Tone Deafness?

Question:I'm just wondering on how much of the people in this world are actually tone deaf. I've heard and read MANY times that people are "tone deaf" because of not singing on pitch or whatever. I'm thinking that this is VERY misleading because if a person can hear difference in tones they hear from outside sources (an instrument for example)--they can't possibly be tone deaf. What I'm thinking more of is just the lack of ear-training that people have that may be preventing them from singing on pitch.

What are your thoughts about this?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm just wondering on how much of the people in this world are actually tone deaf. I've heard and read MANY times that people are "tone deaf" because of not singing on pitch or whatever. I'm thinking that this is VERY misleading because if a person can hear difference in tones they hear from outside sources (an instrument for example)--they can't possibly be tone deaf. What I'm thinking more of is just the lack of ear-training that people have that may be preventing them from singing on pitch.

What are your thoughts about this?

brain researchers and scientists have long ago determined that congential amusia ( tone deafness) is rare. It is a brain defect, where certain centers of the brain do not make the connection between the actual hearing of a pitch and the conscious recognition of it. Perhaps as much as 4% of the world's population is really tone deaf.
Most of what we call tone deaf on a daily basis has to do more with how concentrated and attentive we are to pitch. this is a skill that can be learned, though, admittedly, we all know of someone who would need a long learning process. sometimes it is psychological- the act of hearing the pitch and processing it so that we can repeat it is interrupted by lack of focus or plain old fear.
I've dealt with people on this level, and , yes, it can very frustrating, but when someone does crack the nut, it is just as rewarding.
Sometimes it has to do with how a person perceives their own voice. Remember, you are the only person in the world that hears the voice in your head. The rest of us hears what comes out. The two may have no tonal relation to one another. that's where music appreciation classes help, to begin with, leading all the way up to singing lessons for real fine tuning of one's perception.
There are hundreds of research articles that you can google on brain research and congential amusia.
An interesting read on singing from an anthropological point of view is by Dr. Stephen Mithlin: The Singing Neanderthals. this will also give you links to future reading.

I can't go into too much detail for fear I'll lose my job but..... the owner of the club I play at comes up on stage every set, every night and tries to sing. OMG!!!!!!! How do you describe it.... a cat in a blender, or a hog in heat?? He can sing on pitch if your right in his ear but he cannot hold pitch or timing using a monitor. Trying to sing harmony with this is like pushing a Cadillac up hill with a rope. Then after he's had a few drinks....well I've said enough. Some people can't and shouldn't sing!!!!

You are correct. Lack of aural skills is synonymous with tone deafness. They are interchangeable as you suggest. If they can recognize even the melody of mary had a little lamb, they are not tone deaf in the literal sense.

If a person could not distinguish the difference between different tones they would be unable to speak or listen to someone else speak. There are tones in speech.
I have been teaching music for years and I believe that anyone can be taught to match pitch, the problem with those who cannot is they just haven't been taught.