Robben Ford Discussion

[AndyR]

Pitch as distance???

Just curious, how many of you good folks perceive pitch as distance?

I know to me, pitch and melody have always been a very spatial (i.e., related to space) experience.

Is this what separates those of us who have a "good ear" from those who can't "carry a tune in a 5gal bucket?"

Those who can sing from those who can't?

Example: As a 2nd grader, one of my first guitar pieces was Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent." You know, the little riff at the beginning...and I could play the whole solo, too...entirely on the high E string...I could look at the fretboard and envision all the notes, their distances from one and other, along one string (I've progressed...I can now play the solo across 2 or 3 strings )

I kinda do the same thing when I improv on piano, "This note right...about...HERE should sound good!" If it's jazz, I'm only 1/2 step away from a good note!

And how many of you guys use piano to write and/or teach guitar? I think it's a great tool.

I'm able to write out rough arrangements without having an instrument: I simply draw a picture of 3 or 4 octaves of a keyboard, and sing the notes to myself as a point to them. I'm eventually able to figure out proper melody w/accidentals and chord voicings this way.

To me, "hearing" something and "seeing in my' mind's eye" are almost the same thing.

Although I can read well, and know a fair amount of theory, I definitely trust my ear first and foremost.

So...how do other "perceive" pitch and melody?



Andy