Do octave complexes facilitate learning to identify pitch class?

Abstract

This research explored the ability to learn to identify the pitch class of sine and complex tones. It was hypothesized that pitch-class identification could be improved if octave complexes were used in training. Shepard tones [R. N. Shepard, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 36, 2345–2353 (1964)] were thought to be ideal pitch-class exemplars because they contain only octave-related partials and have an envelope that controls for pitch height. Three groups of undergraduate music majors participated in the study. None had absolute pitch. Subjects were given a pre- and post-test of their ability to name the pitch class of sine tones, various acoustical instrument tones, synthesizer tones, and Shepard tones. Group 1 controlled for maturation effects and did not receive any training. Subjects in groups 2 and 3 attended five training sessions. Digital piano tones were used in group 2 training sessions, while Shepard tones were used for group 3. There were reliable differences between group 2 and group 1 scores. Group 3 scores were higher than group 1 scores, but the difference was not statistically significant. Although results indicate that training facilitates pitch-class naming ability, Shepard tones do not give subjects an advantage over digital piano tones. [Work supported by the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center.]