Absolute pitch is the ability to recognise and name the pitch of a sounding note without being given a reference tone. It forms a pair with relative pitch, which instead concerns judging the distance between two notes. Its acquisition has repeatedly been linked to musical exposure in early childhood, and acquiring it as an adult is reported to be difficult. It is often treated as proof of musical talent, yet it occupies no central place among the abilities performance actually requires, and in some situations it is known to be a hindrance.
What is reported about acquiring it
Most people with absolute pitch encountered music in early childhood, and in a study of music conservatory students, the earlier musical training began, the higher the proportion who had it. Some reports describe adults improving their note identification through training to some extent, though the immediacy shown by those who have had it since childhood appears hard to reach. Other factors have been examined, including whether the speaker's language is tonal and the possible role of genetic predisposition, but how much each contributes remains unresolved.
Where it becomes a hindrance
Absolute pitch is not a uniform advantage. Reading transposed notation puts the written note name out of alignment with the sounding pitch, and having names arrive automatically is reported to interfere rather than help. Players of transposing instruments describe this friction, as do performers working with the different reference pitches used in early music. When an ensemble has settled slightly flat, holding to the pitch you remember pulls you away from everyone else. Absolute pitch attaches names to sounds; whether those names fit the situation is a separate judgement.
Its limits as a measure of talent
The belief that absolute pitch amounts to musical talent is persistent, but performance rests on a wide range of capacities: an ear for intervals, a steady sense of pulse, fine motor control, an understanding of how a piece is constructed, and the attention to stay with other players. Absolute pitch has been reported to be extremely rare in the U.S. and Europe.