relative pitch


nounMusic.
  1. the pitch of a tone as determined by its relationship to other tones in a scale.

  2. the ability to identify or sing a tone by mentally determining the distance of its pitch from that of a tone already sounded.

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Origin of relative pitch

1
First recorded in 1925–30

Words Nearby relative pitch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use relative pitch in a sentence

  • It may therefore be supposed to have been established before the relative pitch of other keys had been settled.

    The Modes of Ancient Greek Music | David Binning Monro
  • A system, as we have seen, is a series of notes whose relative pitch is fixed.

    The Modes of Ancient Greek Music | David Binning Monro
  • That is to say, any three or more notes whose relative pitch is fixed may be regarded as forming a particular System.

    The Modes of Ancient Greek Music | David Binning Monro
  • In the following demonstrations of relative pitch numbers, we adopt a pitch in which middle C has 256 vibrations per second.

    Piano Tuning | J. Cree Fischer
  • All competent musicians possess the power of relative pitch.