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How to Determine Pitch

Pitch refers to the frequency of a sound, particularly a musical note. Every note has an individual pitch; chords contain multiple pitches sounded at once. Many everyday objects, such as sirens, appliance motors, and squeaks from doors or floors also produce a frequency that can be identified as a pitch.

Things You'll Need

  • Electronic tuner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn on the electronic tuner.

    • 2

      Place the tuner where it can easily pick up the pitch you want to identify. If you can't get the tuner close to the sound, sing the pitch into the tuner.

    • 3

      Watch the tuner's indicator needle. It will point to the pitch you are singing. If it is between pitches, the sound you are trying to identify is what is called microtonal, that is, it falls between side-by-side black and white keys on a piano.

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