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Relative pitch is the ability of a person to identify or re-create a givenmusical note by comparing it to a reference note and identifying the interval between those two notes. For example, if the notesDo andFa are played on a piano, a person with relative pitch would, without looking, be able to identify the second note from the first note given that they know that the first note isDo.
Relative pitch implies some or all of the following abilities:[1]
This last criterion, which applies not only to singers but also to instrumentalists who rely on their own skill to determine the precise pitch of the notes played (wind instruments, fretless string instruments like violin or viola, etc.), is an essential skill for musicians in order to play successfully with others. An example, is the differentconcert pitches used by orchestras playing music from different styles (a baroque orchestra usingperiod instruments might decide to use a higher-tuned pitch).
Compound intervals (intervals greater than an octave) can be more difficult to detect than simple intervals (intervals less than an octave).
Interval recognition is used to identify chords, and can be applied to accurately tune an instrument with respect to a given reference tone, even when the tone is not inconcert pitch.[citation needed]
Unlikeabsolute pitch (sometimes called "perfect pitch"), relative pitch is quite common among musicians, especially musicians who are used to playing "by ear", and a precise relative pitch is a constant characteristic among good musicians.
Unlike perfect pitch, relative pitch can be developed throughear training.[2] Computer-aided ear training is becoming a popular tool for musicians and music students, and various software is available for improving relative pitch.[citation needed]
Some music teachers teach their students relative pitch by having them associate each possible interval with the first two notes of a popular song. Another method of developing relative pitch is playing melodies by ear on a musical instrument, especially one that, unlike a piano or other keyboard or fretted instrument, requires a specific manual or blown adjustment for each particular tone.
Indian musicians learn relative pitch by singing intervals over adrone, whichMathieu (1997) described in terms of occidentaljust intonation terminology.[3][page needed] Many Western ear training classes usedsolfège to teach students relative pitch, while others usenumerical sight-singing.