What is perfect pitch?

Perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch, is the ability to identify or recreate a musical note without any reference tone. This trait allows individuals to hear a note being played and accurately name it, for example identifying a sound as a C sharp. It's relatively rare, even among highly trained musicians. For instance, only about one in ten trained musicians at institutions like the Peabody Conservatory have perfect pitch. While having perfect pitch does not necessarily make someone a better musician, it's considered a fascinating phenomenon in the auditory domain.

The trait's heritability is moderate. Twin studies suggest that genetics may account for about 30-40% of the variability in perfect pitch. Additionally, initiating ear training from a young age can significantly boost the likelihood of developing perfect pitch 1.