Four Cases of Pitch-Specific Chromesthesia in Trained Musicians with Absolute Pitch

Abstract

Subjects underwent a structured interview and aural testing. Aural testing revealed idiosyncratic but consistent color associations for specific pitches and confirmed the subjects' reported absolute pitch. Higher octaves of a note were described as being lighter shades of the basic color for that pitch. Chords were perceived as combinations of the colors of the individual notes in the chord. Subjects generally were not able to divorce their absolute pitch ability from the color associations, and reported that their chromesthesia helped them to identify pitches, take dictation, play by ear. and memorize music. All subjects were formally trained musicians who had begun piano study at about age five. All were actively involved in the visual arts or reported considerable arts training. Two subjects reported childhood pairings of colors and pitches in books where notes or pitch letter names were colored.