Pitch recognition

Hello everyone, I am attempting to devise a pitch recognition test for students of Indian music.

I have assumed that the new pitch has to simultaneously sound with the previous one, since I am trying to test the maximum difference in the cent value before one can distinguish the difference. I think I can achieve one-cent difference, using a software.

Please correct me. Please also help me plan the test scientifically.

Many thanks in advance and anticipation,
Haresh.

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Haresh BAKSHI" <hareshbakshi@h...>
wrote:
> Hello everyone, I am attempting to devise a pitch recognition test
>for students of Indian music.
>
> I have assumed that the new pitch has to simultaneously sound with
>the previous one,

why not try both ways -- simultaneous and successive.

> since I am trying to test the maximum difference in
>the cent value before one can distinguish the difference. I think I
>can achieve one-cent difference, using a software.

you'll find this is more difficult, but apparently not impossible,
for successive tones -- just be sure the tones are held for a long
enough period of time for the ear to "lock in" to the frequency.

> Please correct me. Please also help me plan the test
>scientifically.

we can construct random sequences of successive and simultaneous
tone comparisons, and have the subject describe whether there was a
change and if so, in what direction. statistical tests can then be
run on the results to determine what the most likely threshold of
discriminability is.

i would recommend finding such a study in the published professional
acoustic/psychoacoustic literature (many have already been done) and
reproducing it with your students. then you will have a basis for
comparison, and more importantly, sound experimental design. start
with juan roederer's book, _the physics and psychophysics of music_,
look up JND (just noticeable difference) and follow the citations to
JASA and other sources.