How do you guys recognize notes so easily?

[SlowPokemon]

I don't even know what perfect pitch is tbh, and I can arrange fine

[fingerz]

I can't figure out pitch for shit.

[spitllama]

What Fingerz said. I have to hum out every stinking note when I arrange.

[Greg]

I started with a fairly good sense of pitch personally. One thing I would recommend, though, is learning some theory. You don't even have to go deeply into it: basic knowledge of harmony goes far when it comes to arranging.

[Shadoninja]

Every once in awhile I'll sit at a piano, look away, and play a random note and try to figure out what note it is.

[Jompa]

You don't just recognize a tone, but when you are going to transcribe something you nede to find the key signature - not that hard of you have a pitched instrument. After that it's easy because you can hear what note is playing out of the interval between the note and the root.

[Olimar12345]

This is sorta how I do it:
-Listen to the song a few times
-Identify tonic
-Identify the mode
-Identify the form of the piece
-Transcribe the bass line, then
-Transcribe the melody(or vice versa)
-Transcribe other voices.

As for accidentals, ignore them at first. Once you have the correct pitches, then go back and make the decision of which note it is. (based on the key of the piece and the notes function.)

[Jompa]

As for accidentals, ignore them at first. Once you have the correct pitches, then go back and make the decision of which note it is. (based on the key of the piece and the notes function.)

Nooooo

[FSM-Reapr]

Nooooo

What? I think Olimar is right as right can get.

[Olimar12345]

Nooooo

??? Perhaps that wasn't as clear as I thought it was-what I meant was that I usually make accidentals either all sharps or all flats until proven to be the other.

[Jompa]

Sorry, I misunderstood - you're tots right!

[Olimar12345]

Oh okay then. well to be honest, I usually skip that step now-I can usually tell immediately. :J

[SlowPokemon]

Yeahhh it's way easier for me to just do it

[fingerz]

I just start arranging the piece and figure out what key it's it whilst doing it! Anything that's got waaaaayyy to many accidentals including a lot of naturals doesn't get a key signature, for obvious reasons.

[SlowPokemon]

No, there are no obvious reasons. You need the correct key signature.