Pitch Perception
Listen to two notes and say if the second was higher or lower.
This test plays sound. Headphones or built-in speakers both work.
Overview
The pitch perception test plays two notes in a row and asks whether the second one was higher or lower, narrowing the gap until it finds the smallest difference you can still hear. Pitch differences are measured in cents, where 100 cents equals one semitone, so a lower score means you heard a finer difference. No musical training or ability to read music is required. Because the task only asks you to compare two notes against each other, perfect pitch is not needed. The notes sit in the same range as ordinary speech, so headphones and built-in speakers both work.
Rules
- Two notes play in a row, and you answer whether the second was higher or lower than the first
- Each correct answer narrows the gap, and a wrong answer widens it back one step
- If you miss the notes, "Play again" repeats the same pair with no effect on your score
- Two wrong answers in a row ends the test, and the smallest gap you heard becomes your score
Score Guide
| Score | Rating | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 7 cents | Legendary | Top 1% |
| 8-13 cents | Exceptional | Top 1-5% |
| 14-18 cents | Excellent | Top 5-15% |
| 19-23 cents | Great | Top 15-30% |
| 24-28 cents | Above Average | Top 30-50% |
| 29-32 cents | Average | Top 50-70% |
| ≥ 33 cents | Below Average | Outside top 70% |
FAQ
Am I at a disadvantage without perfect pitch?
No. This test only asks you to compare two notes against each other, so you never need to name a note. Perfect pitch is the ability to identify a note heard in isolation, while this test measures how fine a difference between two notes you can detect. People with no musical background can take it without any trouble.
What is a cent?
A cent is a unit for describing how far apart two pitches are, defined as one hundredth of a semitone. Two adjacent keys on a piano are 100 cents apart. So a score of 20 cents means you distinguished a difference one fifth the size of a semitone. The smaller the number, the finer the difference you heard.
Do I need headphones?
No. The notes used here stay within the range of ordinary speech, which built-in speakers reproduce without difficulty. A noisy room will make the notes harder to follow, so a quiet place gives a truer result. Keep the volume as low as you comfortably can while still hearing the notes.
Is this a hearing test?
No. A hearing test measures how quiet a sound you can detect and is carried out by clinicians using calibrated equipment. This test keeps the volume constant and measures how fine a difference in pitch you notice. If you have concerns about your hearing, please speak to a doctor.
Does practice improve my score?
Most people improve over their first few attempts, because comparing two notes is a task you get used to and it changes what you pay attention to. Rather than comparing yourself with others, watching how your own record moves over time is more useful. Your past results on this device appear on the results screen.