Q: i have pretty ok relative pitch. i can figure out the notes if i know what the first note is. problem is. how do i figure out what the first note is?
A: i think you have to have memorized them before age 6. i know that's not the answer any one wants to hear but it might be true. if you don't think you did that before age 6, you might be able to dig deep in your brain and remember that you actually did, but this might be kind of complicated