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This research investigates how certain complex tones affect judgments of relative pitch and the implications for auditory perception theories.

December 1, 1964

Circularity in Judgments of Relative Pitch

Key Points

This research investigates how certain complex tones affect judgments of relative pitch and the implications for auditory perception theories.
Computer-generated complex tones were used to test pitch judgments.
Judgments were made regarding the relative pitch of tones arranged in a circular configuration.
Participants assessed the perceived height of tones based on their spatial arrangement.
Judgments exhibited a breakdown of transitivity, where A > B and B > C does not imply A > C.
Tones positioned clockwise were perceived as higher and counterclockwise as lower, despite actual frequency differences.
Ambiguities arose with diametrically opposed tones, challenging traditional linear pitch representation.

Abstract

A special set of computer-generated complex tones is shown to lead to a complete breakdown of transitivity in judgments of relative pitch. Indeed, the tones can be represented as equally spaced points around a circle in such a way that the clockwise neighbor of each tone is judged higher in pitch while the counterclockwise neighbor is judged lower in pitch. Diametrically opposed tones—though clearly different in pitch—are quite ambiguous as to the direction of the difference. The results demonstrate the operation of a “proximity principle” for the continuum of frequency and suggest that perceived pitch cannot be adequately represented by a purely rectilinear scale.

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Circularity in Judgments of Relative Pitch

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