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>size of error reduced by 42.7% (from 2.62 to 1.50 semitones) for the trained timbre, which generalized partially to an untrained timbre. Overall, results provide more convincing evidence for the learnability of AP judgment in adulthood beyond the critical period, similar to most perceptual and cognitive abilities.

>they learned to name an average of 7.08 pitches

Its worth noting that this does not fall under a standard definition of absolute pitch. Being a semitone out with 7 tones of recognition isn't even close

Its always been true that adults can learn pseudo absolute pitch - ie improved pitch classification compared to an untrained adult. What's up for debate is if you can learn true absolute pitch, which has an error of 0 semitones, and you can name all 12 pitches with a 0% error rate

The slightly amusing thing is that the evidence they have is precisely the opposite of the conclusion - you cannot learn absolute pitch as an adult

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Of course you can learn absolute pitch. I learned to hit C, F and A 100% of the time in just a couple of weeks without trying very hard at all. I just tried to hear one of them every time I walked past a piano before chilecking if I was right.

Now, that is "remembered" pitch, but to this day - despite not trying to uphold it - I still just know if a note is a C, F or A. I can sing the notes within about 10 cents if you give about 5 seconds to find them.

I am absolutely certain I could learn every other note, because I never mistake an e, B or Ab for any of the other notes. They sound completely different.

A friend of mine - a solfege teacher - said that she realized she had perfect pitch about a year into her education. Her teacher said he could usually stop telling people the key somewhere around that time.

There's no scientific evidence that adults can learn absolute pitch with anywhere near the accuracy of people who've had it from a young age, despite a lot of testing. The article we're talking about is a negative result with that respect

I'd love to see any controlled experiment indicating its possible, but every study has turned up a negative here. People can learn pseudo absolute pitch, but its not the same thing

If it quacks like a duck ...

The same can be said for language: learning a language after the age of 10 (a number taken out of my behind just now) will make you never sound completely native. I have never met someone who did this that didn't make mistakes a native speaker would not do - however small.

I have not seen a functional definition of perfect pitch that doesn't make it a spectra.

Whatever I have is not perfect pitch, but the three notes I do always know fit in the definition of it. I can sing F A and C at any time. I know the notes instinctively when I hear them, even in chords or noises. I really don't like when they are flat (sharp is less of an issue). I can feel the notes in my head. Both F and A are like a fizzy champagne. C is like sitting down in a really comfortable chair.

What I am trying to say is that I am not sure making a hard line for what is absolute pitch is functionally usable outside of some kind of synesthesia discussion.

> you cannot learn absolute pitch as an adult

Interestingly, you maybe can; albeit with chemical help [0] (previously mentioned in the comments).

Unfortunately, the drug involved (valproic acid) also comes with serious side effects including liver toxicity, weight gain, and birth defects.

0 - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3848041/

> you cannot learn absolute pitch as an adult

Why?

You can easily look it up yourself.

   Early musical training appears to be necessary but not sufficient for the development of AP. Forty percent of musicians who had begun training at ≤4 years of age reported AP, whereas only 3% of those who had initiated training at ⩾9 years of age did so. Self-reported AP possessors were four times more likely to report another AP possessor in their families than were non–AP possessors. These data suggest that both early musical training and genetic predisposition are needed for the development of AP.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000292970...

> You can easily look it up yourself.

Thanks for the quote and link. I do appreciate those who make the internet a better place even though they toss around a slightly passive aggressive advice along the way!

If you can't handle me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best

Just kidding, you're welcome buddy

this is a brain thing, it appears that the neural parts for whatever is going inside to have absolute pitch can only be formed when the brain is still developing as a child.

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