Start with your device volume low. Very low tones may be inaudible on phone or laptop speakers; very high tones can be uncomfortable on headphones.
What does 180 Hz sound like?
180 Hz is a bass frequency. It is a low bass tone – a warm hum similar to the low strings of a cello or bass guitar. Phone speakers reproduce it weakly; headphones work much better.
A 180 Hz sound wave completes 180 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 5.56 ms. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 1.91 m (6.25 ft) long; in water it stretches to 8.23 m because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Musically, 180 Hz is 47 cents below F♯3 (185 Hz) in standard A440 tuning. Doubling it to 360 Hz raises the pitch by one octave; halving it to 90 Hz lowers it by one.
Wavelength of 180 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 1.91 m |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 8.23 m |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 8.33 m |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 5.59 m |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 33.11 m |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 31.33 m |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 180 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
Which animals can hear 180 Hz?
Can hear it
Humans, Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cows, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, Gerbils, Guinea pigs, Raccoons, Ferrets, Chinchillas, Elephants, Bottlenose dolphins, Chickens, Bullfrogs, Tree frogs, Goldfish, Catfish, Tuna
Cannot hear it
Rabbits, Rats, Mice, Hedgehogs, Opossums, Bats, Beluga whales, Canaries, Budgerigars (parakeets), Cockatiels, Owls, Greater wax moths
Instruments and voices that can play 180 Hz
Frequently asked questions
What does 180 Hz sound like?
It is a low bass tone – a warm hum similar to the low strings of a cello or bass guitar. Phone speakers reproduce it weakly; headphones work much better.
Can humans hear 180 Hz?
Yes. 180 Hz is inside the typical human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
What musical note is 180 Hz?
180 Hz is 47 cents below F♯3, which is 185 Hz in standard A440 tuning.
What is the wavelength of 180 Hz?
About 1.91 m in air at 20 °C and 8.23 m in water.
Can dogs hear 180 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.