No__132__Developing and Utilising Relative Pitch

[Peter Anderson]

In Peters Pearls #131   I stated.....

              5            Learn relative pitch


Relative pitch gives you the ability to identify or re-create a musical note by comparing it to a reference note.    Providing, that is, that you can identify the distance, or the interval, between the two notes.

This even works with intervals where notes have been raised or lowered by a semi-tone.

Solfège gives you a solid and an easy system for relative pitch.
Surely this is something all of us aspire to be able to do.

                     To open that particular post in a new window, click on this link:

                  http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?topic=3720.msg13818#msg13818

                 

                      but to open Peters Pearls # 131 at the very beginning, click on this link

                  http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?topic=3720.0


Most of us may already have a good appreciation of Relative Pitch, which enables us to accurately recognise intervals between notes.  Many can sing or hum that interval, even if they cannot tell what the actual interval is.
Some men might be able to sing thirds above a melody line, to provide a suitable tenor.  Others might even be more adventurous, particularly if they have sung tenor from a score for many years, so have gained much experience.

You don't need to possess the gift of perfect pitch, to be able to do this.

You may have been asked (especially since you are recognised by others as an organist) to start a song, like 'Happy Birthday'.
In the past, in such circumstances, if I am not certain of the key, I've either started too high or too low, with embarrassing consequences, and perhaps you will identify with this.

However, it is possible to pitch a note perfectly.

I will tell you how I have done it, for many years, later, but in the next Reply, you will find a useful link to a parallel Pearl.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Running in parallel with this Pearl is another one, and in order to read about Perfect and Relative Pitch see Peters Pearls #133, and to open it in a new window, click on this link:

http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?topic=3741.0

In the next Reply, I'll tell you how I find the correct pitch to start a song.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

In order to pitch a tune at the right level, or to find the correct starting note, I used a well known song.

I chose
          Somewhere Over The Rainbow
        because it suited my voice range admirably and used Middle and high C.

Here is the music:

             

I surprised myself, with how accurately I could find Middle C, at anytime and without access to a keyboard or other tuning method.

You might find it easier and more beneficial to actually sing the solfège notes, as that will help you with gauging intervals.


             


Try it for yourself.      Test your own ability by just singing, or humming, the first two notes and confirming your accuracy by playing those same two notes on your Yamaha AR.

If you want to understand or use solfege, then click on this link, to open the Pearl in a new window:

http://www.ar-group.org/smfocrum/index.php?topic=3720.0

How well did you do, pitching Middle and High C?

Were you surprised with your effort?

Try it again in a few hours!

I also discovered that I could do this silently, in my head, and immediately hit the right note to tackle a tune,  in the right key first time!

In the following Reply I will share another song to easily obtain the complete C major chord.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Here is a well known song to obtain the notes of the C major chord:

             

This is useful for picking out the correct harmony note, when commencing a piece written in the Key of C major.

And, again, here it is showing the solfège version:


             


But what about recognising or singing specific intervals?

In the following replies, I will provide you with very well known songs that enable you to sing these intervals with ease, starting with a major second.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Being able to recognise, or sing a specific interval is a very useful skill.


Here is a very, very well known song to pick out a major second.

             

And here it is with solfège:


             

Obviously, you can choose another song if you prefer.

In the next Reply you will find a song which provides a major third interval.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Here is a suitable song to provide you with a major third interval:

             

Here it is in solfège:

             

In the next Reply you will find a song which provides a Perfect Fourth interval.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Here is that song to provide a Perfect Fourth interval

             

And in solfège:


             

In the next Reply you will find a song which provides a Perfect Fifth interval.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Here is a song to provide you a Perfect Fifth interval:

             

And in solfège:


             

In the next Reply we move on to the Perfect Sixth.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

Here is another well known song, but this time it starts with a perfect sixth

             

And here it is in solfège:


             

In the next reply, I need your help to find a suitable song that starts with a major seventh.    But I do suggest something that will be of great help.

Peter


Scroll down to view a song suggested by John Szczechowski.    Thank you for this, John.

[Peter Anderson]

I cannot find a song which starts with the interval of a Major Seventh.

There must be one.

Can you help here, please?

Please post your suggestions below.

However, I have selected this song, because it is well known and has the interval within the first three notes:

                 

which in solfège looks like this:


             

In the next Reply we have an example of a Minor Third.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

The song, popularly known as Greensleeves, starts with a minor third:

             

And in solfège:


             

Notice the use of the flat version in solfège:


In the next Reply we find a song that starts with a flattened Fifth.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

For a reminder of all the solfège sounds, including sharps and flats, click on this link:

http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?topic=3720.msg13839#msg13839

Peter

[John Szczechowski]

Hi Peter

I believe this Cole Porter number starts with a Major Seventh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuLmjCNl44Q#t=11s

[Peter Anderson]

Thank you, John.

I was certain someone would know of one we could use.

Peter

[Peter Anderson]

This song starts with the interval of a flattened fifth:
 
             

And in solfège:


             

Notice the use of the flat version in solfège.

In the next Reply, we have a song which starts with a flattened seventh.

Peter