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What does 855 Hz sound like?
855 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 855 Hz sound wave completes 855 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 1.17 ms. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 40.1 cm (1.32 ft) long; in water it stretches to 1.73 m because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Musically, 855 Hz is 50 cents below A5 (880 Hz) in standard A440 tuning. Doubling it to 1,710 Hz raises the pitch by one octave; halving it to 427.5 Hz lowers it by one.
Wavelength of 855 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 40.1 cm |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 1.73 m |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 1.75 m |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 1.18 m |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 6.97 m |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 6.60 m |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 855 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
| Harmonic | Frequency | Nearest note |
|---|---|---|
| 1× (fundamental) | 855 Hz | A5 |
| 2× | 1.71 kHz | A6 |
| 3× | 2.565 kHz | E7 |
| 4× | 3.42 kHz | A7 |
| 5× | 4.275 kHz | C8 |
| 6× | 5.13 kHz | E8 |
| 7× | 5.985 kHz | F♯8 |
| 8× | 6.84 kHz | A8 |
Which animals can hear 855 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 855 Hz
Frequently asked questions
What does 855 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 855 Hz?
Yes. 855 Hz is inside the typical human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
What musical note is 855 Hz?
855 Hz is 50 cents below A5, which is 880 Hz in standard A440 tuning.
What is the wavelength of 855 Hz?
About 40.1 cm in air at 20 °C and 1.73 m in water.
Can dogs hear 855 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.