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 980 Hz sound like?
980 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 980 Hz sound wave completes 980 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 1.02 ms. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 35.0 cm (1.15 ft) long; in water it stretches to 1.51 m because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Musically, 980 Hz is 14 cents below B5 (987.77 Hz) in standard A440 tuning. Doubling it to 1,960 Hz raises the pitch by one octave; halving it to 490 Hz lowers it by one.
Wavelength of 980 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 35.0 cm |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 1.51 m |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 1.53 m |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 1.03 m |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 6.08 m |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 5.76 m |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 980 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
Which animals can hear 980 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 980 Hz
Frequently asked questions
What does 980 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 980 Hz?
Yes. 980 Hz is inside the typical human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
What musical note is 980 Hz?
980 Hz is 14 cents below B5, which is 987.77 Hz in standard A440 tuning.
What is the wavelength of 980 Hz?
About 35.0 cm in air at 20 °C and 1.51 m in water.
Can dogs hear 980 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.