What is Absolute Pitch?

If you hear a musical note, can you sing it back? While matching pitch comes naturally for some, it's almost impossible for others. Either way, genetics plays a role in the ability to match a musical pitch. This ability is also known as absolute pitch, or perfect pitch. It is distinguishable from relative pitch, which the pitch of a tone is determined and inferred by mental comparison to a reference tone. Whether singing professionally or just in the shower, matching a musical pitch requires the intricate coordination of several tasks. Upon hearing a sound, the singer's brain identifies the pitch and decides which vocal muscles are needed to produce a similar sound. Then, after singing the note, the brain identifies the new pitch, determines if it matches, and adjusts the vocal muscles if needed. The ability to match a musical pitch is a complex process with equally complex genetics.