Pitch is the word for how high or low a sound is. It comes up when you say that a sound is high or low, or that the intonation is in tune or off. It matters for vocals, instruments, samples, and synths alike.
The basic idea
Raising or lowering pitch by a semitone changes the note name, and raising it by twelve semitones changes the octave. Getting a feel for semitones and whole tones makes pitch adjustment in a DAW easier to understand.
Its role in writing and performing
When you layer several sounds, matching pitch is the foundation. It also comes into play when you transpose a melody, fit a sample to the key of a song, or correct part of a vocal.
How to check it in a DAW
Use a pitch shifter or transpose and compare a change of +1 with +12. When you move material around, check that it fits the key and the chords.
Difference from related terms
Pitch is the height of an individual note, an interval is the distance between two notes, and tuning is adjusting pitch against a reference.
Get into the habit of knowing the key of the song and the original pitch of your material before you move anything.
