Paul McCartney's Freakish Memory
I knew guy that could just listen to an engine running, and hear that it had a timing problem!<p>I knew a guy that understood what this other guy was saying <i>in a foreign language!</i> That is crazy.<p>I knew someone that could just <i>look</i> at the curve on <i>a bridge</i> and immediately write down the equation for the curve, <i>right there in front of everybody!<p></i>  *  *<p>I have no doubt Paul McCartney can just listen to a song <i>once</i> and immediately play it. Did the author even realize that McCartney <i>is a musician?</i><p>I hate to be negative, bring on the downvotes, but this is nothing less than being fascination with the ordinary. I also have zero doubt there are dozens and dozens of HN readers that also are musicians and can do the same. Not everyone who begins to study and play music can do it, but they will be able to eventually 1) recognize notes <i>just by hearing them</i> and 2) recognize chord changes <i>just by hearing them</i>. Some people have perfect pitch, and that makes it all the easier, but perfect pitch is not necessary, and it isn&#x27;t an amazing trick any more than understanding someone speaking French.<p>David Byrne is freakishly smart. Tom Scholz of Boston has an MME from MIT. Both Paul Simon <i>and</i> Art Garfunkel have genius level IQs. Geniuses simply are not that novel. What sets Paul McCartney apart is not whether he has a good memory or can pick up a tune, but rather that <i>he was a Beatle.</i>