Although it has a genetic component, most believe that perfect pitch — or absolute pitch — is a primarily a function of early life exposure and training in music, says Takao Hensch, professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard.

Hensch is studying a drug which might allow adults to learn perfect pitch by re-creating this critical period in brain development. Hensch says the drug, valprioc acid, allows the brain to absorb new information as easily as it did before age 7.

Link to article

 

I dunno, I'd rather try Perfect Pitch training

 

Relative pitch is more useful and can be learned quite easily. But even without both skills you can be a great musician, so don't bother too much.

 

I personally don't think relative pitch is more useful. They both work together and are often misunderstood.
Having the ability to hum/sing a melody line idea whilst standing at a bus stop and know exactly the notes/chords to write down or add to a piano roll seems pretty darn useful lol

 

But I can do this without both abilities, so why bother?

 

If you can sing a melody line, knowing what the exact notes are at the time you are using them.
I could sing a melody run of say 16 notes... but I'd have no clue what they are until I scored them.

If I could wake up tomorrow with perfect pitch I certainly wouldn't be upset

 

Interesting study, although according to wikipedia "The foremost and most severe concern for anyone taking valproic acid is its potential for sudden and severe, possibly fatal, fulminating impairments in liver and impairments of hematopoietic or pancreatic function, especially in those just starting the medication." so a little too risky for my taste.
Although perfect pitch would be cool, I'd be more than happy with relative pitch, if I owned note intervals I could just transpose the melody if needed, when I get back home from the bus stop.

This got me pondering though, since psychedelics are known to enhance neuroplasticity, pitch training on acid may be a new pastime of mine. :D

 

you had me at "taking acid"