Glen, perfect pitch is the ability of a person to identify a sound without any reference points. Sort of like seeing a color. McCartney doesn't have perfect pitch, but has probably developed relative pitch, meaning that if a starting note is given, then the person can identify the interval between the next note. After a while some people can identify certain chords because of the particular distances between notes of that specific chord. Once a chord has been recognized you can figure out the rest of the chords. I can write out the chord changes for about 70% of popular music by ear, with few mistakes. This ability usually developes over a long period of time, and after a lot of playing. Most good singers have a good voice to start with, and need little training. They mostly need guidance on maintaining the condition of their instrument. Of course, there is much to be learned from a good vocal coach, but the majority of what they offer is the discipline of practicing regularly. Sight singing is a different matter. For those that have a need to learn to sing the notes as they are written, it takes a great teacher, and about 5 years of serious daily practice to become competant. Not for me, thank you very much. Your studies were not a waste of time. Music is not like magic, if you know how the trick is done, some of the fun can be lost. Any musical knowledge only serves to enhance your appreciation. Now, if I could only train myself to know how many beats per minute I was counting off...that's one internal clock I wish I had access to!
