frequency

theoryFREE-kwun-seefrom Latin

The number of vibrations per second that determine a sound's pitch, measured in Hertz.‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌

In Depth

Frequency measures how many times a sound wave completes a full cycle per second.‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌ Higher frequencies produce higher pitches, lower frequencies produce lower pitches. The standard tuning note A4 vibrates at 440 Hz — 440 complete cycles per second. Human hearing spans roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, though the upper limit decreases with age. The lowest note on a piano (A0) vibrates at about 27.5 Hz, while the highest (C8) reaches 4,186 Hz. The relationship between frequency and pitch is logarithmic: doubling the frequency raises the pitch by exactly one octave.
Did you know?

Dogs can hear frequencies up to 65,000 Hz — more than three times the upper limit of human hearing. Some dog whistles exploit this by producing sounds above 20,000 Hz that humans cannot detect.

Related Terms

More in Theory

Browse all

Keep Exploring