Do you have synaesthesia?

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J

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
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I was reading some stuff online and realised I may something called synaesthesia (wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia).

Basically, every time I hear sounds I associate it with various hues of colours in my mind unconsciously, do any of you do that?

E.g. 2pac's Don Killumanti album I would associate with a darkish, poisonous green colour (so it's kinda colour + a feeling thing since poison really doesn't have a colour); whereas I would associate Californication by red hot chill peppers more with ocean blues, steel greys etc.

And I associate a lot of situations with particular songs too...but I imagine we all do??

However, the colours / experiences I feel when listening to music tend to be associated with the genre of music / its energy levels / how the melody goes vs. something independent of genre. So maybe I'm just tripping lol.

I'm listening to Payphone right now by Maroon 5, and I got this pinkish/blue/purple colour onto it...weird shit!!!

Anyone experience anything similar?
 
J

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
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chubbyfatazn said:
I just associate sounds with their pitches.
Click to expand...

Do you have absolute pitch?

E.g. as another example, if I'm listening to west coast rap, I'd associate with a very dirty, black which is low (like a lowrider) with a lot of tension in it...sorta similar to what the sound is + the genre so I'm not sure if I'm just associating music videos with the songs lol :hmm:
 
chubbyfatazn

chubbyfatazn

Golden Member
Oct 14, 2006
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Martingale said:
Do you have absolute pitch?

E.g. as another example, if I'm listening to west coast rap, I'd associate with a very dirty, black which is low (like a lowrider) with a lot of tension in it...sorta similar to what the sound is + the genre so I'm not sure if I'm just associating music videos with the songs lol :hmm:
Click to expand...

If that's the proper term for perfect pitch then yeah.

Never really associated anything with colors. Though I sometimes associate them with certain events in my life, which I can translate to moods and then associate with colors I guess...
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
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Last time I did acid I had some synaesthesiac type effects though different from what you are describing. Certain colours...tasted funny, hard to describe but when I saw certain colours they would just leave a taste in my mouth (depending on the dominant colour the taste would change, some colours being better or worse than others) That's likely as close as I will get however.
 
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lxskllr

lxskllr

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Nov 30, 2004
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I'd be interested in hearing what you think of Miles Davis' Aura album...

n 1984 Danish trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg composed this ambitious nine-part suite for Miles Davis, based upon his audial perceptions of the jazz legend’s aura. The suite was recorded in Copenhagen with a large ensemble including John McLaughlin, percussionist Marilyn Mazur (later a regular member of the Davis band), bassists Bo Stief and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, electric drummer Vince Wilbum and 23 other musicians. This exquisitely remastered reissue has corrected a prior sequencing problem, reattached a short horn intro onto track 9 and added some precious clarity to the overall sound.

“Aura” successfully blends Miles’ electric style with the feel of his earlier big-band works with Gil Evans, another of Mikkelborg’s prime inspirations. This session was one of Miles’ favorites, and rightfully so. From the opening, a musical permutation of the letters “M-i-l-e-s-D-a-v-i-s”, through incredible tracks that are reflective, classically or Caribbean-flavored, manic and throbbing in turn, Mikkelborg’s work offered Miles the chance to touch once more upon many of the phases his career had touched and then sailed past. If any post-“Bitches Brew” album by Miles should be considered essential, this is the one. Pure magic from beginning to end.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find a full album on Youtube, but it looks like all the tracks are there...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=miles davis aura
 
flexy

flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
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It's POSSIBLE that I have it since ever since I can remember I associate sounds, music etc. also with colors and shapes.

Then I don't know how others perceive those things.


Wait...it gets better..here too I don't know whether this is "normal" or not.

I also associate numbers and for example the days of the week with colors.
Example would be
Monday=Blueish Green
Tuesday=Yellowish/Orange
Wednesday=Green
Thursday=Orange
Friday=very dark gray/black
Saturday=light gray, beige
Sunday=white

Same with months....I think I could go on and on.

As for sounds....as a general rule, the deeper the frequency, the darker, the "rounder" the shape.

I don't know whether people who have synaesthesia "really" SEE those things...as for me it's more that I visualize them but not literally "see" them.
 
pcgeek11

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
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What the Fvck are you guys smoking? This sounds like some made up shit.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,926
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pcgeek11 said:
What the Fvck are you guys smoking? This sounds like some made up shit.
Click to expand...

It's pretty well documented. I've heard renowned musicians talking about it on the radio, but can't remember specific names.
 
J

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
6,165
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flexy said:
It's POSSIBLE that I have it since ever since I can remember I associate sounds, music etc. also with colors and shapes.

Then I don't know how others perceive those things.


Wait...it gets better..here too I don't know whether this is "normal" or not.

I also associate numbers and for example the days of the week with colors.
Example would be
Monday=Blueish Green
Tuesday=Yellowish/Orange
Wednesday=Green
Thursday=Orange
Friday=very dark gray/black
Saturday=light gray, beige
Sunday=white

Same with months....I think I could go on and on.

As for sounds....as a general rule, the deeper the frequency, the darker, the "rounder" the shape.

I don't know whether people who have synaesthesia "really" SEE those things...as for me it's more that I visualize them but not literally "see" them.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, that's so fascinating! I certainly do not associate numbers or days of the week with colours.

I agree with you on sounds, deeper the frequency - its darker and rounder. Come to think of it, you are right - it's like I visualise very thin strings for the more higher frequencies (but then again that reflects how it works in real life...so maybe I'm just tripping lol).
 
brianmanahan

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,697
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i associate numbers with colors

0 = black
1 = white
2 = blue
3 = green
4 = red
5 or 6 = orange
7 = yellow
8 or 9 = gray

i dont know why these numbers are these colors, they just are
 
ThatsABigOne

ThatsABigOne

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
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You are way over thinking music. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy what it actually means.
 
S

SsupernovaE

Golden Member
Dec 12, 2006
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When I smell raw cabbage I get a sharp pain in my jaw. The letter r appears purple and seems to grow no matter what color it really is. The number pi makes me hyperventilate and emotional. I have synesthesia verified by psychologists.
 
F

futurefields

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2012
6,470
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Right, what they have is relative pitch, and then using their memory are able to transpose to different notes.
 
SlitheryDee

SlitheryDee

Lifer
Feb 2, 2005
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It thought it wasn't about just associating one sense with another, but actually experiencing one sense AS another. I can easily come up with a color to associate with a sound if I decided I wanted to. I could even associate a taste with a texture I feel with my fingers if I thought about it. That doesn't seem like something most people cant do though.

Hell. Some time ago we had a thread that specifically asked what colors ATOTers associated with various bands or albums. Nobody seemed to have a problem coming up with something.
 
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gothamhunter

gothamhunter

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Apr 20, 2010
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You all should read "Born on a Blue Day" if you think this kind of stuff is just made up or "broscience".
 
F

futurefields

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2012
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Everything Daniel Tammet talks about is exactly that... broscience.

ever read Moonwalking with Einstein?
 
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