Interesting.
ask.metafilter.com/44328/Source-of-tone-deafness
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:27, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

i have a friend who is a really really good musician
but really struggles with telling some notes apart. He's much better than he was, mostly through practise. His singing was something you had to hear to believe
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:30, Reply)

It's weird isn't it?
I just wondered if it was genetic or something that could be learned.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:34, Reply)

interesting link thanks Noel
basically describes me. I can hear the differences between notes, I know I'm not tone dead in that sense, and I can enjoy music. But I cannot hit notes for love or money. I wonder if it is a hearing or a brain problem
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:40, Reply)

Sounds like, sort of feels like vocal control to me.
When I'm out of practice I find it difficult to hold a note in certain ranges, but after some practice I'm pretty neat. Plenty of nurture for me, I've grown up with both parents singing, dad playing guitar, me and brother singing since an early age and I started learning guitar and singing in my teens. Smug.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:44, Reply)

But I can't find the note
let alone hold it. I've got little vocal modification at all.

Yet I've been told I've a nice speaking voice, which is relatively expressive
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:46, Reply)

Probably training as much as anything
Like the difference between being able to follow the play in a sport and actually do it.
( Tedium Alduce me to interlow myself., Sat 16 Oct 2010, 22:45, Reply)