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What does 960 Hz sound like?
960 Hz is a midrange frequency. It is a clear midrange tone, close to where the human ear does most of its work for speech and melody.
A 960 Hz sound wave completes 960 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 1.04 ms. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 35.7 cm (1.17 ft) long; in water it stretches to 1.54 m because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Musically, 960 Hz is 49 cents below B5 (987.77 Hz) in standard A440 tuning. Doubling it to 1,920 Hz raises the pitch by one octave; halving it to 480 Hz lowers it by one.
Wavelength of 960 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 35.7 cm |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 1.54 m |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 1.56 m |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 1.05 m |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 6.21 m |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 5.88 m |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 960 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
Which animals can hear 960 Hz?
Can hear it
Humans, Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cows, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, Rabbits, Rats, Gerbils, Guinea pigs, Hedgehogs, Raccoons, Ferrets, Opossums, Chinchillas, Elephants, Bottlenose dolphins, Chickens, Canaries, Budgerigars (parakeets), Cockatiels, Owls, Bullfrogs, Tree frogs, Goldfish, Catfish, Tuna
Cannot hear it
Instruments and voices that can play 960 Hz
Frequently asked questions
What does 960 Hz sound like?
It is a clear midrange tone, close to where the human ear does most of its work for speech and melody.
Can humans hear 960 Hz?
Yes. 960 Hz is inside the typical human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
What musical note is 960 Hz?
960 Hz is 49 cents below B5, which is 987.77 Hz in standard A440 tuning.
What is the wavelength of 960 Hz?
About 35.7 cm in air at 20 °C and 1.54 m in water.
Can dogs hear 960 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.