example, I always can find an F note because I know the tune
"Joy Spring" and that is the key. A is the key for "Moondance",
"Watch what Happens" is in Eb and so on.

If I think about the "tape" running I can screw up the intonation. But I've learned how not to do that.


"Acquired Relative Pitch" is what I think this is called.

[dave s]

I've been tuning to Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love in my head since about 1985. There is no way I can imagine that tune NOT in E. It gets me pretty darn close every time.

I'm sure there's other tunes I could sing in Key in my head, but that one has been bullet proof so there's been no reason to use any other.

Ha! Funny you mention Zeppelin ... I use Communication Breakdown, (the intro!) to bring my guitars up to 440 tuning!

Good ear, man! :BEER

dave

[gainiac]

Do you have a tune in your head most the time.

When that "tape" is rolling in your head, it tends to be tuned to the
original source.

I use that to tune with.



No song, but it seems I have the timbre of how that note sounds on my main guitar well memorized. Another good reason to stick with an axe for a long period of time I guess. I just know how it's supposed to sound.

[JimmyD]

I've been using the low A in clapton's live Crossroads as my reference for the past couple of decades...

[Trandy]

I just punch the speaker function on my telephone....the dial tone is an "F".

I mean...if I didn't do that I'd actually have to stand up and grab one of my tuners. :D

[gainiac]

I just punch the speaker function on my telephone....the dial tone is an "F".

I mean...if I didn't do that I'd actually have to stand up and grab one of my tuners. :D

Perfect..or good relative pitch is then the musicians ultimate expression of laziness?


:D

[cmc2878]

Tom Sawyer for me