Absolute pitch
The ability to name pitches exactly without a reference tone.
What it means
Absolute pitch denotes the ability to name a heard note without a comparison tone — that is, to say that it is an F♯ without first having heard an A. Set against it is relative pitch, which recognises distances: whoever possesses it can determine any note as soon as a reference tone is given. The two abilities are different, and the second is the more important one for music-making.
Musical use
The usefulness of absolute pitch is more limited than its reputation suggests. It helps in tuning without aids and in notating what is heard. In ensemble playing, by contrast, what counts is whether someone grasps intervals, chords and voice leading — and that is the work of relative pitch. Moreover, absolute pitch is tied to a particular reference pitch: whoever learned notes in relation to a′ = 440 Hz perceives music in lower historical tuning as out of tune or transposed, which can make playing along harder. In transposing and in reading transposing parts the ability can also be a hindrance, because what is read and what is heard fall apart.
There are differing views about how it arises and how common it is; a connection with early musical instruction and with languages in which pitch distinguishes meaning is discussed. What is certain is that the ability can at best be acquired to a limited degree in adulthood, whereas relative pitch can be trained at any age.
In connection with solmisation the question touches the relation of fixed and movable Do: fixed Do binds the syllables to absolute pitches, movable Do to the degrees of the key, and thereby trains relative hearing.
Performance practice
Invest your practice time in relative pitch, whether or not you possess absolute pitch: sing intervals, recognise chord inversions, follow voice leading. Whoever hears absolutely should deliberately practise thinking in degrees as well — otherwise exactly the ability that matters in the ensemble is missing. And do not be discouraged if you cannot name notes; for nearly everything musical this is of no consequence.