Despite playing the piano, I never could get past that puzzle until I figured out how to make the computer record itself. I recorded playing the notes on the spaceship's keyboard, then played it back as I adjusted the sliders on the other side of the ship.

Did anyone else solve it this that way?

That's very cool. I love that a game inspired someone to problem solve on that sort of level.

That's what I feel Myst brought that has been so rarely replicated.

Yes! I had forgotten that I did this.

I had the same tin ear problem. Then I returned to Myst as an adult and I realized that the position on the spaceship slider corresponded to the position of the key on the piano and I solved the puzzle by counting!

The sound is not a requirement. You can complete it with a pencil and paper, mapping it out pretty quickly.

You're thinking of the maze on Selenetic Island, which comes later. jandrese was referring to the puzzle in the rocket ship on Myst Island, which required the player to play notes on a piano, turn around, and set sliders to play the same notes. This puzzle was a prerequisite to reaching the maze you were thinking of.

Ah, yes. That one is annoying, indeed. For the keyboard, on at least one playthrough, I think I counted the number of slider positions so you could solve it by the index of the keys on the keyboard.

Still easier than the sound puzzle in Myst IV Revelation though! That required reading a guide to solve it was so unobvious.