Learning to Identify Musical Pitches - Beginner Ear Training

The ability to identify pitches without ancharacteristics of the given instrument and its
established reference is called perfect pitch, orpossible timbres (the different sounds that can be
absolute pitch. Essentially, musicians with perfectmade by one instrument using different
pitch know what a note is when they hear it,techniques) and the harmonic background of the
without any restrictions. This is a useful abilitymusic. Musicians have to understand individual and
because it allows musicians to do things like playingcombined pitches without being thrown off by
by ear and transcribing music. For singers, it'sany other aspect of the music.
essential to have a good command of pitch inThrough ear training, a musician can acquire all of
order to perform in tune.these skills, and then some. Ear training can
Identifying pitches by name, regardless ofincorporate various exercises designed specifically
instrument or context, requires a few specificto impart the ability to identify pitches in a variety
skills. First, you need to have the basic knowledgeof musical contexts. Ultimately, by putting the
of what those notes are, meaning their namestime in to train the ear properly and thoroughly,
under either the A-G or solfege naming systems.identifying pitches can become second nature.
You'll also need to be familiar with the pitches thatTherefore, the way to reap the benefits that
belong to those notes. This doesn't necessarilycome with a strong command with pitch is
mean that you need to memorize that, forthrough ear training. This way, anyone, regardless
example, F4 in standard pitch vibrates at 349.229of ability, can learn to identify individual pitches.
Hz, but it's possible for a musician to memorizeAfter ear training, you'll find yourself recognizing
the sound of that pitch, so that it can be identifiedthose specific notes in music the same way other
or reproduced at any time.listeners make out the words.
It's also necessary to account for the