A characteristic common to many master musicians

My answer is (A). It took me 01:08.

(A) In this version, "the ability to identify, without any visual cues, which note has been played" is an appositive of "absolute pitch". The meaning is clear. Keep for now.

(B) A reader cannot make sense of "identify which note was without any visual cues". At the very minimum, a comma should be added before "without". I wonder whether the omission is a typo.

(CDE) use a present participle phrase after "absolute pitch". When used as modifier after a comma, a present participle phrase typically modifies the subject of the preceding clause ("A characteristic" in this sentence) or modifies the verb in the preceding clause ("is" in this sentence).

(C) The logical subject for "identifying" should be "musicians", not "a characteristic".
(D) See above.
(E) It is logical to state that "a characteristic" permits somebody to do something, but "the musician" is not parallel with "musicians" in the main clause.

A) the ability to identify, without any visual cues, which note has been played--correct

B) the ability to identify which note was without any visual cues, played--was played why past tense here

C) identifying which note was played without any visual cues--,+verb ing form...A characteristic is not identifying anything

D) identifying, without any visual cues, which note has just been played--same as c

E) permitting the musician to identify which note, without any visual cues, has been played--wordy..a is better I guess

How to eliminate E in this quest.?

Hi kanishaksharma,

One problem with E is the placement of the "without any visual cues" modifier. It's easier for the reader to understand the intended meaning if that modifier is closer to identify.

1. identify, without any visual cues, which note has been played

2. identify which note, without any visual cues, has been played

It's the identification that is done without any visual cues. The second version seems to say that the note has been played without any visual cues.