Subject: Re: the number of fixed categories in absolute pitch From: Andrew Milne <andymilne(at)DIAL.PIPEX.COM> Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 21:36:51 +0100So are we to understand, from "NAP subjects can 'transmit' about 3 bits on a single frequency dimention, while AP subjects can transmit about 3 bits on each of two dimensions: Pitch height and Chroma" that the brain is a binary system? Andy Milne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leon van Noorden" <leonvannoorden(at)CHELLO.BE> To: <AUDITORY(at)LISTS.MCGILL.CA> Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 9:34 PM Subject: Re: the number of fixed categories in absolute pitch > The difference between AP and NAP subjects has been explained by the > assumption that in tasks of absolute pitch identification NAP subjects can > 'transmit' about 3 bits on a single frequency dimention, while AP subjects > can transmit about 3 bits on each of two dimensions: Pitch height and > Chroma. (the magical number of 7 plus or minus 2, times two). There are > studies that give as result that AP subjects make more octave errors than > NAP subjects. I would like to scrutinize the experimental setup of the > experiment where the subjects showed the ability of indicating "C plus ca 10 > cents". It should have been made sure that the subject was not able to use > relative pitch as a third dimension. > Leon van Noorden > > > > > The number of "fixed categories" is only large, if you test APers over > > several octaves. Within an octave the number of categories (in "western" > > countries) only is 12. And we should not forget that the AP ability only > > concerns the categories within the octave range. Beyond the octave range, > > APers make as many octave confusion errors as non-AP musicians. > > > > There are, however, large variations within the group of APers. Some can > > identify many pitches between two adjacent categories, like C and C#. They > > can answer something like "C plus ca 10 Cent" or "C plus ca 30 Cent". So, > > some APers actually have well over 100 categories in the octave > > range. [But > > this is not what Ward had in mind. He was referring to semitones.] > > > > Martin > > > > -------------------------------- > > Martin Braun > > Neuroscience of Music > > S-671 95 Klässbol > > Sweden > > web site: http://w1.570.telia.com/~u57011259/index.htm > >